Issued: 9:01 AM PST Sunday, January 31, 2021
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

Updated Hurricane Ridge/Olymipcs weather and precipitation forecast for today

A vertically stacked low pressure system off the coast of Vancouver Island will slowly rotate an occluded frontal boundary inland today. This will continue the pattern of the last 24 hours with locally heavier precipitation favoring the Cascade volcanoes, especially the terrain around Mt Baker in the north Cascades. Winds will also be strongest in this area out ahead of the frontal boundary. Precipitation will be the lightest at Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes in this flow pattern relative to the other areas. A slow warming trend will take place today in most areas as warmer air is eroded on the east slopes of the Cascades and easterly flow through the Cascade Passes losses its grip. 

The front will wash out this evening over the area. A secondary feature will develop off the Oregon coast and renew precipitation in a similar fashion on Monday with snow levels roughly 500-1000' feet higher than where they sit this morning. We'll have to wait until Monday night for cooler air to arrive. 

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 Moderate rain and snow through late morning, becoming light to occasionally moderate rain and snow in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow.
Sunday Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow becoming heavy in the afternoon. Strong ridgeline winds rising in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow.
Sunday Light to moderate rain and snow, heavier in the afternoon. Strong ridgeline winds rising in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow.
Sunday Light to moderate rain and snow. Strong ridgeline winds rising in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow
Sunday Periods of light rain and snow. Light east winds at Pass level.
Sunday Night Periods of light rain and snow. Light east winds at Pass level.
Sunday Periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Light to moderate east winds at Pass level.
Sunday Night Periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Light to moderate east winds at Pass level.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow.
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow.
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow.
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow.
Sunday Light to moderate rain and snow.
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow.

Issued: 9:01 AM PST Sunday, January 31, 2021

Precipitation (in)

Sunday Sunday Night Monday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area 1.00 - 1.50 1.00 1.00
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.50 0.50 0.50
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 0.25 0.25
Crystal Mt 0.50 0.50 0.50
Paradise 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 - 0.75
White Pass 0.25 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass 0.25 0.25 0.25
Mission Ridge 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows 0.50 0.50 0.50
Timberline 0.50 0.50 0.50 - 0.75
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday Night 1.00
Monday 1.00
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.50
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 0.50 - 0.75
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.50
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.50 - 0.75

Issued: 9:01 AM PST Sunday, January 31, 2021

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon* Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon*
Olympics 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4500' 4000'
West North 3500' 4000' 4000' 3500' 4000' 4500'
West Central 3500' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4500' 4500'
West South 4500' 5000' 5000' 5500' 5500' 5500'
Stevens Pass 3500' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4500' 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 4000' 4000' 5000' 5000' 5000'
East North 2000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4000'
East Central 2500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4500' 4000'
East South 3000' 4000' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500'
Mt. Hood 4500' 5500' 6000' 6000' 5000' 5500'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Morning* 3500'
Sunday Afternoon* 3500'
Sunday Evening* 3500'
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday Morning* 4500'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Morning* 3500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning* 4000'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Morning* 3500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 4500'
Monday Morning* 4500'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
West South Elevation
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon* 5000'
Sunday Evening* 5000'
Sunday Night* 5500'
Monday Morning* 5500'
Monday Afternoon* 5500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning* 3500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 4500'
Monday Morning* 4500'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning* 3500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 5000'
Monday Morning* 5000'
Monday Afternoon* 5000'
East North Elevation
Sunday Morning* 2000'
Sunday Afternoon* 3500'
Sunday Evening* 3500'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning* 4000'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Morning* 2500'
Sunday Afternoon* 3500'
Sunday Evening* 3500'
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday Morning* 4500'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
East South Elevation
Sunday Morning* 3000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 4500'
Monday Morning* 4500'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon* 5500'
Sunday Evening* 6000'
Sunday Night* 6000'
Monday Morning* 5000'
Monday Afternoon* 5500'

Issued: 9:01 AM PST Sunday, January 31, 2021

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Sunday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 30 / 27 31 / 26
West North 31 / 29 31 / 27
West Central 31 / 29 31 / 28
West South 33 / 31 33 / 31
Stevens Pass 31 / 28 30 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass 31 / 28 32 / 28
East North 29 / 26 27 / 26
East Central 31 / 28 30 / 28
East South 32 / 28 32 / 29
Mt. Hood 34 / 30 33 / 32
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 30 / 27
Sunday Night 31 / 26
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 31 / 29
Sunday Night 31 / 27
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 31 / 29
Sunday Night 31 / 28
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 33 / 31
Sunday Night 33 / 31
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 31 / 28
Sunday Night 30 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 31 / 28
Sunday Night 32 / 28
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 29 / 26
Sunday Night 27 / 26
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 31 / 28
Sunday Night 30 / 28
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 32 / 28
Sunday Night 32 / 29
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 34 / 30
Sunday Night 33 / 32

Issued: 9:01 AM PST Sunday, January 31, 2021

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

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

Previous forecast from Jan 31, 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’.