Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis
The final major storm in an unrelenting train off the Pacific will approach the area on Tuesday aims a strengthening warm front on Washington State, Saturday evening, with a cold front just behind. This situation will allow moderate E flow to keep the Snoqualmie pass just cold enough for snow and shouldn't allow enough warming to significantly alter snow levels during the storm. S and SSW winds will focus the heaviest precipitation on Mt. Baker and Paradise, but widespread moderate to heavy precipitation and 1-2 ft snow totals can be expected across much of the Cascades above 3000 ft. Strong winds should peak in the evening hours and then gradually decrease in areas such as Hurricane Ridge, Mt. Baker, and Paradise which tend to feel the brunt of southerly flow. The cold front weakens as it slowly moves ESE. Mt. Hood should see a delay in the onset and the end of the storm with moderate precipitation late Tuesday night and Wednesday morning before tapering off in the afternoon.
On Wednesday, light to moderate post-frontal showers should be strongest early in the day, with a relative break in the mid-day hours as the upper trough settles into the region. A disturbance forming within the upper trough could spread light to moderate snow back into the Mt. Hood area, the Olympics, and southern Washington Cascades late in the day.
This disturbance should continue to spread light to spread decreasing light snow to the region Wednesday night and should switch low-level flow temporarily westerly.
The trough progresses east on Thursday with a ridge building over eastern Washington and dominating our weather. Increasing E flow develops through the passes as the next storm begins to approach from the west.
Overall, the storm is likely to bring 1-2 ft of snow to many areas of the Cascades with the most expected at Mt. Baker, Paradise, Snoqualmie Pass, and Washington Pass.
An incoming upper trough will likely bring a disturbance with some light to moderate snow moving into the Olympics and Mt. Hood area during the afternoon.
Weather Forecast
| Tuesday Night | Heavy rain and snow in the evening, decreasing overnight. Decreasing moderate to strong ridgeline winds in the evening. |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | Mostly cloudy with a chance of light rain and snow showers. |
| Tuesday Night | Very heavy rain and snow decreasing slightly in the early morning hours. Decreasing strong ridgeline winds in the evening. |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | Light rain and snow showers early in the day, then becoming mostly cloudy. |
| Tuesday Night | Heavy rain and snow. |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | Light rain and snow showers in the morning, then mostly cloudy. A chance of light rain and snow re-developing in the afternoon. |
| Tuesday Night | Heavy rain and snow at Paradise and Crystal with moderate rain and snow at White Pass. Decreasing strong ridgeline winds in the evening. |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | Light to moderate rain and snow. |
| Tuesday Night | Moderate rain and snow. Light E winds at pass level. |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | Light rain and snow showers in the morning, then mostly cloudy. A chance of light rain and snow re-developing in the afternoon. Light E wind at pass level becoming variable or W in the afternoon. |
| Tuesday Night | Heavy rain and snow. Decreasing moderate E winds at pass level. |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | Light rain and snow showers in the morning, then mostly cloudy. A chance of light rain and snow re-developing in the afternoon. Light E wind at pass level becoming variable or W in the afternoon. |
| Tuesday Night | Heavy snow. |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | Light snow showers tapering in the morning then becoming mostly cloudy. |
| Tuesday Night | Heavy rain and snow. |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | Light rain and snow showers decreasing in the morning, then mostly cloudy with a chance of light rain and snow developing late in the day. |
| Tuesday Night | Moderate rain and snow. |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | Light rain and snow showers in the morning, then mostly cloudy. A chance of light rain and snow re-developing in the afternoon. Light E wind at pass level becoming variable or W in the afternoon. |
| Tuesday Night | Moderate rain and snow developing in the overnight hours. Strong ridgeline winds. |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | Moderate rain and snow. |
Issued: 2:12 PM PST Tuesday, January 5, 2021
Precipitation (in)
| Tuesday Night | Wednesday | Wednesday Night | Thursday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.75 | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 1.50 - 2.00 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | 1.50 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | 1.00 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 1.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | 0 |
| Paradise | 2.00 | 0.50 | 0.25 | 0 |
| White Pass | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 | 0 |
| Washington Pass | 1.00 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | 1.00 - 1.50 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | 0.50 | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.75 | 0.50 | 0 |
| Timberline | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.75 -1.00 | 0.50 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0.75 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 1.50 - 2.00 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 1.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 1.00 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 1.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 2.00 |
| Wednesday | 0.50 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.25 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| White Pass | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.25 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 1.00 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.75 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.50 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Timberline | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.50 |
| Thursday | 0 |
Issued: 2:12 PM PST Tuesday, January 5, 2021
Snow Level (ft)
| Tuesday Evening* | Tuesday Night* | Wednesday Morning* | Wednesday Afternoon* | Wednesday Evening | Wednesday Night | Thursday Morning* | Thursday Afternoon* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympics | 3500' | 4000' | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' | 2000' | 3000' | 5000' |
| West North | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | 3500' |
| West Central | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 2500' | 4000' |
| West South | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' | 3500' | 2500' | 3000' | 4000' |
| Stevens Pass | 2500' | 2000' | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' | 2500' | 2500' | 3500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 2500' | 3000' | 4000' |
| East North | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 3000' | 3000' | 2000' | 2000' | 3500' |
| East Central | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 3500' | 3000' | 2000' | 2500' | 4000' |
| East South | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' | 4000' | 2500' | 2500' | 3500' |
| Mt. Hood | 5500' | 4500' | 4000' | 4500' | 3500' | 3000' | 3000' | 4500' |
| Olympics | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening* | 3500' |
| Tuesday Night* | 4000' |
| Wednesday Morning* | 2500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon* | 3000' |
| Wednesday Evening | 3000' |
| Wednesday Night | 2000' |
| Thursday Morning* | 3000' |
| Thursday Afternoon* | 5000' |
| West North | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening* | 2500' |
| Tuesday Night* | 2500' |
| Wednesday Morning* | 3000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon* | 3000' |
| Wednesday Evening | 2500' |
| Wednesday Night | 2000' |
| Thursday Morning* | 2000' |
| Thursday Afternoon* | 3500' |
| West Central | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening* | 2500' |
| Tuesday Night* | 2500' |
| Wednesday Morning* | 3000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon* | 3000' |
| Wednesday Evening | 3000' |
| Wednesday Night | 3000' |
| Thursday Morning* | 2500' |
| Thursday Afternoon* | 4000' |
| West South | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening* | 3500' |
| Tuesday Night* | 3500' |
| Wednesday Morning* | 3500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon* | 4000' |
| Wednesday Evening | 3500' |
| Wednesday Night | 2500' |
| Thursday Morning* | 3000' |
| Thursday Afternoon* | 4000' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening* | 2500' |
| Tuesday Night* | 2000' |
| Wednesday Morning* | 2500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon* | 3000' |
| Wednesday Evening | 3000' |
| Wednesday Night | 2500' |
| Thursday Morning* | 2500' |
| Thursday Afternoon* | 3500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening* | 2500' |
| Tuesday Night* | 2500' |
| Wednesday Morning* | 3000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon* | 3000' |
| Wednesday Evening | 3000' |
| Wednesday Night | 2500' |
| Thursday Morning* | 3000' |
| Thursday Afternoon* | 4000' |
| East North | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening* | 2000' |
| Tuesday Night* | 2000' |
| Wednesday Morning* | 2000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon* | 3000' |
| Wednesday Evening | 3000' |
| Wednesday Night | 2000' |
| Thursday Morning* | 2000' |
| Thursday Afternoon* | 3500' |
| East Central | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening* | 2500' |
| Tuesday Night* | 2500' |
| Wednesday Morning* | 2500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon* | 3500' |
| Wednesday Evening | 3000' |
| Wednesday Night | 2000' |
| Thursday Morning* | 2500' |
| Thursday Afternoon* | 4000' |
| East South | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening* | 3500' |
| Tuesday Night* | 3500' |
| Wednesday Morning* | 3500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon* | 4000' |
| Wednesday Evening | 4000' |
| Wednesday Night | 2500' |
| Thursday Morning* | 2500' |
| Thursday Afternoon* | 3500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening* | 5500' |
| Tuesday Night* | 4500' |
| Wednesday Morning* | 4000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon* | 4500' |
| Wednesday Evening | 3500' |
| Wednesday Night | 3000' |
| Thursday Morning* | 3000' |
| Thursday Afternoon* | 4500' |
Issued: 2:12 PM PST Tuesday, January 5, 2021
5000' Temperatures (°F)
| Tuesday Night | Wednesday | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Max / Min | Max / Min | ||
| Olympics | 31 / 25 | 30 / 21 | |
| West North | 30 / 28 | 29 / 24 | |
| West Central | 31 / 27 | 30 / 28 | |
| West South | 31 / 30 | 31 / 29 | |
| Stevens Pass | 29 / 27 | 31 / 28 | |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 29 / 26 | 30 / 27 | |
| East North | 25 / 24 | 30 / 25 | |
| East Central | 28 / 26 | 31 / 27 | |
| East South | 30 / 27 | 32 / 27 | |
| Mt. Hood | 36 / 30 | 34 / 30 |
| Olympics | 5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 31 / 25 |
| Wednesday | 30 / 21 |
| West North | 5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 30 / 28 |
| Wednesday | 29 / 24 |
| West Central | 5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 31 / 27 |
| Wednesday | 30 / 28 |
| West South | 5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 31 / 30 |
| Wednesday | 31 / 29 |
| Stevens Pass | 5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 29 / 27 |
| Wednesday | 31 / 28 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 29 / 26 |
| Wednesday | 30 / 27 |
| East North | 5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 25 / 24 |
| Wednesday | 30 / 25 |
| East Central | 5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 28 / 26 |
| Wednesday | 31 / 27 |
| East South | 5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 30 / 27 |
| Wednesday | 32 / 27 |
| Mt. Hood | 5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 36 / 30 |
| Wednesday | 34 / 30 |
Issued: 2:12 PM PST Tuesday, January 5, 2021
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
| Tuesday Evening | Tuesday Night | Wednesday Morning | Wednesday Afternoon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympics | SSW 25-35 | SW 10-20 | SW 5-15 | SW 0-10 |
| West North | S 30-40 | SSW 20-30 | SSW 10-20 | SSW 0-10 |
| West Central | SSE 15-25 | SSW 20-30 | SW 5-15 | SSW 0-10 |
| West South | SSW 30-40 | SW 15-25 | SSW 5-15 | SSW 5-15 |
| Stevens Pass | S 10-20 | SSW 5-15 | SW 0-10 | ESE 0-10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | ESE 10-20 | S 5-15 | SW 0-10 | ESE 0-10 |
| East North | SSE 10-20 | S 10-20 | SW 5-15 | WSW 0-10 |
| East Central | SSW 20-30 | SW 15-25 | WSW 5-15 | SSW 0-10 |
| East South | SSW 15-25 | SW 15-25 | SW 5-15 | SW 5-15 |
| Mt. Hood | SW 30-40 | SW 30-40 | SW 15-25 | SW 10-20 |
| Olympics | Ridgeline Winds (mph) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SSW 25-35 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 10-20 |
| Wednesday Morning | SW 5-15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 0-10 |
| West North | Ridgeline Winds (mph) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | S 30-40 |
| Tuesday Night | SSW 20-30 |
| Wednesday Morning | SSW 10-20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SSW 0-10 |
| West Central | Ridgeline Winds (mph) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SSE 15-25 |
| Tuesday Night | SSW 20-30 |
| Wednesday Morning | SW 5-15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SSW 0-10 |
| West South | Ridgeline Winds (mph) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SSW 30-40 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 15-25 |
| Wednesday Morning | SSW 5-15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SSW 5-15 |
| Stevens Pass | Ridgeline Winds (mph) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | S 10-20 |
| Tuesday Night | SSW 5-15 |
| Wednesday Morning | SW 0-10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | ESE 0-10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Ridgeline Winds (mph) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | ESE 10-20 |
| Tuesday Night | S 5-15 |
| Wednesday Morning | SW 0-10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | ESE 0-10 |
| East North | Ridgeline Winds (mph) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SSE 10-20 |
| Tuesday Night | S 10-20 |
| Wednesday Morning | SW 5-15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 0-10 |
| East Central | Ridgeline Winds (mph) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SSW 20-30 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 15-25 |
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 5-15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SSW 0-10 |
| East South | Ridgeline Winds (mph) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SSW 15-25 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 15-25 |
| Wednesday Morning | SW 5-15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 5-15 |
| Mt. Hood | Ridgeline Winds (mph) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SW 30-40 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 30-40 |
| Wednesday Morning | SW 15-25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 10-20 |
Issued: 2:12 PM PST Tuesday, January 5, 2021
Extended Weather Synopsis
A ridge of high pressure shifts east of the region Thursday night as a closed low approaches off our coastline. A deep closed low gradually weakens as it moves northeast towards British Columbia. With high pressure to the east and a deep low offshore, the passes can expect moderate to strong low-level E flow. Rain and snow spread into the region late Thursday night with southerly flow likely to favor the volcanoes and E flow allowing for spillover onto the E slopes of the Cascades. The closed low becomes a weakening trough as it moves across our region, bringing moderate rain and snow focused on the Olympics and NW Washington Friday night. A progressive ridge moves across the area on Saturday, allowing for partly cloudy skies and filtered sunshine with the next system poised to spread rain and snow into the region Saturday night. Temperatures should be relatively consistent throughout the period near seasonal norms.
Extended Snow Level (ft)
| Thursday Night* | Friday * | Friday Night* | Saturday * | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West North | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 3000' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' |
| Mt. Hood | 3500' | 3000' | 2500' | 2500' |
| West North | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night* | 2000' |
| Friday * | 2500' |
| Friday Night* | 2500' |
| Saturday * | 2500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night* | 3000' |
| Friday * | 2500' |
| Friday Night* | 2500' |
| Saturday * | 2500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night* | 3500' |
| Friday * | 3000' |
| Friday Night* | 2500' |
| Saturday * | 2500' |
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I Extended Weather
Previous forecast from Jan 5, 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.