Issued: 2:03 PM PST Sunday, January 24, 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

Through 1 pm, most mountain locations have picked up 2" or less of snow since this morning. As a weakening frontal boundary crosses the Cascades this evening, widespread light snow will continue. The main surface low will continue to hang back and off the Olympic Peninsula tonight, meandering about and rotating showers into the area after the frontal passage. A few additional inches of snow will fall through tomorrow morning with slightly higher totals for the southern volcanoes from Mt Hood to Mt Rainier.  

A trailing upper-level trough will sit over the area on Monday. This cold and unstable air mass will keep showers in the forecast all day. Additional snowfall accumulations should be light. Sunbreaks are more likely along the east slopes of the Cascades south of Hwy 2 and along the west slopes of the Cascades south of I-90. 

Leftover light showers will taper off Monday night as a shortwave upper level ridge builds overhead.  The next low to drop south and well offshore in NW flow aloft will begin to rotate a frontal boundary toward our area. While the west slopes of the Cascades should remain relatively dry on Tuesday, the east slopes of the Cascades and Cascade Passes should start to cloud up in the afternoon with light upslope snow developing along with increasing offshore easterly winds. 

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
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow showers.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers then partly sunny with isolated snow showers in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow showers.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow showers.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow showers. Showers occasionally moderate Paradise area.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers then partly to mostly cloudy with isolated showers in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow showers. Light east winds at Pass level.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow showers. Light east winds at Pass level.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers then partly to mostly cloudy with isolated showers in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow becoming scattered snow showers after midnight.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers then partly sunny with isolated showers in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow becoming scattered snow showers after midnight.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers then partly sunny with isolated showers in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow becoming scattered snow showers after midnight.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers then partly sunny with isolated showers in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow showers.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers then partly to mostly cloudy with isolated showers in the afternoon.

Issued: 2:03 PM PST Sunday, January 24, 2021

Precipitation (in)

Sunday Night Monday Monday Night Tuesday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0
Paradise LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
White Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 0 0 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10
Timberline 0.25 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10

Issued: 2:03 PM PST Sunday, January 24, 2021

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 2:03 PM PST Sunday, January 24, 2021

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 23 / 18 22 / 17
West North 22 / 20 21 / 18
West Central 20 / 18 21 / 19
West South 23 / 19 22 / 17
Stevens Pass 18 / 14 22 / 17
Snoqualmie Pass 19 / 17 21 / 17
East North 15 / 12 21 / 13
East Central 17 / 15 21 / 17
East South 21 / 16 24 / 15
Mt. Hood 24 / 17 24 / 17
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 23 / 18
Monday 22 / 17
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 22 / 20
Monday 21 / 18
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 20 / 18
Monday 21 / 19
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 23 / 19
Monday 22 / 17
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 18 / 14
Monday 22 / 17
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 19 / 17
Monday 21 / 17
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 15 / 12
Monday 21 / 13
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 17 / 15
Monday 21 / 17
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 21 / 16
Monday 24 / 15
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 24 / 17
Monday 24 / 17

Issued: 2:03 PM PST Sunday, January 24, 2021

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics VAR 0-10 W 5-15 W 5-15 SW 5-15
West North SSE 10-20 S 10-20 S 5-15 S 5-15
West Central SE 5-15 SW 5-15 SSW 5-15 SW 5-15
West South SW 5-15 SW 10-20 WSW 10-20 SW 0-10
Stevens Pass SE 5-15 SW 5-15 W 5-15 W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass SE 5-15 SW 10-20 WSW 10-20 W 0-10
East North S 0-10 S 0-10 SW 0-10 SW 0-10
East Central SSW 5-15 SSW 10-20 W 10-20 W 5-15
East South SSW 5-15 SSW 10-20 W 10-20 W 5-15
Mt. Hood W 10-20 W 15-25 WNW 10-20 W 5-15
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening VAR 0-10
Sunday Night W 5-15
Monday Morning W 5-15
Monday Afternoon SW 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SSE 10-20
Sunday Night S 10-20
Monday Morning S 5-15
Monday Afternoon S 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SE 5-15
Sunday Night SW 5-15
Monday Morning SSW 5-15
Monday Afternoon SW 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 5-15
Sunday Night SW 10-20
Monday Morning WSW 10-20
Monday Afternoon SW 0-10
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SE 5-15
Sunday Night SW 5-15
Monday Morning W 5-15
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SE 5-15
Sunday Night SW 10-20
Monday Morning WSW 10-20
Monday Afternoon W 0-10
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening S 0-10
Sunday Night S 0-10
Monday Morning SW 0-10
Monday Afternoon SW 0-10
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SSW 5-15
Sunday Night SSW 10-20
Monday Morning W 10-20
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SSW 5-15
Sunday Night SSW 10-20
Monday Morning W 10-20
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 10-20
Sunday Night W 15-25
Monday Morning WNW 10-20
Monday Afternoon W 5-15

Issued: 2:03 PM PST Sunday, January 24, 2021

Extended Weather Synopsis

An occluded frontal boundary emanating from a low pressure complex offshore should lift north over the area Tuesday night, bringing widespread light snow. From Wednesday to Thursday, no organized systems will be present but snow levels will remain cool and light snow shower activity will persist. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night* Wednesday * Wednesday Night Thursday
West North 0 1000' 0 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 0 1000' 500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 1000' 2500' 2500' 3000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday * 1000'
Wednesday Night 0'
Thursday 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday * 1000'
Wednesday Night 500'
Thursday 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday * 2500'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday 3000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 24, 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’.