Issued: 1:41 PM PST Saturday, February 3, 2024
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

Split flow in the jet stream continues to send major storms north and south of the region while leaving us with relatively benign weather. This pattern should hold as we wrap up the weekend. 

Expect a generally dry, calm, and cloudy night across the mountains. Patchy low clouds and fog could form in the mountain valleys and passes. A few very light upslope snow showers might sneak into the East North zone and bring a slight dusting to areas near and north of Lake Chelan. 

On Sunday, upper air winds shift more SE and will draw clouds and moisture into the area from central Washington. This should result in overcast skies for locations along and east of the Crest and near Mt Hood. A few snow showers continue for the east slopes of the Cascades north of Hwy 2, but these flurries shouldn't amount to much. For areas further west, even if you start the day cloudy, expect a bit more sunshine by the afternoon. The biggest weather impact on Sunday could be increasing E-SE winds. Breezy conditions will develop near the Crest and in the mountain Passes. 

A low-pressure system lifting northward from California Sunday night will spin additional moisture into the area. With SE flow aloft, this will send the bulk of the precipitation into the Mt Hood, East South, and East Central zones. Expect generally light snow showers to move from south to north on both sides of the Cascades. The highest accumulations should occur in the southern half of the forecast region through Monday afternoon. 

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 Partly cloudy with some low clouds/fog.
Sunday Becoming mostly sunny.
Saturday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with some low clouds/fog forming.
Sunday Mostly cloudy in the morning becoming sunnier in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with some low clouds/fog.
Sunday Mostly cloudy in the morning, becoming sunnier by mid-day.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with some low clouds/fog forming.
Sunday Becoming partly cloudy to mostly sunny. Passing bands of high clouds. SE winds becoming light to moderate.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with low clouds/fog. Light E flow developing overnight.
Sunday Cloudy in the morning with increasing sunshine in the afternoon. Light E winds becoming moderate later in the day.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with areas of low clouds/fog. E flow developing overnight.
Sunday Mostly cloudy in the morning becoming mostly sunny. Light E winds becoming moderate in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light upslope snow showers possible.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with a few small sun breaks. Light upslope snow showers.
Saturday Night Cloudy with areas of low clouds/fog. A few flurries possible near and north of Hwy 2.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with a few small sun breaks. Light upslope snow showers possible, particularly near and north of Hwy 2. Winds becoming SE light to moderate.
Saturday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with patchy low clouds/fog.
Sunday Becoming cloudy. A few flurries possible. SE winds becoming light to moderate.
Saturday Night Mostly clear with low clouds/fog in places.
Sunday Mostly sunny becoming overcast. SE winds increasing significantly and becoming moderate to strong.

Issued: 1:41 PM PST Saturday, February 3, 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 0 0 0 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0 0 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 0 0 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Paradise 0 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
White Pass 0 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge 0 LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 0 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Timberline 0 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25

Issued: 1:41 PM PST Saturday, February 3, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 1:41 PM PST Saturday, February 3, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 29 / 25 32 / 25
West North 29 / 25 31 / 25
West Central 29 / 26 32 / 25
West South 28 / 23 33 / 25
Stevens Pass 28 / 25 31 / 23
Snoqualmie Pass 29 / 26 32 / 25
East North 28 / 23 27 / 22
East Central 30 / 26 30 / 24
East South 29 / 24 30 / 24
Mt. Hood 30 / 26 31 / 25
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 25
Sunday 32 / 25
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 25
Sunday 31 / 25
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 26
Sunday 32 / 25
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 23
Sunday 33 / 25
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 25
Sunday 31 / 23
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 26
Sunday 32 / 25
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 23
Sunday 27 / 22
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 30 / 26
Sunday 30 / 24
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 24
Sunday 30 / 24
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 30 / 26
Sunday 31 / 25

Issued: 1:41 PM PST Saturday, February 3, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics NE 0-10 NE 0-10 ENE 5-15 E 5-15
West North NE 0-10 NE 0-10 E 5-15 ESE 5-15
West Central N 0-10 NE 0-10 E 5-15 ESE 5-15
West South N 0-10 NE 0-10 E 5-15 SE 10-20
Stevens Pass N 0-10 VAR 0-10 E 5-15 ESE 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass N 0-10 VAR 0-10 E 5-15 ESE 10-20
East North NNE 5-15 NNE 5-15 E 0-10 SE 5-15
East Central NE 0-10 VAR 0-10 E 5-15 SE 10-20
East South VAR 0-10 SE 0-10 SE 5-15 SE 10-20
Mt. Hood VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10 SE 10-20 SE 20-30
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening NE 0-10
Saturday Night NE 0-10
Sunday Morning ENE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon E 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening NE 0-10
Saturday Night NE 0-10
Sunday Morning E 5-15
Sunday Afternoon ESE 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening N 0-10
Saturday Night NE 0-10
Sunday Morning E 5-15
Sunday Afternoon ESE 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening N 0-10
Saturday Night NE 0-10
Sunday Morning E 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SE 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening N 0-10
Saturday Night VAR 0-10
Sunday Morning E 5-15
Sunday Afternoon ESE 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening N 0-10
Saturday Night VAR 0-10
Sunday Morning E 5-15
Sunday Afternoon ESE 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening NNE 5-15
Saturday Night NNE 5-15
Sunday Morning E 0-10
Sunday Afternoon SE 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening NE 0-10
Saturday Night VAR 0-10
Sunday Morning E 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SE 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening VAR 0-10
Saturday Night SE 0-10
Sunday Morning SE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SE 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening VAR 0-10
Saturday Night VAR 0-10
Sunday Morning SE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SE 20-30

Issued: 1:41 PM PST Saturday, February 3, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

Late Monday, a narrow open trough starts to develop over the Pacific Northwest. This should allow a few light showers to linger in the mountains through Tuesday. An approaching storm slides down the British Columbia coastline overnight and will help bring a better chance of significant precipitation to the region. Right now, the moisture tap looks thin, so this won't likely produce impressive snow totals. However, it should help temperatures drop and open the door for additional disturbances later in the week. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night* Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday *
West North 3000' 2500' 2000' 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 3000' 2500' 2000'
Mt. Hood 3500' 3000' 3000' 2500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night* 3000'
Tuesday 2500'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday * 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night* 3000'
Tuesday 3000'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday * 2000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night* 3500'
Tuesday 3000'
Tuesday Night 3000'
Wednesday * 2500'

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

Previous forecast from Feb 3, 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’.