Issued: 1:54 PM PST Sunday, February 4, 2024
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

After a generally nice and quiet weather day in the mountains, a series of weak disturbances will impact the area and bring us a few inches of snow to start the week. 

Sunday night, a low-pressure system will lift northward along the California coast. As it does so, it will wrap clouds and moisture into the region from the SE. This isn't our normal flow pattern. In this case, precipitation will favor the Mt Hood, East South, and East Central zones. Peaks along the south side of the Wenatchee Mts and near Ahtanum Meadows could see the greatest snowfall totals. Showers will spread from southeast to northwest Sunday night and into Monday. That means the Olympics and Mt Baker areas could stay dry until Monday afternoon. 

Southeasterly winds should increase and peak with the onset of precipitation. While not a major east wind event, areas along the Cascade Crest, near Mt Hood, and in the mountain passes could experience strong and gusty conditions. By Monday morning, winds turn more southerly and decrease even as snow showers continue. 

A narrow trough forms over the Pacific Northwest Monday evening. This feature will once again leave us in the lurch. Without any major driving weather factors, we should continue to see a mix of clouds, very light snow showers, and lighter winds. This time, however, with a return to a more classic westerly flow pattern, most of the shower activity should occur near and west of the Crest. The pattern continues into Tuesday as a weak shortwave system approaching form the NW squeezes the narrow trough, but has little effect on our weather. 

 

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
Sunday Night Becoming mostly cloudy.
Monday Cloudy with a few light showers.
Sunday Night Becoming cloudy. A few flurries possible in the eastern edge of the zone.
Monday Cloudy with light snow showers, mainly in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Becoming cloudy. Light to moderate ESE winds. A few flurries possible in the eastern and southern portions of the zone.
Monday Cloudy with light snow showers, mainly in the afternoon. Light to moderate ESE winds decreasing.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow showers. Moderate ESE winds increasing overnight. Stronger winds possible near the Cascade Crest.
Monday Cloudy with light snow showers. Moderate ESE winds turning SE and decreasing in the afternoon. Stronger winds possible in the morning near the Cascade Crest.
Sunday Night Becoming cloudy with a a few light snow showers mainly after midnight. ESE winds becoming moderate.
Monday Cloudy with a few light snow showers. Light to moderate ESE winds decreasing and turning more SE.
Sunday Night Becoming cloudy with a few light snow showers mainly east of the Pass. Moderate ESE winds becoming strong and gusty.
Monday Cloudy with occasional light snow showers mainly east of the Pass. Moderate ESE winds decreasing and turning SE in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Increasing clouds overnight with a few very light upslope showers possible. SE winds becoming light to moderate.
Monday Cloudy with occasional light snow showers. Light to moderate SE winds.
Sunday Night Cloudy with snow showers, heaviest along near and south of the Wenatchee Mts. Light to moderate SE winds becoming strong and gusty.
Monday Cloudy with snow showers mainly near and south of the Wenatchee Mts. Moderate SE winds decreasing and turning S.
Sunday Night Becoming cloudy with snow showers. Moderate SW winds becoming strong and gusty.
Monday Cloudy with snow showers. Moderate SE winds turning S and decreasing.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate showers. Moderate to strong and gusty SE winds increasing overnight.
Monday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate showers. Moderate to strong and gusty S winds turning SW and decreasing slightly.

Issued: 1:54 PM PST Sunday, February 4, 2024

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 1:54 PM PST Sunday, February 4, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 1:54 PM PST Sunday, February 4, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 29 / 24 31 / 24
West North 32 / 26 34 / 26
West Central 31 / 25 34 / 26
West South 30 / 24 33 / 25
Stevens Pass 29 / 25 32 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass 29 / 26 32 / 26
East North 27 / 22 29 / 22
East Central 29 / 24 31 / 25
East South 29 / 26 32 / 26
Mt. Hood 30 / 27 34 / 27
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 24
Monday 31 / 24
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 26
Monday 34 / 26
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 25
Monday 34 / 26
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 24
Monday 33 / 25
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 25
Monday 32 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 26
Monday 32 / 26
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 27 / 22
Monday 29 / 22
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 24
Monday 31 / 25
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 26
Monday 32 / 26
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 27
Monday 34 / 27

Issued: 1:54 PM PST Sunday, February 4, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics ESE 5-15 ESE 5-15 ENE 5-15 VAR 0-10
West North ESE 5-15 ESE 5-15 ESE 5-15 E 0-10
West Central ESE 10-20 ESE 10-20 ESE 10-20 ESE 5-15
West South ESE 15-25 ESE 20-30 ESE 15-25 SE 5-15
Stevens Pass ESE 10-20 ESE 15-25 ESE 10-20 SE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass ESE 15-25 ESE 20-30 ESE 15-25 SE 5-15
East North SE 5-15 SE 10-20 SE 10-20 SE 10-20
East Central SE 10-20 SE 20-30 SE 15-25 S 5-15
East South SE 15-25 SE 20-30 SE 15-25 S 5-15
Mt. Hood SE 20-30 SSE 25-35 S 20-30 SW 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening ESE 5-15
Sunday Night ESE 5-15
Monday Morning ENE 5-15
Monday Afternoon VAR 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening ESE 5-15
Sunday Night ESE 5-15
Monday Morning ESE 5-15
Monday Afternoon E 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening ESE 10-20
Sunday Night ESE 10-20
Monday Morning ESE 10-20
Monday Afternoon ESE 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening ESE 15-25
Sunday Night ESE 20-30
Monday Morning ESE 15-25
Monday Afternoon SE 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening ESE 10-20
Sunday Night ESE 15-25
Monday Morning ESE 10-20
Monday Afternoon SE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening ESE 15-25
Sunday Night ESE 20-30
Monday Morning ESE 15-25
Monday Afternoon SE 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SE 5-15
Sunday Night SE 10-20
Monday Morning SE 10-20
Monday Afternoon SE 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SE 10-20
Sunday Night SE 20-30
Monday Morning SE 15-25
Monday Afternoon S 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SE 15-25
Sunday Night SE 20-30
Monday Morning SE 15-25
Monday Afternoon S 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SE 20-30
Sunday Night SSE 25-35
Monday Morning S 20-30
Monday Afternoon SW 15-25

Issued: 1:54 PM PST Sunday, February 4, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

A short wave system will try to make its way into WA and OR on Tuesday night. However, the latest round of weather models track this storm further offshore than previously predicted. If this path proves true, it will keep the bulk of the precipitation out over the ocean. A very broad open trough appears to form over the majority of the mountain west. This pattern often leads to atmospheric instability, showers, and difficult-to-predict weather systems. All that to say, the long-range forecast is short on specifics, but there's a chance of snow in the forecast in nearly every 12 hr period

Extended Snow Level (ft)

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

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

Previous forecast from Feb 4, 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’.