Issued: 2:04 PM PST Saturday, January 23, 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

A frontal system dropping toward our region in NW flow aloft will arrive late tonight and Sunday. Low level marine clouds are already sneaking around the Olympic mountains this afternoon with trailing mid and high level clouds associated with the frontal system not too far offshore. Clouds will fill in for all areas tonight with light snow developing first for the Olympics and northwest and central-west Cascades before spreading south and east to all areas by Sunday morning. The front will weaken and begin to washout as it crosses the Olympic peninsula midday Sunday. 

A trailing upper-level trough and surface low will become quasi-stationary near the Olympic peninsula Sunday afternoon. The low should rotate light but continuous showers into the mountains. With the air mass on the cooler side and with low snow levels, even the light water amounts will squeeze out low density snowfall. The current track of the low favors the Snoqualmie Pass area, the southwest Cascades including Mt Rainier and also Mt Hood for slightly higher totals through Sunday afternoon. If the low tracks further north, the Mountain loop and Mt Baker areas could pick up more snowfall. 

Light low-density snowfall in the form of showers will continue Sunday night. On Monday, the surface low will weaken but the cold upper level trough will be overhead creating an unstable air mass. This will likely make for a more popcorn scattered shower pattern on Monday afternoon. 

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 Becoming cloudy in the evening with light snow developing around midnight.
Sunday Light snow in the morning becoming light to occasionally moderate showers midday.
Saturday Night Becoming cloudy in the evening with light snow developing after midnight.
Sunday Light snow in the morning becoming light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Becoming cloudy in the evening with light snow developing after midnight.
Sunday Light snow in the morning becoming light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Becoming cloudy later in the evening. Chance of light snow late.
Sunday Light snow in the morning becoming light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon. Showers heavier Paradise area.
Saturday Night Becoming cloudy in the evening with light snow developing late.
Sunday Light snow in the morning becoming light showers in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Becoming cloudy in the evening with light snow developing late.
Sunday Light snow in the morning becoming light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy in the evening, then cloudy after midnight.
Sunday Light snow in the morning becoming scattered showers in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy in the evening, then cloudy after midnight.
Sunday Light snow in the morning becoming light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy in the evening, then cloudy after midnight.
Sunday Light snow in the morning becoming light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy in the evening, then cloudy after midnight.
Sunday Light snow in the morning becoming light to moderate showers in the afternoon.

Issued: 2:04 PM PST Saturday, January 23, 2021

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 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.10 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Paradise 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25
White Pass 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Washington Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Mission Ridge 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.10
Timberline 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.10

Issued: 2:04 PM PST Saturday, January 23, 2021

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 2000' 1500' 2000' 2500' 1500' 500' 500' 1000'
West North 1500' 500' 500' 1500' 1000' 500' 500' 1000'
West Central 1500' 500' 1000' 2000' 1000' 500' 500' 1000'
West South 1500' 1000' 1500' 2500' 1000' 500' 500' 1000'
Stevens Pass 1500' 0 1000' 1500' 1000' 0 0 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 1000' 1500' 1500' 1000' 0 0 1000'
East North 1500' 0 0 1000' 0 0 0 1000'
East Central 1500' 0 0 1000' 0 0 0 1000'
East South 1500' 0 1000' 1500' 0 0 0 1000'
Mt. Hood 1500' 1500' 2000' 2500' 1500' 500' 500' 1000'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening 2000'
Saturday Night 1500'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 500'
Sunday Morning 500'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 500'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 1000'
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 0'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 0'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 1000'
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 0'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 0'
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon 1000'
Sunday Evening 0'
Sunday Night 0'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 0'
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon 1000'
Sunday Evening 0'
Sunday Night 0'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 0'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 0'
Sunday Night 0'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 1500'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1000'

Issued: 2:04 PM PST Saturday, January 23, 2021

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 24 / 21 26 / 22
West North 16 / 15 24 / 17
West Central 17 / 15 23 / 18
West South 19 / 17 25 / 19
Stevens Pass 18 / 16 23 / 18
Snoqualmie Pass 19 / 16 23 / 19
East North 18 / 14 20 / 14
East Central 20 / 16 23 / 17
East South 21 / 18 26 / 19
Mt. Hood 22 / 20 27 / 20
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 24 / 21
Sunday 26 / 22
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 16 / 15
Sunday 24 / 17
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 17 / 15
Sunday 23 / 18
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 19 / 17
Sunday 25 / 19
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 18 / 16
Sunday 23 / 18
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 19 / 16
Sunday 23 / 19
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 18 / 14
Sunday 20 / 14
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 20 / 16
Sunday 23 / 17
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 21 / 18
Sunday 26 / 19
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 22 / 20
Sunday 27 / 20

Issued: 2:04 PM PST Saturday, January 23, 2021

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics W 0-10 SSW 5-15 S 10-20 SW 10-20
West North SW 5-15 SSW 5-15 S 10-20 S 10-20
West Central WSW 5-15 SW 5-15 S 10-20 SSE 5-15
West South SW 0-10 SW 5-15 SW 10-20 S 10-20
Stevens Pass W 5-15 WSW 5-15 SSW 0-10 SSE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass W 10-20 W 5-15 SSW 5-15 SSE 10-20
East North W 10-20 W 5-15 SW 5-15 S 0-10
East Central W 10-20 W 5-15 WSW 5-15 SW 5-15
East South WNW 5-15 WNW 5-15 WSW 5-15 SW 5-15
Mt. Hood WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15 SW 10-20 SSW 10-20
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 0-10
Saturday Night SSW 5-15
Sunday Morning S 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SW 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 5-15
Saturday Night SSW 5-15
Sunday Morning S 10-20
Sunday Afternoon S 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 5-15
Saturday Night SW 5-15
Sunday Morning S 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SSE 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 0-10
Saturday Night SW 5-15
Sunday Morning SW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon S 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 5-15
Saturday Night WSW 5-15
Sunday Morning SSW 0-10
Sunday Afternoon SSE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 10-20
Saturday Night W 5-15
Sunday Morning SSW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SSE 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 10-20
Saturday Night W 5-15
Sunday Morning SW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon S 0-10
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 10-20
Saturday Night W 5-15
Sunday Morning WSW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SW 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 5-15
Saturday Night WNW 5-15
Sunday Morning WSW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SW 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 5-15
Saturday Night WSW 5-15
Sunday Morning SW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SSW 10-20

Issued: 2:04 PM PST Saturday, January 23, 2021

Extended Weather Synopsis

The upper level pattern of strong upper level ridging well offshore (140-150W) and cool NW flow aloft with a storm track over the northeast Pacific will continue into next week. The next low pressure system dropping south in NW flow should wait until Tuesday night to pass through leaving us mostly dry on Tuesday. A vertically stacked and weakening low pressure system behind the frontal band will move over the area Wednesday through Thursday with light snow showers, low snow levels and hard to pin down details.  

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday * Tuesday Night* Wednesday *
West North 0 1500' 0 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass 0 1000' 0 1500'
Mt. Hood 0 2000' 1000' 3000'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday * 1500'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday * 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday * 1000'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday * 1500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday * 2000'
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday * 3000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 23, 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’.