Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, January 20, 2024
by Robert Hahn

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis

An upper-level low weakens as it shifts northward along the Oregon Coast Saturday afternoon. The circulation center and associated trough shift northward Saturday night, spreading several bands of moderate precipitation northward. The trajectory of the low combined with SE ridgeline winds allows the initial waves of precipitation to fall on both sides of the Cascades but doesn't favor the passes. Precipitation should fall as snow east of the Cascade Crest, but as a rain/snow mix or ice (sleet and freezing rain) just west of the lower mountain gaps.

Once the trough shifts over Washington state, winds shift more to the SSW and the heavier rounds of moisture favor the volcanoes, particularly Mt Baker and Mt Rainier overnight. Snow levels should be in the 4000-5000 ft range rest of the Cascades and around 1000-2000 ft just over the Cascade Crest to the east.

On Sunday, the low center gets subsumed by the weak trough offshore, leaving waves of moisture to move into the area on SSW flow with little change in snow level during the morning hours. The trough shifts slightly eastward on Sunday, flattening the flow pattern slightly during the afternoon. This lowers enables milder air to work into the mid-elevations near the Cascade Passes and could shift snow to a wintry mix.

Sunday night, the trough moves into NW Washington with steady snow levels west of the Cascades and rising snow levels creating a wintry mix in many areas east of the Cascades due to the remnants of the cold air pool.

A better-developed low center likely transits the Washington coast on SSW flow, bringing more light to moderate rain and snow. E flow could increase and change precipitation back to snow in some areas near and east of the Cascade Crest.

Weather Forecast

Olympics
West North
West Central
West South
Stevens Pass
Snoqualmie Pass
East North
East Central
East South
Mt. Hood
Use dropdown to select your zone
Saturday Night Cloudy with increasing chances of light rain or high-elevation snow showers. Light ridgeline winds. Gradually lowering snow levels.
Sunday Cloudy with light rain and snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Cloudy in the evening with periods of light rain and snow overnight. Increasing light ridgeline winds.
Sunday Cloudy with moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Cloudy to start with light rain and snow showers from late evening onwards. Light ridgeline winds.
Sunday Cloudy with periods of moderate rain and snow showers. Light ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. Light to moderate ridgeline winds elevated near the Cascade Crest.
Sunday Cloudy with periods of moderate rain and snow (Paradise and Crystal) and light rain and snow (White Pass). Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Cloudy with periods of light snow. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Cloudy with periods of light snow changing to a wintry mix near and west of the Pass. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night Cloudy with periods of increasing light snow with a wintry mix likely west of the Pass. Moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Cloudy with periods of light snow or wintry mix changing to a wintry mix (near the pass) or rain (west of the Pass). Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline and light E wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night Cloudy with periods of light snow overnight. Light ridgeline winds.
Sunday Cloudy with periods of light snow. Light ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Periods of light snow develop during the evening hours and increase overnight. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Cloudy with periods of light snow. Mixed precipitation is possible closer to the Cascade Crest late in the day. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Cloudy with periods of light snow. Light ridgeline winds.
Sunday Cloudy with periods of light snow changing to mixed precipitation. Light ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Cloudy with periods of moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Cloudy with periods of moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, January 20, 2024

Precipitation (in)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.25 0.75 0.50 - 0.75 0.75 -1.00
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.25 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.50
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 0.25 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 - 0.75
Crystal Mt 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Paradise 0.50 0.75 0.50 - 0.75 1.50
White Pass LT 0.25 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Mission Ridge 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.25 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.50
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 1.00 - 1.50
Timberline 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 1.00 - 1.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.75
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 0.75 -1.00
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.50 - 0.75
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 0.75
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 1.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.50
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 1.00 - 1.50
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 1.00 - 1.50

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, January 20, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening* Saturday Night* Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon* Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon*
Olympics 5500' 5000' 4500' 4500' 4500' 5000' 5000' 5000'
West North 5500' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000'
West Central 4500' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000'
West South 4500' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500'
Stevens Pass 2500' 2000' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 2500' 3000' 3000' 4000' 4000' 3500' 4000'
East North 1000' 1000' 1000' 2000' 3000' 2000' 2500' 3500'
East Central 1000' 1000' 2000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
East South 1000' 1000' 3000' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000'
Mt. Hood 4500' 4500' 5000' 5500' 5500' 5500' 5000' 5000'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening* 5500'
Saturday Night* 5000'
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4500'
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 5000'
Monday Morning* 5000'
Monday Afternoon* 5000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 5500'
Saturday Night* 4000'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4500'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday Morning* 4000'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 4500'
Saturday Night* 4000'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4500'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday Morning* 4000'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 4500'
Saturday Night* 4000'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4500'
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 4500'
Monday Morning* 4500'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2500'
Saturday Night* 2000'
Sunday Morning* 3000'
Sunday Afternoon* 3500'
Sunday Evening* 3500'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning* 3000'
Monday Afternoon* 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 3000'
Saturday Night* 2500'
Sunday Morning* 3000'
Sunday Afternoon* 3000'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday Morning* 3500'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1000'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning* 1000'
Sunday Afternoon* 2000'
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 2000'
Monday Morning* 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 3500'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1000'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning* 2000'
Sunday Afternoon* 3000'
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning* 3000'
Monday Afternoon* 3500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1000'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning* 3000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4500'
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 4500'
Monday Morning* 4000'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening* 4500'
Saturday Night* 4500'
Sunday Morning* 5000'
Sunday Afternoon* 5500'
Sunday Evening* 5500'
Sunday Night* 5500'
Monday Morning* 5000'
Monday Afternoon* 5000'

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, January 20, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 35 / 32 35 / 34
West North 35 / 31 35 / 31
West Central 35 / 31 34 / 31
West South 34 / 32 35 / 32
Stevens Pass 30 / 25 32 / 27
Snoqualmie Pass 30 / 26 32 / 27
East North 27 / 25 30 / 26
East Central 29 / 27 33 / 27
East South 29 / 27 35 / 27
Mt. Hood 33 / 32 35 / 32
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 35 / 32
Sunday 35 / 34
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 35 / 31
Sunday 35 / 31
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 35 / 31
Sunday 34 / 31
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 34 / 32
Sunday 35 / 32
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 30 / 25
Sunday 32 / 27
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 30 / 26
Sunday 32 / 27
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 27 / 25
Sunday 30 / 26
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 27
Sunday 33 / 27
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 27
Sunday 35 / 27
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 33 / 32
Sunday 35 / 32

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, January 20, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics SSE 5-15 S 10-20 SSW 10-20 SSW 10-20
West North SSE 5-15 S 5-15 S 10-20 S 10-20
West Central SE 10-20 SE 10-20 SSE 5-15 SSE 5-15
West South SSE 10-20 SSW 10-20 SSW 10-20 SSW 5-15
Stevens Pass SE 10-20 SSE 5-15 S 5-15 S 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass ESE 15-25 SE 15-25 SE 10-20 SE 5-15
East North SE 5-15 SSE 5-15 SSE 5-15 S 5-15
East Central SSE 10-20 SSW 10-20 SSW 10-20 SSW 10-20
East South SSE 5-15 SSW 5-15 SSW 5-15 SSW 5-15
Mt. Hood SSW 15-25 SW 20-30 SW 15-25 SW 20-30
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 5-15
Saturday Night S 10-20
Sunday Morning SSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SSW 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 5-15
Saturday Night S 5-15
Sunday Morning S 10-20
Sunday Afternoon S 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 10-20
Saturday Night SE 10-20
Sunday Morning SSE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SSE 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 10-20
Saturday Night SSW 10-20
Sunday Morning SSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SSW 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 10-20
Saturday Night SSE 5-15
Sunday Morning S 5-15
Sunday Afternoon S 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ESE 15-25
Saturday Night SE 15-25
Sunday Morning SE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SE 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 5-15
Saturday Night SSE 5-15
Sunday Morning SSE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon S 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 10-20
Saturday Night SSW 10-20
Sunday Morning SSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SSW 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 5-15
Saturday Night SSW 5-15
Sunday Morning SSW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SSW 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 15-25
Saturday Night SW 20-30
Sunday Morning SW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon SW 20-30

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, January 20, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

A weak trough sits over the area Monday night and Tuesday with decreasing light precipitation moving into the area.  A stronger front associated with a low center off Heida Gwaii spreads a band of moderate rain and snow into the area early Wednesday with showers continuing into the afternoon ahead of an associated upper trough. Temperatures should be above normal for most of the period with E flow generally keeping temperatures cooler east of the Cascades.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night* Tuesday Tuesday Night* Wednesday *
West North 4500' 3500' 3000' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 4000' 3500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 5000' 4500' 4000' 4500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night* 4500'
Tuesday 3500'
Tuesday Night* 3000'
Wednesday * 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday 4000'
Tuesday Night* 3500'
Wednesday * 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night* 5000'
Tuesday 4500'
Tuesday Night* 4000'
Wednesday * 4500'

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I Extended Weather

Previous forecast from Jan 20, 2024

The NWAC program is administered by the USDA-Forest Service and operates from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle. NWAC services are made possible by important collaboration and support from a wide variety of federal, state and private cooperators.

The 5000’ temperature forecast does not imply a trend over the 12 hr period and only represents the max and min temperatures within a 12 hr period in the zone. The 6-hr snow level forecast, the forecast discussion, and weather forecast sections may add detail regarding temperature trends.

The snow level forecast represents the general snow level over a 6 hr time period. Freezing levels are forecast when precipitation is not expected.

*Easterly or offshore flow is highlighted with an asterisk when we expect relatively cool east winds in the major Cascade Passes. Easterly flow will often lead to temperature inversions and is a key variable for forecasting precipitation type in the Cascade Passes. Strong easterly flow events can affect terrain on a more regional scale.

Ridgeline winds are the average wind speed and direction over a 6 hr time period.

The wind forecast represents an elevation range instead of a single elevation slice. The elevation range overlaps with the near and above treeline elevation bands in the avalanche forecast and differs per zone.

Wind direction indicates the direction the wind originates or comes from on the 16-point compass rose.

Water Equivalent (WE) is the liquid water equivalent of all precipitation types; rain, snow, ice pellets, etc., forecast to the hundredth of an inch at specific locations. To use WE as a proxy for snowfall amounts, start with a snow to water ratio of 10:1 (10 inches of snow = 1 inch WE). Temperatures at or near freezing will generally have a lower ratio (heavy wet snow) and very cold temperatures can have a much higher ratio (dry fluffy snow).

The label LT, is shorthand for ‘less than’.