Issued: 2:11 PM PST Saturday, January 30, 2021
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

A deep trough offshore continues to focus an active and moist SSW flow on the Pacific northwest. With the deep trough off the coast and colder air east of the Cascades, the east flow will continue throughout the forecast period and will likely peak on Sunday.

Heavy snow favored Mt. Baker on Saturday. As of 1 PM, Mt. Baker had picked up 11" of snow since midnight. Other areas saw far less snowfall during the day. The same front remains stalled over the region Saturday night, bringing periods of light to moderate rain and snow (locally heavy in the Mt. Baker area). Meanwhile, another stronger cold front will reach the Olympic Mountains in the early morning hours, shifting heavier rain and snow further west. That front is likely to bring significant snow to Hurricane Ridge and heavy snow to Mt. Baker on Sunday. Temperatures continue to gradually warm, but the east flow is likely to keep Snoqualmie Pass all snow during the daytime hours. Sunday will be windier with moderate winds across a wider swath of the region.

Sunday night, warm air continues to gradually raise the freezing levels and Snoqualmie Pass should change to rain. Pulses of moisture continue to move northward across the region on SSW flow. Mt. Baker and the Cascade volcanoes remain favored by the flow pattern.

On Monday, the trough starts to move into the region, but moist SSW continues. Expect rain to continue at Snoqualmie Pass level with snow levels around 4000 ft. Winds should ease relative to Sunday.

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 Light snow potentially becoming moderate in the early morning hours.
Sunday Moderate snow.
Saturday Night Decreasing moderate snow.
Sunday Heavy snow.
Saturday Night Decreasing light snow.
Sunday Light to moderate snow.
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow, heaviest at Mt. St Helens, then Paradise.
Sunday Moderate snow.
Saturday Night Periods of light snow. Increasing light to occasionally moderate E winds at the Pass.
Sunday Periods of light rain and snow. Pass level remains snow. Light to moderate E winds at the Pass.
Saturday Night Periods of light snow. Light to moderate E winds at the Pass.
Sunday Periods of light rain and snow. Rain may mix with snow in the afternoon at Pass level. Light to moderate E winds at the Pass.
Saturday Night Periods of light snow decreasing after midnight.
Sunday Light snow.
Saturday Night Periods of decreasing light snow.
Sunday Periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow.
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow.
Sunday Moderate rain and snow in the morning, becoming light.
Saturday Night Moderate rain and snow.
Sunday Moderate to heavy rain and snow, peaking in the morning hours.

Issued: 2:11 PM PST Saturday, January 30, 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 0.25 0.50 LT 0.10 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.75 0.75 -1.00 1.00 0.50 - 0.75
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Paradise 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 0.50
White Pass 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.25
Washington Pass LT 0.25 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 0.50
Timberline 0.50 0.75 0.50 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.75
Sunday 0.75 -1.00
Sunday Night 1.00
Monday 0.50 - 0.75
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
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 LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 0.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.50
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 0.75
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.50

Issued: 2:11 PM PST Saturday, January 30, 2021

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 2:11 PM PST Saturday, January 30, 2021

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 29 / 25 32 / 28
West North 28 / 27 32 / 28
West Central 28 / 26 30 / 27
West South 31 / 29 32 / 31
Stevens Pass 28 / 25 30 / 27
Snoqualmie Pass 28 / 25 30 / 28
East North 26 / 23 28 / 26
East Central 28 / 26 30 / 28
East South 29 / 27 32 / 27
Mt. Hood 32 / 30 34 / 30
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 25
Sunday 32 / 28
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 27
Sunday 32 / 28
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 26
Sunday 30 / 27
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 31 / 29
Sunday 32 / 31
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 25
Sunday 30 / 27
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 25
Sunday 30 / 28
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 26 / 23
Sunday 28 / 26
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 26
Sunday 30 / 28
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 27
Sunday 32 / 27
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 30
Sunday 34 / 30

Issued: 2:11 PM PST Saturday, January 30, 2021

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics SSW 15-25 SSW 15-25 S 10-20 SSW 10-20
West North S 15-25 S 15-25 SSE 20-30 S 15-25
West Central SSE 10-20 SSE 10-20 SSE 10-20 SSE 10-20
West South S 15-25 S 15-25 S 10-20 S 10-20
Stevens Pass SSE 5-15 SSE 5-15 SE 10-20 SSE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass ESE 5-15 SE 10-20 SE 10-20 SE 10-20
East North SSE 10-20 SSE 10-20 SE 10-20 SE 10-20
East Central S 15-25 S 15-25 S 10-20 S 10-20
East South S 10-20 S 5-15 S 5-15 SSW 10-20
Mt. Hood SSW 15-25 SSW 15-25 SSW 15-25 SSW 20-30
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 15-25
Saturday Night SSW 15-25
Sunday Morning S 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SSW 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 15-25
Saturday Night S 15-25
Sunday Morning SSE 20-30
Sunday Afternoon S 15-25
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 10-20
Saturday Night SSE 10-20
Sunday Morning SSE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SSE 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 15-25
Saturday Night S 15-25
Sunday Morning S 10-20
Sunday Afternoon S 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 5-15
Saturday Night SSE 5-15
Sunday Morning SE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SSE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ESE 5-15
Saturday Night SE 10-20
Sunday Morning SE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SE 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 10-20
Saturday Night SSE 10-20
Sunday Morning SE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SE 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 15-25
Saturday Night S 15-25
Sunday Morning S 10-20
Sunday Afternoon S 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 10-20
Saturday Night S 5-15
Sunday Morning S 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SSW 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 15-25
Saturday Night SSW 15-25
Sunday Morning SSW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon SSW 20-30

Issued: 2:11 PM PST Saturday, January 30, 2021

Extended Weather Synopsis

The gradually weakening offshore trough slowly settles into the Pacific Northwest Monday night bringing a slow cooling trend, lighter SW winds and lighter rain and snow shower activity. The trough axis passes over the region by Monday afternoon, switching light upper-level flow to the WNW. The pressure gradient tightens as the first in a series of storms rides down the backside of a persistent high well off the coast of California. This feature brings increasing moderate snowfall Tuesday. Snow should gradually decrease Wednesday.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 3500' 2500' 2000' 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 3000' 2000' 2000'
Mt. Hood 4500' 3000' 2500' 2500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday 2500'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday 3000'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday 2000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday 3000'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday 2500'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 30, 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’.