Issued: 5:19 PM PST Sunday, February 7, 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

520 pm Update: Increased Stevens Pass overnight precipitation 

A broad upper level trough over central Canada (polar vortex) will keep cool NW flow trained on our area for the next several days. Snow showers will continue to affect the Cascades tonight but will become more localized with the one or two strong convergence bands that form over the central Washington Cascades. Snoqualmie Pass seems the most likely place to receive the heaviest showers overnight. The Puget Sound Convergence zone(s) will begin to weaken tonight and tomorrow morning as showers become less focused and more scattered. Strong ridgeline westerly winds seen in most areas today will also start to ease later tonight with the strongest winds down at Mt Hood. 

With the lack of an organized system tomorrow we'll see light snow showers and more clouds than the sun across our mountains on Monday. With a cool air mass overhead, it doesn't take much to squeeze out a few snow showers, especially with westerly onshore flow providing some lift for the west slopes of the Cascades. 

This pattern will continue through Tuesday; more clouds than sun, low snow levels and light snow showers.

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 Mostly cloudy with light scattered snow showers decreasing after midnight.
Monday Partly cloudy with isolated light snow showers.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with light scattered snow showers decreasing after midnight.
Monday Mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light to moderate snow showers in the evening becoming scattered showers after midnight. Strong ridgeline winds decreasing after midnight.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers decreasing after midnight. Strong ridgeline level winds decreasing after midnight.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the evening becoming scattered showers after midnight. Strong ridgeline and Pass level winds decreasing after midnight.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Light to moderate West winds at Pas level.
Sunday Night Cloudy with moderate snow showers in the evening becoming scattered showers late. Strong ridgeline and Pass level winds decreasing after midnight.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Light to moderate West winds at Pas level.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers, especially downwind of Snoqualmie Pass. Strong ridgeline winds decreasing after midnight.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers.
Sunday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated snow showers. Strong ridgeline winds decreasing after midnight.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Strong ridgeline winds. Alpine winds extreme.
Monday Mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers. More sunbreaks east side of the mountain.

Issued: 5:19 PM PST Sunday, February 7, 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 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
White Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 0 0 0
Timberline LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0

Issued: 5:19 PM PST Sunday, February 7, 2021

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 5:19 PM PST Sunday, February 7, 2021

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 19 / 11 19 / 10
West North 13 / 9 16 / 9
West Central 17 / 11 18 / 13
West South 21 / 15 21 / 14
Stevens Pass 18 / 15 20 / 15
Snoqualmie Pass 19 / 16 18 / 15
East North 12 / 7 17 / 8
East Central 17 / 13 20 / 15
East South 21 / 13 24 / 11
Mt. Hood 23 / 16 25 / 16
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 19 / 11
Monday 19 / 10
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 13 / 9
Monday 16 / 9
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 17 / 11
Monday 18 / 13
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 21 / 15
Monday 21 / 14
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 18 / 15
Monday 20 / 15
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 19 / 16
Monday 18 / 15
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 12 / 7
Monday 17 / 8
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 17 / 13
Monday 20 / 15
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 21 / 13
Monday 24 / 11
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 23 / 16
Monday 25 / 16

Issued: 5:19 PM PST Sunday, February 7, 2021

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics W 10-20 W 5-15 WNW 0-10 SW 0-10
West North W 10-20 W 5-15 W 0-10 SW 0-10
West Central W 15-25 WNW 10-20 W 5-15 W 0-10
West South W 15-25 W 10-20 W 10-20 W 5-15
Stevens Pass WNW 15-25 WNW 10-20 W 5-15 W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass WNW 25-35 WNW 15-25 W 10-20 W 10-20
East North WNW 10-20 WNW 10-20 W 5-15 W 5-15
East Central WNW 20-30 WNW 15-25 W 10-20 W 10-20
East South W 20-30 W 10-20 W 10-20 W 5-15
Mt. Hood W 25-35 W 20-30 W 10-20 W 10-20
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 10-20
Sunday Night W 5-15
Monday Morning WNW 0-10
Monday Afternoon SW 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 10-20
Sunday Night W 5-15
Monday Morning W 0-10
Monday Afternoon SW 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 15-25
Sunday Night WNW 10-20
Monday Morning W 5-15
Monday Afternoon W 0-10
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 15-25
Sunday Night W 10-20
Monday Morning W 10-20
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 15-25
Sunday Night WNW 10-20
Monday Morning W 5-15
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 25-35
Sunday Night WNW 15-25
Monday Morning W 10-20
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 10-20
Sunday Night WNW 10-20
Monday Morning W 5-15
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 20-30
Sunday Night WNW 15-25
Monday Morning W 10-20
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 20-30
Sunday Night W 10-20
Monday Morning W 10-20
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 25-35
Sunday Night W 20-30
Monday Morning W 10-20
Monday Afternoon W 10-20

Issued: 5:19 PM PST Sunday, February 7, 2021

Extended Weather Synopsis

Strong surface high pressure should begin to slide down from northern British Columbia and attempt to move much colder air from the interior towards our region in the extended. Model ensembles show a large spread in temperature outcomes mid to late next week meaning the modified arctic air intrusion's timing and strength is far from certain. Below normal temperatures and periods of light snow showers in the mountains is the best we can do until we have more confidence in the forecast.  

Extended Snow Level (ft)

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

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

Previous forecast from Feb 7, 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’.