Issued: 2:09 PM PST Tuesday, January 30, 2024
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

The final act in a series of unseasonably warm and moist storms approaches the Pacific Northwest coastline Tuesday night. A deep low well offshore brings a frontal system into our region late Tuesday night with increasing mostly light rain and S or SE winds. The depth of the low creates an increasingly strong pressure gradient across the Cascades, ushering in moderate to locally strong E winds through the mountain gap and enhancing precipitation along the east slopes of the Cascades.

The frontal system slowly moves eastward across our area on Wednesday, bringing moderate to locally heavy rain and highest elevation snow to the mountains of Washington State. The heaviest rain and highest elevation snow will be in the southern and eastern Olympics, the Washington Cascade volcanoes, along with the Wenatchee Mountains. Snow levels should be in the 6000-8000 ft range in most areas, however subtle cooling with E flow could transition Washington Pass to snowfall.

The moisture feed decreases as the front drifts east of the area Wednesday night. Rain and higher elevation snow shower activity continue as S and E winds gradually decrease.

On Thursday, the offshore upper trough continues to bring light rain and snow showers into the region with snow levels dropping from 5500 to 4500 ft in most areas.

 

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
Tuesday Night Cloudy with increasing light rain developing in the late evening hours and becoming moderate after midnight (heavy in southern and eastern Olympics). Moderate ridgeline winds become strong.
Wednesday Moderate rain and highest elevation snow (heavy in areas other than northern Olympics). Strong ridgeline winds become moderate by the mid-day hours.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with light to moderate rain developing in the early morning hours. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Moderate rain and highest elevation snow. Moderate ridgeline winds, strong gusts.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with light rain developing after midnight. Ridgeline winds increase into the moderate range overnight.
Wednesday Moderate to locally heavy rain and highest elevation snow. Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with light rain developing overnight, becoming moderate for the volcanoes. Moderate ridgeline winds develop overnight.
Wednesday Moderate to locally heavy rain highest elevation snow (heaviest for the volcanoes, particularly Mt Adams). Moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with light rain developing in the early morning hours. Increasing moderate ridgeline and light to moderate E wind at the Pass.
Wednesday Mostly light rain and highest elevation snow. Moderate ridgeline and decreasing mostly light E wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with light rain developing in the early morning hours. Increasing moderate to strong ridgeline and moderate E wind at the Pass.
Wednesday Mostly light rain and highest elevation snow. Moderate ridgeline and decreasing light to moderate E wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with a few rain showers in the early evening. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Light rain and snow. Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with rain and highest elevation snow developing in the early morning hours. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Moderate to heavy rain and snow (heaviest in the Wenatchee Mountains). Moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with light rain developing overnight. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Moderate to heavy rain and highest elevation snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with a chance of light rain and highest elevation snow overnight. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds potentially becoming strong.
Wednesday Moderate rain and high-elevation snow. Decreasing moderate to strong ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Precipitation (in)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.25 0.50 0 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 1.50 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.25 0.75 0.25 0.25
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10 0.25
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise 0.25 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
White Pass LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.10 0.25 0.25 0.25
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 1.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.25 0.75 0.50 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.25 0.75 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Timberline 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0.50
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday 1.50
Wednesday Night 0.50
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0.75
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0.25
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0.25
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0.25
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0.50 - 0.75
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0.25
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0.25
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 1.50
Wednesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0.75
Wednesday Night 0.50
Thursday 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0.75
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Evening* Tuesday Night* Wednesday Morning* Wednesday Afternoon* Wednesday Evening* Wednesday Night* Thursday Morning* Thursday Afternoon*
Olympics 7500' 8000' 7000' 6500' 6000' 5500' 5000' 4500'
West North 7000' 7500' 7000' 7000' 6000' 6000' 5500' 4500'
West Central 7500' 7500' 7000' 7000' 6000' 6000' 5500' 4500'
West South 7500' 7500' 7000' 6500' 6000' 6000' 5500' 4500'
Stevens Pass 7000' 7500' 6000' 5500' 5000' 5000' 5500' 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass 7500' 7500' 6500' 6000' 5500' 6000' 5500' 4500'
East North 6000' 6000' 5500' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 4500'
East Central 7000' 7500' 6500' 6000' 5500' 6000' 5500' 4500'
East South 7500' 7500' 6500' 6000' 6000' 6000' 5500' 4500'
Mt. Hood 8500' 8000' 7500' 7000' 6000' 6000' 5500' 4500'
Olympics Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 7500'
Tuesday Night* 8000'
Wednesday Morning* 7000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 6500'
Wednesday Evening* 6000'
Wednesday Night* 5500'
Thursday Morning* 5000'
Thursday Afternoon* 4500'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 7000'
Tuesday Night* 7500'
Wednesday Morning* 7000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 7000'
Wednesday Evening* 6000'
Wednesday Night* 6000'
Thursday Morning* 5500'
Thursday Afternoon* 4500'
West Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 7500'
Tuesday Night* 7500'
Wednesday Morning* 7000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 7000'
Wednesday Evening* 6000'
Wednesday Night* 6000'
Thursday Morning* 5500'
Thursday Afternoon* 4500'
West South Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 7500'
Tuesday Night* 7500'
Wednesday Morning* 7000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 6500'
Wednesday Evening* 6000'
Wednesday Night* 6000'
Thursday Morning* 5500'
Thursday Afternoon* 4500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 7000'
Tuesday Night* 7500'
Wednesday Morning* 6000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 5500'
Wednesday Evening* 5000'
Wednesday Night* 5000'
Thursday Morning* 5500'
Thursday Afternoon* 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 7500'
Tuesday Night* 7500'
Wednesday Morning* 6500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 6000'
Wednesday Evening* 5500'
Wednesday Night* 6000'
Thursday Morning* 5500'
Thursday Afternoon* 4500'
East North Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 6000'
Tuesday Night* 6000'
Wednesday Morning* 5500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 5000'
Wednesday Evening* 5000'
Wednesday Night* 5000'
Thursday Morning* 5000'
Thursday Afternoon* 4500'
East Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 7000'
Tuesday Night* 7500'
Wednesday Morning* 6500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 6000'
Wednesday Evening* 5500'
Wednesday Night* 6000'
Thursday Morning* 5500'
Thursday Afternoon* 4500'
East South Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 7500'
Tuesday Night* 7500'
Wednesday Morning* 6500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 6000'
Wednesday Evening* 6000'
Wednesday Night* 6000'
Thursday Morning* 5500'
Thursday Afternoon* 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 8500'
Tuesday Night* 8000'
Wednesday Morning* 7500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 7000'
Wednesday Evening* 6000'
Wednesday Night* 6000'
Thursday Morning* 5500'
Thursday Afternoon* 4500'

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Tuesday, January 30, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Tuesday Night Wednesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 39 / 37 38 / 36
West North 39 / 37 37 / 36
West Central 37 / 35 36 / 35
West South 40 / 38 38 / 36
Stevens Pass 38 / 35 36 / 35
Snoqualmie Pass 36 / 35 35 / 35
East North 35 / 33 35 / 32
East Central 37 / 35 37 / 35
East South 37 / 35 37 / 35
Mt. Hood 43 / 38 39 / 38
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 39 / 37
Wednesday 38 / 36
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 39 / 37
Wednesday 37 / 36
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 37 / 35
Wednesday 36 / 35
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 40 / 38
Wednesday 38 / 36
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 38 / 35
Wednesday 36 / 35
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 36 / 35
Wednesday 35 / 35
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 35 / 33
Wednesday 35 / 32
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 37 / 35
Wednesday 37 / 35
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 37 / 35
Wednesday 37 / 35
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 43 / 38
Wednesday 39 / 38

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon
Olympics SSE 15-25 S 30-40 S 25-35 S 20-30
West North SSE 15-25 SE 20-30 SSE 20-30 SSE 20-30
West Central SE 10-20 SE 20-30 SE 15-25 SE 10-20
West South SSE 5-15 SSE 20-30 SSE 15-25 SSE 10-20
Stevens Pass SE 10-20 SE 15-25 SE 15-25 SE 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass ESE 15-25 SE 25-35 SE 15-25 SE 20-30
East North SE 10-20 SE 15-25 SSE 15-25 SSE 10-20
East Central SSE 15-25 SSE 20-30 SSE 20-30 S 15-25
East South SSE 10-20 SSE 15-25 SSE 15-25 SSE 15-25
Mt. Hood SSE 15-25 SSE 25-35 SSE 25-35 SSE 20-30
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSE 15-25
Tuesday Night S 30-40
Wednesday Morning S 25-35
Wednesday Afternoon S 20-30
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSE 15-25
Tuesday Night SE 20-30
Wednesday Morning SSE 20-30
Wednesday Afternoon SSE 20-30
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SE 10-20
Tuesday Night SE 20-30
Wednesday Morning SE 15-25
Wednesday Afternoon SE 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSE 5-15
Tuesday Night SSE 20-30
Wednesday Morning SSE 15-25
Wednesday Afternoon SSE 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SE 10-20
Tuesday Night SE 15-25
Wednesday Morning SE 15-25
Wednesday Afternoon SE 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening ESE 15-25
Tuesday Night SE 25-35
Wednesday Morning SE 15-25
Wednesday Afternoon SE 20-30
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SE 10-20
Tuesday Night SE 15-25
Wednesday Morning SSE 15-25
Wednesday Afternoon SSE 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSE 15-25
Tuesday Night SSE 20-30
Wednesday Morning SSE 20-30
Wednesday Afternoon S 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSE 10-20
Tuesday Night SSE 15-25
Wednesday Morning SSE 15-25
Wednesday Afternoon SSE 15-25
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSE 15-25
Tuesday Night SSE 25-35
Wednesday Morning SSE 25-35
Wednesday Afternoon SSE 20-30

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

Cooling continues with the upper trough moving into our nearshore waters with additional very light rain and snow showers through Friday. Snow levels should hover near around 3000-3500 ft most of the day on Friday. The trough becomes a closed low and drifts southward offshore, bringing chances for additional light snowfall at times. Temperatures should be near seasonal norms to start the weekend.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Night Friday Friday Night Saturday
West North 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500'
Mt. Hood 4500' 3500' 3500' 3500'
West North Elevation
Thursday Night 4000'
Friday 3500'
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Night 4000'
Friday 3500'
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Night 4500'
Friday 3500'
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday 3500'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 30, 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’.