Issued: 2:03 PM PST Saturday, January 3, 2026
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

We'll run back a familiar pattern that's been with us since Thursday, impulses of precipitation and bursts of moderate to locally strong southerly winds, will continue Saturday night, and again Sunday morning, before the precipitation becomes more showery Sunday afternoon. Snow levels and precipitation types in southerly flow aloft remain difficult to pin down.

Milder snow levels 4500-5000' will be found west of the Cascade Crest and Olympics. The coldest of air along the east slopes of the Cascades has long been scoured out, but there's just enough easterly flow to make the Passes tricky. For White and Snoqualmie Passes, periods of light precipitation tonight may take the form of light rain, snow, or freezing rain at Pass level.  Stevens is more likely to stay light snow. Along the east slopes of the Cascades, snow levels will generally run 2000-4000' (milder south of I-90), with pockets of freezing rain that may occur along lower slopes and valleys. The heaviest precipitation tonight is likely to occur near the southern volcanoes (Mt St Helens, Adams, and Mt Hood). 

Another upper level shortwave moves through Sunday morning, and this one should bring a more widespread and organized period of moderate precipitation across the region. The Passes are more likely to see all snow during this stretch.  

We'll be in a showery pattern with generally lighter precipitation rates and breezy W-SW winds Sunday afternoon as snow levels settle between 3500-4000'.  

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 Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow in the morning becoming scattered showers in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to moderate rain and snow in the morning becoming scattered showers in the afternoon. Strong ridgeline winds in the morning easing to moderate in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow in the morning becoming scattered showers in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow with a chance of freezing rain near White Pass. Moderate to occasionally strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to moderate rain and snow in the morning becoming partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers mid-day. Moderate to occasionally strong ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Periods of light rain and snow, with a slight chance of freezing rain. Moderate E pass level winds and S-SE ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow in the morning becoming scattered showers in the afternoon. Moderate E pass level winds and S ridgeline winds in the morning, becoming westerly in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Periods of light rain and snow, with a slight chance of freezing rain. Moderate E pass level winds and S-SE ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow in the morning becoming scattered showers in the afternoon. Moderate E pass level winds and S ridgeline winds in the morning, becoming westerly in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow in the morning becoming partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers mid-day. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow with pockets of freezing rain in isolated valleys and lower slopes. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow in the morning becoming partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers mid-day. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow in the morning becoming partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers mid-day. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Moderate rain and snow. Strong ridgeline winds increasing overnight.
Sunday Light to moderate rain and snow in the morning becoming partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers mid-day. Strong to extreme ridgeline winds in the morning, decreasing to moderate to strong in the afternoon.

Issued: 2:03 PM PST Saturday, January 3, 2026

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 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.50 - 0.75 0.75 -1.00 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Paradise 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
White Pass 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Timberline 0.75 0.50 0.25 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday 0.75 -1.00
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.75
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.75
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10

Issued: 2:03 PM PST Saturday, January 3, 2026

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening* Saturday Night* Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 5000' 5000' 4500' 3500' 3000' 2500' 2000' 2500'
West North 5000' 4500' 4000' 3500' 3000' 2500' 2000' 2500'
West Central 4500' 5000' 4500' 3500' 3000' 2500' 2000' 2500'
West South 4500' 5000' 4500' 4000' 2500' 3000' 2500' 3000'
Stevens Pass 4000' 3500' 3000' 3500' 2500' 2000' 2500' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 3000'
East North 2500' 2500' 3000' 4000' 3000' 2000' 2500' 3500'
East Central 3500' 3500' 3000' 4500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3500'
East South 4000' 4500' 4000' 4500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3500'
Mt. Hood 6500' 6000' 5000' 4500' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening* 5000'
Saturday Night* 5000'
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 2000'
Monday Afternoon 2500'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 5000'
Saturday Night* 4500'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 2000'
Monday Afternoon 2500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 4500'
Saturday Night* 5000'
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 2000'
Monday Afternoon 2500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 4500'
Saturday Night* 5000'
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 4000'
Saturday Night* 3500'
Sunday Morning* 3000'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 2000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 5000'
Saturday Night* 3500'
Sunday Morning* 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2500'
Saturday Night* 2500'
Sunday Morning* 3000'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 3500'
Saturday Night* 3500'
Sunday Morning* 3000'
Sunday Afternoon 4500'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 4000'
Saturday Night* 4500'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 4500'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening* 6500'
Saturday Night* 6000'
Sunday Morning* 5000'
Sunday Afternoon 4500'
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3500'

Issued: 2:03 PM PST Saturday, January 3, 2026

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 31 / 29 30 / 25
West North 31 / 30 30 / 25
West Central 31 / 29 31 / 25
West South 33 / 31 30 / 26
Stevens Pass 31 / 28 31 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass 31 / 29 30 / 25
East North 29 / 27 30 / 23
East Central 31 / 28 30 / 25
East South 32 / 29 30 / 25
Mt. Hood 34 / 31 32 / 28
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 31 / 29
Sunday 30 / 25
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 31 / 30
Sunday 30 / 25
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 31 / 29
Sunday 31 / 25
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 33 / 31
Sunday 30 / 26
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 31 / 28
Sunday 31 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 31 / 29
Sunday 30 / 25
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 27
Sunday 30 / 23
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 31 / 28
Sunday 30 / 25
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 29
Sunday 30 / 25
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 34 / 31
Sunday 32 / 28

Issued: 2:03 PM PST Saturday, January 3, 2026

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics S 20-30 SSW 15-25 SW 15-25 SW 10-20
West North SSE 10-20 S 15-25 SSW 25-35 SSW 10-20
West Central SSE 15-25 SSE 10-20 SSE 10-20 SW 15-25
West South SE 15-25 SSE 20-30 SSW 20-30 SW 15-25
Stevens Pass SE 10-20 SSE 5-15 SSW 10-20 WSW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass SE 15-25 SSE 10-20 SW 20-30 WSW 15-25
East North SE 10-20 S 5-15 S 10-20 SW 20-30
East Central S 15-25 SSW 10-20 S 20-30 W 15-25
East South S 10-20 SW 10-20 SW 15-25 WSW 15-25
Mt. Hood SW 20-30 SW 30-40 WSW 35-50 W 20-30
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 20-30
Saturday Night SSW 15-25
Sunday Morning SW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon SW 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 10-20
Saturday Night S 15-25
Sunday Morning SSW 25-35
Sunday Afternoon SSW 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 15-25
Saturday Night SSE 10-20
Sunday Morning SSE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SW 15-25
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 15-25
Saturday Night SSE 20-30
Sunday Morning SSW 20-30
Sunday Afternoon SW 15-25
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 10-20
Saturday Night SSE 5-15
Sunday Morning SSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 15-25
Saturday Night SSE 10-20
Sunday Morning SW 20-30
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15-25
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 10-20
Saturday Night S 5-15
Sunday Morning S 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SW 20-30
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 15-25
Saturday Night SSW 10-20
Sunday Morning S 20-30
Sunday Afternoon W 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 10-20
Saturday Night SW 10-20
Sunday Morning SW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15-25
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 20-30
Saturday Night SW 30-40
Sunday Morning WSW 35-50
Sunday Afternoon W 20-30

Issued: 2:03 PM PST Saturday, January 3, 2026

Extended Weather Synopsis

A return to winter-conditions isn't far off!  The last wave from the offshore upper trough that's been plaguing us will move through Sunday night, perhaps bringing locally moderate snowfall to the Mt Baker area and the Olympics.  Light showers will continue on Monday with snow levels between 2500-3500'.  A pair of frontal systems arriving in W-NW flow should deliver a copious amount of snowfall to our mountains between Tuesday and Thursday with low snow levels. An initial look suggests we could see 1-3ft over this time.  

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 1500' 2000' 1000' 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 2500' 1500' 1500'
Mt. Hood 2000' 3000' 2000' 1500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 1500'
Tuesday 2000'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 1500'
Tuesday 2500'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday 1500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 2000'
Tuesday 3000'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday 1500'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 3, 2026

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’.

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