The second round of Friday's storm system is ramping up this afternoon across the region. Moderate to locally heavy rain and snow will develop and continue through the early evening hours. Until a 7pm-ish frontal passage through the Cascades, snow levels will stay on the mild side, in the 3500-4500' range, even in the Cascade Passes. Strong W-SW winds will continue Friday night for most areas and slowly decrease during the day on Saturday.
As we get later into Friday evening, the bottom will fall out for the snow levels as they come crashing towards sea-level by Saturday morning. Significant post-frontal showers will continue overnight, piling up additional snowfall, especially along the West slopes of the Cascades and Mt Hood. A Puget Sound Convergence zone will likely produce locally heavy amounts of snow overnight in the Mtn Loop to Hwy20 West area. A cold upper level low hanging offshore of central British Columbia's coast will direct showers into our region all day Saturday in cool westerly flow aloft. These snow showers won't be quite as moisture-laden as Friday's storm, but we'll squeeze 1.5x to almost double the snow out of what you'd expect with a similar precipitation forecast under normal Cascadian winter temperatures. Storm totals from tonight through Saturday should total 6-18", with the highest amounts along the west slopes/near the Puget Sound Convergence zone and the lower end along the east slopes of the Cascades, especially further east of the Cascade crest due to downsloping/drying in westerly flow.
We'll ramp down the winds and the snow showers a notch Saturday night and Sunday, but expect a few additional low-density inches during each 12-hr period. Mid-mountain temperatures will fall into the teens by Saturday morning with single digits common at upper elevations. Pack the right layers this weekend between the temperatures, new snow and the wind chill.
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
Friday
Night
Light to moderate snow showers. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Saturday
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate scattered snow showers, potentially heavier in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Night
Moderate to occasionally heavy snow showers becoming lighter after midnight. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Saturday
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate scattered snow showers, potentially heavier in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Night
Moderate to occasionally heavy snow showers becoming lighter after midnight. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Saturday
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate scattered snow showers, potentially heavier in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Night
Light to moderate snow showers (heavier Paradise area, lighter Crystal area) becoming lighter after midnight. Strong ridgeline winds.
Saturday
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate scattered snow showers, potentially heavier in the afternoon. Strong ridgeline winds becoming moderate in the afternoon.
Friday
Night
Moderate snow showers becoming lighter after midnight. Moderate to strong WSW ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Saturday
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate scattered snow showers, potentially heavier in the afternoon. Moderate to strong W ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Friday
Night
Moderate snow showers becoming lighter after midnight. Moderate to strong WSW ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Saturday
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate scattered snow showers, potentially heavier in the afternoon. Moderate to strong W ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Friday
Night
Light to moderate snow showers, heaviest near the Cascade crest, becoming lighter after midnight. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with light scattered snow showers in the morning, then light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the afternoon, heaviest near the Cascade crest. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Night
Light to moderate snow showers, heaviest near the Cascade crest, becoming lighter after midnight. Strong ridgeline winds.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with light scattered snow showers in the morning, then light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the afternoon, heaviest near the Cascade crest. Strong ridgeline winds.
Friday
Night
Light to moderate snow showers, heaviest near the Cascade crest, becoming lighter after midnight. Strong ridgeline winds.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with light scattered snow showers in the morning, then light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the afternoon, heaviest near the Cascade crest. Strong ridgeline winds.
Friday
Night
Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow showers, becoming lighter late. Strong to extreme ridgeline winds.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with light scattered snow showers in the morning, then light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the afternoon. Strong ridgeline winds.
Issued: 1:53 PM PST Friday, January 31, 2025
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
Saturday
Saturday Night
Sunday
4 pm - 4 am
4 am - 4 pm
4 pm - 4 am
4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge
0.25 - 0.50
0.25 - 0.50
0.25
0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area
0.75 -1.00
0.25 - 0.50
0.25
LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
1.00
0.50
0.25
LT 0.25
Stevens Pass
0.75
0.25
LT 0.25
LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass
0.75
0.25 - 0.50
LT 0.25
LT 0.25
Crystal Mt
0.25 - 0.50
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
Paradise
0.75
0.25 - 0.50
0.25
LT 0.25
White Pass
0.50 - 0.75
0.25 - 0.50
LT 0.25
LT 0.25
Washington Pass
0.25 - 0.50
LT 0.25
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
Mission Ridge
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
0.50
LT 0.25
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
0.25 - 0.50
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows
0.75 -1.00
0.25
LT 0.25
LT 0.25
Timberline
1.00
0.25 - 0.50
LT 0.25
LT 0.25
Hurricane Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0.25 - 0.50
Saturday
0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night
0.25
Sunday
0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0.75 -1.00
Saturday
0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night
0.25
Sunday
LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
1.00
Saturday
0.50
Saturday Night
0.25
Sunday
LT 0.25
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0.75
Saturday
0.25
Saturday Night
LT 0.25
Sunday
LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0.75
Saturday
0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night
LT 0.25
Sunday
LT 0.25
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0.25 - 0.50
Saturday
LT 0.25
Saturday Night
LT 0.10
Sunday
LT 0.10
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0.75
Saturday
0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night
0.25
Sunday
LT 0.25
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0.50 - 0.75
Saturday
0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night
LT 0.25
Sunday
LT 0.25
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0.25 - 0.50
Saturday
LT 0.25
Saturday Night
LT 0.25
Sunday
LT 0.10
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
LT 0.25
Saturday
LT 0.10
Saturday Night
LT 0.10
Sunday
LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0.50
Saturday
LT 0.25
Saturday Night
LT 0.25
Sunday
LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0.25 - 0.50
Saturday
LT 0.25
Saturday Night
LT 0.10
Sunday
LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0.75 -1.00
Saturday
0.25
Saturday Night
LT 0.25
Sunday
LT 0.25
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
1.00
Saturday
0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night
LT 0.25
Sunday
LT 0.25
Issued: 1:53 PM PST Friday, January 31, 2025
Snow Level (ft)
Friday
Evening
Friday
Night
Saturday
Morning
Saturday
Afternoon
Saturday
Evening
Saturday
Night
Sunday
Morning
Sunday
Afternoon
Olympics
3000'
1000'
0
0
0
0
0
0
West North
2500'
1000'
0
0
0
0
0
0
West Central
3000'
1500'
0
0
0
0
0
0
West South
4000'
2000'
0
500'
0
0
0
500'
Stevens Pass
3500'
1500'
0
0
0
0
0
0
Snoqualmie Pass
3500'
1500'
0
0
0
0
0
0
East North
3000'
1000'
0
0
0
0
0
0
East Central
3500'
1500'
0
0
0
0
0
0
East South
4500'
2000'
0
0
0
0
0
0
Mt. Hood
4500'
2500'
1000'
1000'
0
0
0
1000'
Olympics
Elevation
Friday
Evening
3000'
Friday
Night
1000'
Saturday
Morning
0'
Saturday
Afternoon
0'
Saturday
Evening
0'
Saturday
Night
0'
Sunday
Morning
0'
Sunday
Afternoon
0'
West North
Elevation
Friday
Evening
2500'
Friday
Night
1000'
Saturday
Morning
0'
Saturday
Afternoon
0'
Saturday
Evening
0'
Saturday
Night
0'
Sunday
Morning
0'
Sunday
Afternoon
0'
West Central
Elevation
Friday
Evening
3000'
Friday
Night
1500'
Saturday
Morning
0'
Saturday
Afternoon
0'
Saturday
Evening
0'
Saturday
Night
0'
Sunday
Morning
0'
Sunday
Afternoon
0'
West South
Elevation
Friday
Evening
4000'
Friday
Night
2000'
Saturday
Morning
0'
Saturday
Afternoon
500'
Saturday
Evening
0'
Saturday
Night
0'
Sunday
Morning
0'
Sunday
Afternoon
500'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Friday
Evening
3500'
Friday
Night
1500'
Saturday
Morning
0'
Saturday
Afternoon
0'
Saturday
Evening
0'
Saturday
Night
0'
Sunday
Morning
0'
Sunday
Afternoon
0'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Friday
Evening
3500'
Friday
Night
1500'
Saturday
Morning
0'
Saturday
Afternoon
0'
Saturday
Evening
0'
Saturday
Night
0'
Sunday
Morning
0'
Sunday
Afternoon
0'
East North
Elevation
Friday
Evening
3000'
Friday
Night
1000'
Saturday
Morning
0'
Saturday
Afternoon
0'
Saturday
Evening
0'
Saturday
Night
0'
Sunday
Morning
0'
Sunday
Afternoon
0'
East Central
Elevation
Friday
Evening
3500'
Friday
Night
1500'
Saturday
Morning
0'
Saturday
Afternoon
0'
Saturday
Evening
0'
Saturday
Night
0'
Sunday
Morning
0'
Sunday
Afternoon
0'
East South
Elevation
Friday
Evening
4500'
Friday
Night
2000'
Saturday
Morning
0'
Saturday
Afternoon
0'
Saturday
Evening
0'
Saturday
Night
0'
Sunday
Morning
0'
Sunday
Afternoon
0'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Friday
Evening
4500'
Friday
Night
2500'
Saturday
Morning
1000'
Saturday
Afternoon
1000'
Saturday
Evening
0'
Saturday
Night
0'
Sunday
Morning
0'
Sunday
Afternoon
1000'
Issued: 1:53 PM PST Friday, January 31, 2025
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Friday
Night
Saturday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
30 / 16
18 / 13
West North
29 / 15
17 / 13
West Central
31 / 18
18 / 15
West South
31 / 18
18 / 15
Stevens Pass
31 / 19
18 / 15
Snoqualmie Pass
30 / 19
18 / 15
East North
28 / 18
18 / 11
East Central
30 / 18
18 / 14
East South
31 / 19
19 / 14
Mt. Hood
33 / 24
22 / 17
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
30 / 16
Saturday
18 / 13
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
29 / 15
Saturday
17 / 13
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
31 / 18
Saturday
18 / 15
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
31 / 18
Saturday
18 / 15
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
31 / 19
Saturday
18 / 15
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
30 / 19
Saturday
18 / 15
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
28 / 18
Saturday
18 / 11
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
30 / 18
Saturday
18 / 14
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
31 / 19
Saturday
19 / 14
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
33 / 24
Saturday
22 / 17
Issued: 1:53 PM PST Friday, January 31, 2025
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
Friday
Night
Saturday
Morning
Saturday
Afternoon
Olympics
SW 20-30
SW 15-25
WSW 15-25
WSW 5-15
West North
SW 15-25
WSW 15-25
WSW 10-20
SW 10-20
West Central
SW 20-30
WSW 15-25
W 15-25
WSW 15-25
West South
SW 30-40
WSW 25-35
WSW 20-30
WSW 15-25
Stevens Pass
WSW 20-30
WSW 20-30
WSW 20-30
WSW 15-25
Snoqualmie Pass
SW 25-35
WSW 25-35
WSW 25-35
WSW 20-30
East North
SW 15-25
W 20-30
W 15-25
WSW 15-25
East Central
WSW 20-30
WSW 30-40
W 25-35
W 20-30
East South
WSW 30-40
WSW 30-40
W 25-35
W 20-30
Mt. Hood
WSW 40-55
W 30-40
W 25-35
W 25-35
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
SW
20-30
Friday
Night
SW
15-25
Saturday
Morning
WSW
15-25
Saturday
Afternoon
WSW
5-15
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
SW
15-25
Friday
Night
WSW
15-25
Saturday
Morning
WSW
10-20
Saturday
Afternoon
SW
10-20
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
SW
20-30
Friday
Night
WSW
15-25
Saturday
Morning
W
15-25
Saturday
Afternoon
WSW
15-25
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
SW
30-40
Friday
Night
WSW
25-35
Saturday
Morning
WSW
20-30
Saturday
Afternoon
WSW
15-25
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
WSW
20-30
Friday
Night
WSW
20-30
Saturday
Morning
WSW
20-30
Saturday
Afternoon
WSW
15-25
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
SW
25-35
Friday
Night
WSW
25-35
Saturday
Morning
WSW
25-35
Saturday
Afternoon
WSW
20-30
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
SW
15-25
Friday
Night
W
20-30
Saturday
Morning
W
15-25
Saturday
Afternoon
WSW
15-25
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
WSW
20-30
Friday
Night
WSW
30-40
Saturday
Morning
W
25-35
Saturday
Afternoon
W
20-30
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
WSW
30-40
Friday
Night
WSW
30-40
Saturday
Morning
W
25-35
Saturday
Afternoon
W
20-30
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
WSW
40-55
Friday
Night
W
30-40
Saturday
Morning
W
25-35
Saturday
Afternoon
W
25-35
Issued: 1:53 PM PST Friday, January 31, 2025
Extended Weather Synopsis
The same upper low will drift south towards our area Sunday night and Monday. Light and scattered snow showers will continue into early next week with this pattern. If Fraser outflow starts to spill cold NE winds through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, we could see a period of upslope snow along the north slopes of the Olympics on Monday. Models diverge on how next week will play out. For now, prepare for the coldest temperatures of the winter and an ongoing chance of light snow showers.
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).