Issued: 2:01 PM PST Friday, January 1, 2021
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

It has been a wet and mild start to 2021 and that trend will continue into the weekend. It's been raining all day in the northwest Cascades and Olympics with lighter but wet conditions also found just about everywhere else. Radar this afternoon shows a cold front currently off the Washington coast poised to slowly move through the Cascades around 6 pm this evening. Post-frontal showers and a slow cool-down will follow tonight with snow levels generally falling into the 4000-4500' range region-wide. 

Before the showers can even wind down, a juicy storm system driven by a strong winter-time jet stream will begin to push a new round of warm frontal moisture into the region during the day on Saturday. Precipitation rates will increase for all areas during the day and be especially heavy in the Olympics and northwest Cascades. W-SW winds will increase across all areas as well on Saturday creating widespread stormy conditions. The frontal boundary will be quasi-stationary during the day with snow levels peaking into the 5000-6500' range in the evening. The associated cold front will finally sweep through after midnight with rapid cooling taking place from north to south over the area. Heavy precipitation will linger into the morning hours for Mt Hood in particular. 

We should be left with much cooler temperatures and light showers on Sunday as a weak upper-level ridge tries to build over the area. 

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 occasionally moderate rain and snow showers.
Saturday Moderate to heavy rain and snow. Strong to extreme winds in the afternoon.
Friday Night Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow becoming moderate showers in the evening.
Saturday Moderate to heavy rain and snow. Strong to extreme winds in the afternoon.
Friday Night Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow becoming moderate showers late in the evening.
Saturday Moderate to heavy rain and snow. Strong to extreme winds in the afternoon.
Friday Night Moderate rain and snow becoming light to moderate showers late in the evening.
Saturday Light to moderate rain and snow increasing in the afternoon, heaviest Paradise area. Strong winds in the afternoon.
Friday Night Moderate rain and snow becoming light to occasionally moderate showers late in the evening. Moderate west winds at Pass level.
Saturday Light to moderate rain and snow increasing in the afternoon. Moderate West winds at Pass level. Strong ridgeline winds in the afternoon.
Friday Night Moderate rain and snow becoming light to moderate showers late in the evening. Moderate west winds at Pass level.
Saturday Light to moderate rain and snow increasing in the afternoon. Moderate West winds at Pass level. Strong ridgeline winds in the afternoon.
Friday Night Light to moderate rain and snow becoming scattered light showers late in the evening.
Saturday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Strong to extreme winds in the afternoon.
Friday Night Light to moderate rain and snow becoming scattered light showers late in the evening.
Saturday Light to moderate rain and snow increasing in the afternoon. Strong to extreme winds in the afternoon.
Friday Night Light to moderate rain and snow becoming scattered light showers late in the evening.
Saturday Light to moderate rain and snow increasing in the afternoon. Strong to extreme winds in the afternoon.
Friday Night Moderate rain and snow becoming light to moderate showers late in the evening.
Saturday Light rain and snow becoming moderate in the afternoon. Strong to extreme winds in the afternoon.

Issued: 2:01 PM PST Friday, January 1, 2021

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 1.00 - 1.50 1.00 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 1.50 1.50 - 2.00 1.50 LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.75 -1.00 1.00 - 1.50 2.00 0.25
Stevens Pass 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 1.00 - 1.50 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0.75 -1.00 0.75 1.50 - 2.00 0.25
Crystal Mt 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 1.00 - 1.50 LT 0.10
Paradise 0.75 -1.00 1.00 2.00 0.25
White Pass 0.50 0.50 1.50 LT 0.25
Washington Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 1.00 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 1.00 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 0.75 -1.00 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 0.75 0.50 1.50 0.25 - 0.50
Timberline 0.75 -1.00 0.50 - 0.75 2.00 0.25 - 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday 1.00 - 1.50
Saturday Night 1.00
Sunday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 1.50
Saturday 1.50 - 2.00
Saturday Night 1.50
Sunday LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.75 -1.00
Saturday 1.00 - 1.50
Saturday Night 2.00
Sunday 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.50
Saturday 0.50 - 0.75
Saturday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.75 -1.00
Saturday 0.75
Saturday Night 1.50 - 2.00
Sunday 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.75 -1.00
Saturday 1.00
Saturday Night 2.00
Sunday 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.50
Saturday 0.50
Saturday Night 1.50
Sunday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Saturday 0.50
Saturday Night 1.00
Sunday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night 1.00
Sunday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night 0.75 -1.00
Sunday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.75
Saturday 0.50
Saturday Night 1.50
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.75 -1.00
Saturday 0.50 - 0.75
Saturday Night 2.00
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50

Issued: 2:01 PM PST Friday, January 1, 2021

Snow Level (ft)

Friday Evening Friday Night Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics 4500' 4500' 4500' 5500' 5000' 3000' 2000' 3000'
West North 4500' 4000' 3500' 4000' 4500' 2500' 2000' 2500'
West Central 4500' 4000' 4000' 4500' 5000' 3000' 2000' 2500'
West South 5000' 4000' 4000' 4500' 5000' 5000' 2500' 3000'
Stevens Pass 4500' 4000' 4000' 4500' 5000' 3500' 2000' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 4500' 4000' 4000' 4500' 5500' 3500' 2000' 3000'
East North 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4500' 3500' 2000' 2000'
East Central 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 5000' 4000' 2500' 2500'
East South 4500' 4000' 4500' 4500' 6000' 5000' 3500' 4000'
Mt. Hood 5000' 4500' 4500' 5000' 6500' 6500' 4500' 5500'
Olympics Elevation
Friday Evening 4500'
Friday Night 4500'
Saturday Morning 4500'
Saturday Afternoon 5500'
Saturday Evening 5000'
Saturday Night 3000'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
West North Elevation
Friday Evening 4500'
Friday Night 4000'
Saturday Morning 3500'
Saturday Afternoon 4000'
Saturday Evening 4500'
Saturday Night 2500'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
West Central Elevation
Friday Evening 4500'
Friday Night 4000'
Saturday Morning 4000'
Saturday Afternoon 4500'
Saturday Evening 5000'
Saturday Night 3000'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
West South Elevation
Friday Evening 5000'
Friday Night 4000'
Saturday Morning 4000'
Saturday Afternoon 4500'
Saturday Evening 5000'
Saturday Night 5000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Evening 4500'
Friday Night 4000'
Saturday Morning 4000'
Saturday Afternoon 4500'
Saturday Evening 5000'
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening 4500'
Friday Night 4000'
Saturday Morning 4000'
Saturday Afternoon 4500'
Saturday Evening 5500'
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
East North Elevation
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday Morning 3500'
Saturday Afternoon 4000'
Saturday Evening 4500'
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
East Central Elevation
Friday Evening 4000'
Friday Night 4000'
Saturday Morning 4000'
Saturday Afternoon 4000'
Saturday Evening 5000'
Saturday Night 4000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
East South Elevation
Friday Evening 4500'
Friday Night 4000'
Saturday Morning 4500'
Saturday Afternoon 4500'
Saturday Evening 6000'
Saturday Night 5000'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening 5000'
Friday Night 4500'
Saturday Morning 4500'
Saturday Afternoon 5000'
Saturday Evening 6500'
Saturday Night 6500'
Sunday Morning 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 5500'

Issued: 2:01 PM PST Friday, January 1, 2021

5000' Temperatures (°F)

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

Issued: 2:01 PM PST Friday, January 1, 2021

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Friday Evening Friday Night Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon
Olympics SW 20-30 SW 20-30 SW 25-35 SW 40-55
West North WSW 15-25 SW 15-25 S 20-30 S 35-50
West Central WSW 25-35 WSW 25-35 SW 30-40 SW 35-50
West South WSW 15-25 WSW 25-35 SW 25-35 SW 35-50
Stevens Pass WSW 15-25 WSW 20-30 WSW 20-30 SW 25-35
Snoqualmie Pass WSW 15-25 WSW 25-35 WSW 25-35 SW 30-40
East North SW 25-35 WSW 25-35 WSW 35-50 SW 35-50
East Central WSW 20-30 WSW 25-35 WSW 30-40 WSW 35-50
East South WSW 20-30 WSW 20-30 WSW 30-40 WSW 35-50
Mt. Hood WSW 25-35 WSW 30-40 WSW 35-50 WSW 40-55
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SW 20-30
Friday Night SW 20-30
Saturday Morning SW 25-35
Saturday Afternoon SW 40-55
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening WSW 15-25
Friday Night SW 15-25
Saturday Morning S 20-30
Saturday Afternoon S 35-50
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening WSW 25-35
Friday Night WSW 25-35
Saturday Morning SW 30-40
Saturday Afternoon SW 35-50
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening WSW 15-25
Friday Night WSW 25-35
Saturday Morning SW 25-35
Saturday Afternoon SW 35-50
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening WSW 15-25
Friday Night WSW 20-30
Saturday Morning WSW 20-30
Saturday Afternoon SW 25-35
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening WSW 15-25
Friday Night WSW 25-35
Saturday Morning WSW 25-35
Saturday Afternoon SW 30-40
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SW 25-35
Friday Night WSW 25-35
Saturday Morning WSW 35-50
Saturday Afternoon SW 35-50
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening WSW 20-30
Friday Night WSW 25-35
Saturday Morning WSW 30-40
Saturday Afternoon WSW 35-50
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening WSW 20-30
Friday Night WSW 20-30
Saturday Morning WSW 30-40
Saturday Afternoon WSW 35-50
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening WSW 25-35
Friday Night WSW 30-40
Saturday Morning WSW 35-50
Saturday Afternoon WSW 40-55

Issued: 2:01 PM PST Friday, January 1, 2021

Extended Weather Synopsis

We'll hop back on the storm track roller coaster of precipitation and temperatures as another significant warm front lifts north over the area on Monday and Monday night.  We may receive a short reprieve from the weather pattern on Tuesday in the form of an upper-level ridge as showers wind-down over the area. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Night* Monday * Monday Night Tuesday
West North 2000' 4000' 4000' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 2500' 5000' 4500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 5500' 6000' 4500' 3000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Night* 2000'
Monday * 4000'
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Night* 2500'
Monday * 5000'
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Night* 5500'
Monday * 6000'
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday 3000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 1, 2021

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’.