Issued: 2:04 PM PST Wednesday, January 31, 2024
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

A north-south oriented frontal boundary will barely budge over the next 24 hours, only gradually shifting east on Thursday and weakening over time. Rain and high-elevation snow will continue this evening and overnight, soaking the same areas with the steadiest and heaviest precipitation along the east slopes of the Cascades including the Wentachees and the Mt Baker area on west side. Steadier precipitation will turn more showery overnight along the west slopes of the Cascades and Olympics and during the day on Thursday as the frontal boundary dissipates. Snow levels will slowly dip tonight and tomorrow...sliding down to the 5000-6000' range by Thursday afternoon. Strong S-SE ridgeline winds will stay continue overnight and then weaken on Thursday. 

The upper low that spawned the frontal boundary will still be hanging offshore Thursday night and Friday. The subtropical tap of moisture will be gone, and it's wake, we'll have a mildly unstable airmass that will support scattered showers over the area. Snow levels will continue their painfully slow decline, ending up at around 4500' by Friday afternoon. Low elevation temperatures will remain above freezing over the short term. 

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
Wednesday Night Periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow becoming scattered light showers late. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Thursday Mostly cloudy in the morning with scattered light rain and snow showers becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds decreasing.
Wednesday Night Light to moderate rain and snow becoming showers after midnight. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Thursday Mostly cloudy in the morning with scattered light rain and snow showers becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds decreasing.
Wednesday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow becoming showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Mostly cloudy in the morning with scattered light rain and snow showers becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds decreasing.
Wednesday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow becoming scattered showers after midnight. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Thursday Mostly cloudy in the morning with scattered light rain and snow showers becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds decreasing.
Wednesday Night Periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow becoming scattered showers after midnight. Moderate SE ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Thursday Mostly cloudy in the morning with scattered light rain and snow showers becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. Light SE ridgeline and Pass level winds becoming light westerly in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow becoming scattered showers after midnight. Moderate to strong SE ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Thursday Mostly cloudy in the morning with scattered light rain and snow showers becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. Light to moderate SE ridgeline and Pass level winds becoming light westerly in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Thursday Light rain and snow becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Thursday Periods of light rain and snow becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Thursday Periods of light rain and snow becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Periods of light rain and snow becoming scattered showers after midnight. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Thursday Mostly cloudy in the morning with scattered light rain and snow showers becoming partly sunny. Moderate ridgeline winds decreasing.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Evening Wednesday Night Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon Thursday Evening Thursday Night Friday Morning Friday Afternoon
Olympics 6500' 6000' 5500' 5500' 5000' 4500' 4500' 4500'
West North 6500' 6500' 6000' 5000' 5000' 4500' 4500' 4500'
West Central 6500' 6500' 6000' 5500' 5000' 4500' 4500' 4500'
West South 6500' 6500' 6000' 5500' 5000' 4500' 4500' 4500'
Stevens Pass 6000' 6500' 6000' 5500' 5000' 4000' 4000' 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass 6000' 6500' 6000' 5500' 5000' 4500' 4500' 4500'
East North 6000' 6000' 6000' 5500' 5000' 4000' 4000' 4500'
East Central 6000' 6500' 6000' 5500' 5000' 4500' 4500' 4500'
East South 6500' 6500' 6500' 6000' 5500' 4500' 4500' 4500'
Mt. Hood 7000' 6500' 6500' 6500' 5500' 4500' 4500' 4500'
Olympics Elevation
Wednesday Evening 6500'
Wednesday Night 6000'
Thursday Morning 5500'
Thursday Afternoon 5500'
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 4500'
Friday Morning 4500'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Evening 6500'
Wednesday Night 6500'
Thursday Morning 6000'
Thursday Afternoon 5000'
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 4500'
Friday Morning 4500'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
West Central Elevation
Wednesday Evening 6500'
Wednesday Night 6500'
Thursday Morning 6000'
Thursday Afternoon 5500'
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 4500'
Friday Morning 4500'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
West South Elevation
Wednesday Evening 6500'
Wednesday Night 6500'
Thursday Morning 6000'
Thursday Afternoon 5500'
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 4500'
Friday Morning 4500'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening 6000'
Wednesday Night 6500'
Thursday Morning 6000'
Thursday Afternoon 5500'
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 4000'
Friday Morning 4000'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening 6000'
Wednesday Night 6500'
Thursday Morning 6000'
Thursday Afternoon 5500'
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 4500'
Friday Morning 4500'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
East North Elevation
Wednesday Evening 6000'
Wednesday Night 6000'
Thursday Morning 6000'
Thursday Afternoon 5500'
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 4000'
Friday Morning 4000'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
East Central Elevation
Wednesday Evening 6000'
Wednesday Night 6500'
Thursday Morning 6000'
Thursday Afternoon 5500'
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 4500'
Friday Morning 4500'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
East South Elevation
Wednesday Evening 6500'
Wednesday Night 6500'
Thursday Morning 6500'
Thursday Afternoon 6000'
Thursday Evening 5500'
Thursday Night 4500'
Friday Morning 4500'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Evening 7000'
Wednesday Night 6500'
Thursday Morning 6500'
Thursday Afternoon 6500'
Thursday Evening 5500'
Thursday Night 4500'
Friday Morning 4500'
Friday Afternoon 4500'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Wednesday Night Thursday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 35 / 32 34 / 31
West North 35 / 34 34 / 31
West Central 35 / 33 35 / 32
West South 36 / 34 36 / 32
Stevens Pass 36 / 34 36 / 32
Snoqualmie Pass 35 / 33 34 / 32
East North 35 / 33 35 / 32
East Central 36 / 34 36 / 32
East South 35 / 33 36 / 32
Mt. Hood 40 / 34 39 / 33
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 35 / 32
Thursday 34 / 31
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 35 / 34
Thursday 34 / 31
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 35 / 33
Thursday 35 / 32
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 36 / 34
Thursday 36 / 32
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 36 / 34
Thursday 36 / 32
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 35 / 33
Thursday 34 / 32
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 35 / 33
Thursday 35 / 32
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 36 / 34
Thursday 36 / 32
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 35 / 33
Thursday 36 / 32
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 40 / 34
Thursday 39 / 33

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Wednesday Evening Wednesday Night Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon
Olympics S 20-30 S 15-25 S 15-25 S 15-25
West North SSE 15-25 SSE 10-20 S 15-25 S 15-25
West Central SE 15-25 SSE 10-20 S 10-20 S 10-20
West South SE 25-35 SE 15-25 SSE 10-20 SW 5-15
Stevens Pass SSE 20-30 SE 10-20 SE 5-15 SW 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass SE 30-40 SE 20-30 SE 10-20 SW 5-15
East North SSE 20-30 SSE 15-25 SSE 10-20 S 5-15
East Central SSE 25-35 SSE 20-30 S 15-25 S 5-15
East South SSE 25-35 SSE 20-30 S 15-25 S 5-15
Mt. Hood S 25-35 S 15-25 S 10-20 SSW 5-15
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening S 20-30
Wednesday Night S 15-25
Thursday Morning S 15-25
Thursday Afternoon S 15-25
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SSE 15-25
Wednesday Night SSE 10-20
Thursday Morning S 15-25
Thursday Afternoon S 15-25
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SE 15-25
Wednesday Night SSE 10-20
Thursday Morning S 10-20
Thursday Afternoon S 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SE 25-35
Wednesday Night SE 15-25
Thursday Morning SSE 10-20
Thursday Afternoon SW 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SSE 20-30
Wednesday Night SE 10-20
Thursday Morning SE 5-15
Thursday Afternoon SW 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SE 30-40
Wednesday Night SE 20-30
Thursday Morning SE 10-20
Thursday Afternoon SW 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SSE 20-30
Wednesday Night SSE 15-25
Thursday Morning SSE 10-20
Thursday Afternoon S 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SSE 25-35
Wednesday Night SSE 20-30
Thursday Morning S 15-25
Thursday Afternoon S 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SSE 25-35
Wednesday Night SSE 20-30
Thursday Morning S 15-25
Thursday Afternoon S 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening S 25-35
Wednesday Night S 15-25
Thursday Morning S 10-20
Thursday Afternoon SSW 5-15

Extended Weather Synopsis

The aforementioned upper low will slide south off the California coast this weekend. The Pacific Northwest will be cut off from the main jet stream which will be well to our south. With weak upper level troughing over the region, scattered showers will remain in the forecast but it will be much drier than what we've experienced over the last week. Depending on how that California upper low nudges to our area, we may see locally strong E-SE winds in the Mt Hood area or even the south Washington Cascades. Snow levels will settle into the 3000-4500' over this period. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

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

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

Previous forecast from Jan 31, 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’.