Issued: 2:12 PM PST Saturday, January 27, 2024
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

A SW flow with a trough parked well offshore keeps the Pacific Northwest unseasonably mild and wet. Hot on the heels of the low that crossed the Cascades on Saturday, a disturbance within the SW brings moderate rain in the evening with precipitation becoming heavy overnight. The SSW winds ahead of the disturbance favor the volcanoes, but flow shifts SW or WSW during the overnight hours, enabling the passes to get plenty of moisture. Snow levels have already risen above 7000 ft for the west slopes of the Cascades, but expect that transition for middle and upper elevations at Stevens Pass during the evening hours and Washington Pass overnight into Sunday morning.

On Sunday, shower activity quickly tapers during the morning and focuses on the west slopes of the Cascades, but expect plenty of cloud cover to linger even if showers mostly end. The next storm sends an atmospheric river towards SW BC, but a warm front should brush the Olympics and Mt Baker areas for some light rain late in the day into the evening hours. The Pacific Northwest remains in the warm sector of the storm late Sunday night and Monday, with some continued chances for very light rainfall which favor the southern Olympics and Mt Baker. Offshore flow could bring one of the warmest days ever recorded for January to the Cascade foothills and Puget Sound lowlands, despite the cloud cover.

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 Moderate rain tapering to light showers overnight. Moderate ridgeline winds peak in the evening.
Sunday Light rain showers. Very light rain and snow showers with some steady light rain possible in the afternoon. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Heavy rain and highest elevation snow. Moderate ridgeline winds peak during the evening hours.
Sunday Light showers taper in the morning with light rain and highest-elevation snow developing late in the day. Light ridgeline winds become moderate late in the day.
Saturday Night Heavy rain and highest elevation snow. Moderate ridgeline winds peak during the evening hours.
Sunday Light rain showers taper with light rain developing late in the day.
Saturday Night Moderate rain and highest elevation snow at Crystal and White Pass; very heavy rain and highest elevation snow at Paradise. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to moderate rain showers tapering through the mid-day hours, then becoming cloudy.
Saturday Night Moderate rain. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Light rain showers tapering during the morning hours, then becoming cloudy. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night Heavy rain. Light to moderate ridgeline and E winds at the Pass.
Sunday Light rain showers tapering during the morning hours, then becoming cloudy. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline and light E wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow, increasing overnight. Rising snow levels. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light rain showers tapering during the morning hours, then becoming mostly cloudy.
Saturday Night Increasing light to moderate rain. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light rain showers near the Cascade Crest, then becoming mostly cloudy. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Increasing moderate rain. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light rain showers near the Cascade Crest in the morning hours, then becoming mostly cloudy.
Saturday Night Moderate to heavy rain and high-elevation snow. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light rain showers tapering during the morning hours, then becoming mostly cloudy. Decreasing moderate ridgleline winds.

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 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 1.50 0.25 0.25 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 1.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Stevens Pass 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25 0 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 1.00 - 1.50 0.25 0 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.10 0 0
Paradise 1.50 - 2.00 0.25 - 0.50 0 LT 0.10
White Pass 0.50 LT 0.25 0 0
Washington Pass 0.75 LT 0.25 0 0
Mission Ridge 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25 0 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 0 0
Timberline 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 0 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 1.50
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 1.50
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 1.50 - 2.00
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.10
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.75
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.75
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.75
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening* Saturday Night* Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon* Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon*
Olympics 7500' 7500' 7000' 8000' 8500' 8500' 8000' 8000'
West North 7500' 7500' 7000' 7000' 7500' 8000' 8000' 8000'
West Central 7500' 7500' 7500' 7500' 8000' 8000' 8000' 9000'
West South 7500' 8000' 7500' 8000' 9000' 9500' 9000' 9500'
Stevens Pass 7000' 7500' 7500' 7500' 8500' 9000' 8500' 9000'
Snoqualmie Pass 7500' 7500' 7500' 7500' 8500' 9000' 8500' 9000'
East North 5500' 5500' 6500' 7000' 7500' 8000' 8500' 8000'
East Central 7500' 8000' 7500' 7500' 8500' 9000' 9500' 1000'
East South 7500' 8000' 7500' 8000' 9000' 9500' 10000' 10500'
Mt. Hood 8000' 8000' 8000' 8500' 10000' 10000' 10000' 11000'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening* 7500'
Saturday Night* 7500'
Sunday Morning* 7000'
Sunday Afternoon* 8000'
Sunday Evening* 8500'
Sunday Night* 8500'
Monday Morning* 8000'
Monday Afternoon* 8000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 7500'
Saturday Night* 7500'
Sunday Morning* 7000'
Sunday Afternoon* 7000'
Sunday Evening* 7500'
Sunday Night* 8000'
Monday Morning* 8000'
Monday Afternoon* 8000'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 7500'
Saturday Night* 7500'
Sunday Morning* 7500'
Sunday Afternoon* 7500'
Sunday Evening* 8000'
Sunday Night* 8000'
Monday Morning* 8000'
Monday Afternoon* 9000'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 7500'
Saturday Night* 8000'
Sunday Morning* 7500'
Sunday Afternoon* 8000'
Sunday Evening* 9000'
Sunday Night* 9500'
Monday Morning* 9000'
Monday Afternoon* 9500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 7000'
Saturday Night* 7500'
Sunday Morning* 7500'
Sunday Afternoon* 7500'
Sunday Evening* 8500'
Sunday Night* 9000'
Monday Morning* 8500'
Monday Afternoon* 9000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 7500'
Saturday Night* 7500'
Sunday Morning* 7500'
Sunday Afternoon* 7500'
Sunday Evening* 8500'
Sunday Night* 9000'
Monday Morning* 8500'
Monday Afternoon* 9000'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 5500'
Saturday Night* 5500'
Sunday Morning* 6500'
Sunday Afternoon* 7000'
Sunday Evening* 7500'
Sunday Night* 8000'
Monday Morning* 8500'
Monday Afternoon* 8000'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 7500'
Saturday Night* 8000'
Sunday Morning* 7500'
Sunday Afternoon* 7500'
Sunday Evening* 8500'
Sunday Night* 9000'
Monday Morning* 9500'
Monday Afternoon* 1000'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 7500'
Saturday Night* 8000'
Sunday Morning* 7500'
Sunday Afternoon* 8000'
Sunday Evening* 9000'
Sunday Night* 9500'
Monday Morning* 10000'
Monday Afternoon* 10500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening* 8000'
Saturday Night* 8000'
Sunday Morning* 8000'
Sunday Afternoon* 8500'
Sunday Evening* 10000'
Sunday Night* 10000'
Monday Morning* 10000'
Monday Afternoon* 11000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 39 / 38 41 / 37
West North 40 / 38 40 / 36
West Central 41 / 40 40 / 39
West South 41 / 40 42 / 40
Stevens Pass 39 / 35 43 / 38
Snoqualmie Pass 39 / 36 41 / 38
East North 35 / 32 39 / 34
East Central 39 / 35 42 / 38
East South 40 / 36 43 / 40
Mt. Hood 42 / 41 44 / 41
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 39 / 38
Sunday 41 / 37
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 40 / 38
Sunday 40 / 36
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 41 / 40
Sunday 40 / 39
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 41 / 40
Sunday 42 / 40
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 39 / 35
Sunday 43 / 38
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 39 / 36
Sunday 41 / 38
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 35 / 32
Sunday 39 / 34
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 39 / 35
Sunday 42 / 38
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 40 / 36
Sunday 43 / 40
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 42 / 41
Sunday 44 / 41

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics SSW 15-25 SW 10-20 SSW 10-20 SSW 15-25
West North SSW 25-35 SSW 20-30 SSW 5-15 S 15-25
West Central SSW 15-25 SSW 10-20 SW 5-15 SSW 5-15
West South SSW 10-20 SW 15-25 SW 5-15 SSW 5-15
Stevens Pass SW 5-15 SSW 5-15 WSW 5-15 SSW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass SSW 10-20 SSW 10-20 WSW 10-20 SSW 5-15
East North SSW 10-20 SSW 10-20 WSW 5-15 SSW 5-15
East Central SSW 10-20 SSW 15-25 WSW 10-20 SW 10-20
East South SSW 5-15 SW 10-20 SW 10-20 SW 10-20
Mt. Hood SSW 20-30 SW 25-35 WSW 20-30 SW 10-20
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 15-25
Saturday Night SW 10-20
Sunday Morning SSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SSW 15-25
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 25-35
Saturday Night SSW 20-30
Sunday Morning SSW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon S 15-25
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 15-25
Saturday Night SSW 10-20
Sunday Morning SW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SSW 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 10-20
Saturday Night SW 15-25
Sunday Morning SW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SSW 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 5-15
Saturday Night SSW 5-15
Sunday Morning WSW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SSW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 10-20
Saturday Night SSW 10-20
Sunday Morning WSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SSW 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 10-20
Saturday Night SSW 10-20
Sunday Morning WSW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SSW 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 10-20
Saturday Night SSW 15-25
Sunday Morning WSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SW 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 5-15
Saturday Night SW 10-20
Sunday Morning SW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SW 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 20-30
Saturday Night SW 25-35
Sunday Morning WSW 20-30
Sunday Afternoon SW 10-20

Extended Weather Synopsis

The atmospheric river previously impacting British Columbia slides eastward Monday night and weakens as it brings moderate to locally heavy precipitation favoring the volcanoes. A deep low pressure offshore becomes the focus of attention on Tuesday, with some light rainfall over our region. Moderate to locally heavy rainfall moves onshore Tuesday night and Wednesday with southerly flow. Snow levels remain in the 6500-9000 ft range.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night* Tuesday * Tuesday Night* Wednesday *
West North 7500' 6500' 7000' 7500'
Snoqualmie Pass 8000' 7000' 7000' 6500'
Mt. Hood 9000' 8000' 8000' 8000'
West North Elevation
Monday Night* 7500'
Tuesday * 6500'
Tuesday Night* 7000'
Wednesday * 7500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night* 8000'
Tuesday * 7000'
Tuesday Night* 7000'
Wednesday * 6500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night* 9000'
Tuesday * 8000'
Tuesday Night* 8000'
Wednesday * 8000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 27, 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’.