Issued: 1:54 PM PST Tuesday, January 26, 2021
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

Several of our weather stations already indicate increasing easterly winds this afternoon ahead of a weakening front. While you may see some snow overnight, windy conditions will headline the forecast. Very strong and gusty easterly winds should peak in the early evening hours for most locations before decreasing slightly overnight. A low-pressure system off the coast will continue to slowly slide southward. As it does so, a series of weak fronts will spin bands of precipitation into the mountains. With cold air already in place, this will result in an all snow event. Look for snow showers to begin this evening in the southern portions of the region before spreading northward. Because of the wrap-around nature of this storm, Mt Hood and the eastern slopes of the Cascades could receive more precipitation than most areas west of the Cascade crest. While Mt Hood should pickup the greatest amount of snow, all trailheads should see a few inches by tomorrow morning. 

As the front continues to lift northward Wednesday, showers should taper off from south to north as a pocket of drier air moves over the region. While clouds will be the norm, you may encounter a few sunbreaks in the afternoon especially south of I90. This break will be short-lived as a secondary frontal system arrives late in the day. Like the first, this band of precipitation slides in from the south-southeast bringing the greater snow totals to the eastern slopes of the Cascades. Look for scattered snow showers overnight and into Thursday. 

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
Tuesday Night Cloudy with isolated showers. Strong S winds decreasing.
Wednesday Cloudy. Moderate SW winds
Tuesday Night Becoming cloudy with isolated showers. Strong E winds decreasing.
Wednesday Scattered showers. Moderate to strong S winds.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with isolated showers. Strong E winds.
Wednesday Cloudy with isolated showers.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with scattered showers. Strong E winds decreasing.
Wednesday Cloudy with isolated showers in the morning. Sunbreaks possible in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with isolated showers. Strong E winds decreasing.
Wednesday Cloudy with isolated showers.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with isolated showers. Strong E winds decreasing.
Wednesday Cloudy with isolated showers, heaviest east of the Pass.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with scattered showers. Light to moderate SE winds.
Wednesday Cloudy with isolated showers.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with scattered snow showers heaviest in the Wenatchee Mts. Moderate to strong SE winds.
Wednesday Cloudy with scattered showers, heaviest in the Wenatchee Mts. Moderate S winds.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with scattered showers. Moderate to strong SE winds.
Wednesday Cloudy with scattered showers in the morning. Sun breaks possible in the afternoon. Moderate S winds.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with snow. Moderate to strong S winds.
Wednesday Cloudy with scattered showers heaviest in the morning. Moderate SW winds.

Issued: 1:54 PM PST Tuesday, January 26, 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 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0
Paradise 0.25 LT 0.10 0.25 0
White Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0
Washington Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Timberline 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday 0
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.10

Issued: 1:54 PM PST Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Evening* Tuesday Night* Wednesday Morning* Wednesday Afternoon* Wednesday Evening* Wednesday Night* Thursday Morning* Thursday Afternoon*
Olympics 500' 500' 1000' 1500' 1000' 1000' 1000' 2000'
West North 0 0 0 1500' 500' 0 500' 2000'
West Central 0 0 0 1500' 500' 500' 1000' 2500'
West South 500' 0 500' 2500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 3000'
Stevens Pass 0 0 0 1500' 500' 500' 1000' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0 1500' 500' 1000' 1500' 2500'
East North 0 0 0 1000' 500' 0 1000' 2000'
East Central 0 0 0 1500' 500' 500' 1500' 2000'
East South 500' 0 500' 2000' 1500' 1500' 1500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 1000' 1000' 1000' 2500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 3000'
Olympics Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 500'
Tuesday Night* 500'
Wednesday Morning* 1000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1500'
Wednesday Evening* 1000'
Wednesday Night* 1000'
Thursday Morning* 1000'
Thursday Afternoon* 2000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1500'
Wednesday Evening* 500'
Wednesday Night* 0'
Thursday Morning* 500'
Thursday Afternoon* 2000'
West Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1500'
Wednesday Evening* 500'
Wednesday Night* 500'
Thursday Morning* 1000'
Thursday Afternoon* 2500'
West South Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 500'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2500'
Wednesday Evening* 1500'
Wednesday Night* 1500'
Thursday Morning* 1500'
Thursday Afternoon* 3000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1500'
Wednesday Evening* 500'
Wednesday Night* 500'
Thursday Morning* 1000'
Thursday Afternoon* 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1500'
Wednesday Evening* 500'
Wednesday Night* 1000'
Thursday Morning* 1500'
Thursday Afternoon* 2500'
East North Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1000'
Wednesday Evening* 500'
Wednesday Night* 0'
Thursday Morning* 1000'
Thursday Afternoon* 2000'
East Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1500'
Wednesday Evening* 500'
Wednesday Night* 500'
Thursday Morning* 1500'
Thursday Afternoon* 2000'
East South Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 500'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2000'
Wednesday Evening* 1500'
Wednesday Night* 1500'
Thursday Morning* 1500'
Thursday Afternoon* 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 1000'
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday Morning* 1000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2500'
Wednesday Evening* 2000'
Wednesday Night* 2000'
Thursday Morning* 2000'
Thursday Afternoon* 3000'

Issued: 1:54 PM PST Tuesday, January 26, 2021

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Tuesday Night Wednesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 25 / 20 28 / 25
West North 22 / 17 25 / 19
West Central 24 / 20 28 / 21
West South 23 / 18 27 / 20
Stevens Pass 22 / 18 26 / 21
Snoqualmie Pass 25 / 21 28 / 23
East North 18 / 13 21 / 18
East Central 21 / 15 23 / 19
East South 23 / 18 25 / 19
Mt. Hood 27 / 22 30 / 23
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 25 / 20
Wednesday 28 / 25
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 22 / 17
Wednesday 25 / 19
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 24 / 20
Wednesday 28 / 21
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 23 / 18
Wednesday 27 / 20
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 22 / 18
Wednesday 26 / 21
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 25 / 21
Wednesday 28 / 23
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 18 / 13
Wednesday 21 / 18
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 21 / 15
Wednesday 23 / 19
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 23 / 18
Wednesday 25 / 19
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 27 / 22
Wednesday 30 / 23

Issued: 1:54 PM PST Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon
Olympics SSE 30-40 S 15-25 SW 10-20 S 5-15
West North ESE 20-30 ESE 10-20 S 20-30 S 10-20
West Central ESE 25-35 ESE 20-30 SE 5-15 SE 5-15
West South E 35-50 E 20-30 S 5-15 SE 5-15
Stevens Pass E 25-35 E 15-25 E 5-15 ESE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass E 35-50 ESE 20-30 SE 5-15 SE 5-15
East North SE 10-20 E 5-15 SE 5-15 SE 5-15
East Central SE 15-25 SSE 20-30 S 10-20 S 5-15
East South SE 20-30 SSE 15-25 SSW 10-20 S 5-15
Mt. Hood S 20-30 SSW 15-25 SW 10-20 SSW 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSE 30-40
Tuesday Night S 15-25
Wednesday Morning SW 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon S 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening ESE 20-30
Tuesday Night ESE 10-20
Wednesday Morning S 20-30
Wednesday Afternoon S 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening ESE 25-35
Tuesday Night ESE 20-30
Wednesday Morning SE 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon SE 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening E 35-50
Tuesday Night E 20-30
Wednesday Morning S 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon SE 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening E 25-35
Tuesday Night E 15-25
Wednesday Morning E 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening E 35-50
Tuesday Night ESE 20-30
Wednesday Morning SE 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon SE 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SE 10-20
Tuesday Night E 5-15
Wednesday Morning SE 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon SE 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SE 15-25
Tuesday Night SSE 20-30
Wednesday Morning S 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon S 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SE 20-30
Tuesday Night SSE 15-25
Wednesday Morning SSW 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon S 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening S 20-30
Tuesday Night SSW 15-25
Wednesday Morning SW 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon SSW 15-25

Issued: 1:54 PM PST Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Extended Weather Synopsis

We should see a brief break in the action starting Thursday afternoon as a high-pressure ridge tries to build over the Pacific Northwest. A series of small short-wave troughs will flatten the ridge as we head into Friday afternoon returning precipitation to the forecast. While this system looks slightly warmer than our current weather, snow levels appear to remain low. Right now we anticipate snow showers with light accumulation Friday night into Saturday. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Night* Friday Friday Night* Saturday
West North 1000' 2000' 1000' 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1000' 3000' 1500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 1500' 3500' 2500' 3500'
West North Elevation
Thursday Night* 1000'
Friday 2000'
Friday Night* 1000'
Saturday 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Night* 1000'
Friday 3000'
Friday Night* 1500'
Saturday 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Night* 1500'
Friday 3500'
Friday Night* 2500'
Saturday 3500'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 26, 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’.