Issued: 2:10 PM PST Saturday, January 31, 2026
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

The Cascades get a break in the precipitation Saturday night thanks to the warm sector of the storm, which brings high clouds and high freezing levels (8000-9000 ft). Meanwhile, the trailing approaches the Pacific Northwest Coastline Saturday night with light to moderate precipitation stalling over the Olympics. Rain and higher elevation snow spreads into the Cascades Sunday morning with snow levels lowering to around 4000-5000 ft. Low-level E winds could drag snow levels down to around 4000 ft in the Central Cascades, but expect a bump in snow levels as upper-level winds switch from SSW to WSW with the frontal passage, and low-level winds switch westerly.

Precipitation peaks in the early morning hours for the Olympics, Sunday morning for Mt Baker, and in the late morning through afternoon hours throughout the rest of the region. Post-frontal showers continue Sunday night. Models indicate multiple bands of convergence forming on WSW winds directing the heaviest precipitation toward Whatcom and Skagit counties, where locally intense precipitation could continue through the evening hours with steady snow levels. Most areas should pick up 0.25-0.75" of water equivalent, with Mt Baker receiving over 1".

Don't expect much of a break between storms as another frontal wave rounds the top of a building ridge on Monday with snow levels rising in the afternoon. Precipitation with this system should be generally light with less than 0.5" of water equivalent in most areas.

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 Increasing light rain and higher elevation snow (moderate to heavy in the southern Olympics). Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light rain and snow (moderate to heavy in the southern Olympics) in the morning hours, becomes light and showery in the afternoon. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Light rain and higher elevation snow develop in the early morning hours. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Moderate to heavy rain and snow in the morning eases slightly and becomes showery in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds become light by the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy. Mild.
Sunday Moderate rain and snow peaks mid-day. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Cloudy. Mild.
Sunday Increasing light to moderate rain and snow, heaviest at Paradise. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Cloudy. Mild. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Light rain and snow become moderate from mid-morning onwards. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline and light E winds switch W at the Pass by mid-morning.
Saturday Night Cloudy. Mild. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Light rain and snow become moderate from mid-morning onwards. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline and light E winds switch W at the Pass by mid-morning.
Saturday Night Cloudy.
Sunday Increasing light rain and snow. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy. Mild.
Sunday Increasing light rain and snow. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Thin high clouds. Mild.
Sunday Increasing light rain and snow. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Thin high clouds. Mild.
Sunday Light rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:10 PM PST Saturday, January 31, 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 LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 0.75 -1.00 0.25 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25 0.25
Stevens Pass 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25 0.25
Crystal Mt 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise 0 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass 0 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Washington Pass 0 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Timberline 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.75 -1.00
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10

Issued: 2:10 PM PST Saturday, January 31, 2026

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening* Saturday Night* Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon*
Olympics 5500' 6000' 5000' 4500' 4500' 4000' 4500' 6000'
West North 8000' 5000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000'
West Central 8000' 7500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000'
West South 8000' 7500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 5000'
Stevens Pass 8000' 7500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass 8000' 7500' 4500' 4000' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4500'
East North 8000' 7000' 3500' 4000' 4000' 3000' 3000' 4000'
East Central 8500' 8000' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4500'
East South 8500' 8000' 4500' 5000' 5000' 4500' 4000' 5000'
Mt. Hood 8500' 8000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 4500' 6000' 7000'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening* 5500'
Saturday Night* 6000'
Sunday Morning* 5000'
Sunday Afternoon 4500'
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning* 4500'
Monday Afternoon* 6000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 8000'
Saturday Night* 5000'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning* 4000'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 8000'
Saturday Night* 7500'
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning* 4000'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 8000'
Saturday Night* 7500'
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 4500'
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning* 4000'
Monday Afternoon* 5000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 8000'
Saturday Night* 7500'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning* 4000'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 8000'
Saturday Night* 7500'
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning* 4000'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 8000'
Saturday Night* 7000'
Sunday Morning* 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning* 3000'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 8500'
Saturday Night* 8000'
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 4500'
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning* 4000'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 8500'
Saturday Night* 8000'
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 5000'
Sunday Evening 5000'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning* 4000'
Monday Afternoon* 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening* 8500'
Saturday Night* 8000'
Sunday Morning* 5000'
Sunday Afternoon 5000'
Sunday Evening 5000'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning* 6000'
Monday Afternoon* 7000'

Issued: 2:10 PM PST Saturday, January 31, 2026

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 37 / 33 34 / 32
West North 38 / 35 32 / 31
West Central 38 / 35 32 / 31
West South 39 / 36 35 / 32
Stevens Pass 37 / 33 35 / 31
Snoqualmie Pass 37 / 34 34 / 31
East North 32 / 28 33 / 30
East Central 37 / 34 35 / 31
East South 40 / 35 37 / 32
Mt. Hood 44 / 37 37 / 33
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 37 / 33
Sunday 34 / 32
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 38 / 35
Sunday 32 / 31
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 38 / 35
Sunday 32 / 31
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 39 / 36
Sunday 35 / 32
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 37 / 33
Sunday 35 / 31
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 37 / 34
Sunday 34 / 31
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 28
Sunday 33 / 30
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 37 / 34
Sunday 35 / 31
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 40 / 35
Sunday 37 / 32
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 44 / 37
Sunday 37 / 33

Issued: 2:10 PM PST Saturday, January 31, 2026

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:10 PM PST Saturday, January 31, 2026

Extended Weather Synopsis

The resilient west coast ridge finds its footing once again, expanding northward and clearing skies from south to north on Monday night. Tuesday through Wednesday will be mild with high freezing levels and low-level E winds developing. A cold pool will start to form east of the Cascade Crest.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night* Tuesday * Tuesday Night* Wednesday *
West North 5500' 8000' 9000' 10000'
Snoqualmie Pass 6500' 9000' 10000' 10500'
Mt. Hood 8500' 10000' 11500' 12000'
West North Elevation
Monday Night* 5500'
Tuesday * 8000'
Tuesday Night* 9000'
Wednesday * 10000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night* 6500'
Tuesday * 9000'
Tuesday Night* 10000'
Wednesday * 10500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night* 8500'
Tuesday * 10000'
Tuesday Night* 11500'
Wednesday * 12000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 31, 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’.

📱 Download Avy App today ( iOS | Android )