Issued: 2:16 PM PST Monday, February 8, 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

An elongated upper-level trough over much of central Canada continues to be the dominant weather feature for much of the country including us here in the Pacific Northwest. We'll have cool NW flow aloft as strong surface high pressure (1050+ mb) in NE British Columbia slowly shifts southward over the next few days.

In the short term, this will allow the drip of colder air through the Fraser Valley and along the eastern side of the Cascades. Combined with light onshore westerly flow, this should lead to more clouds and continue the chance for light snow shower over the central and north Cascades, both sides of the crest, through Tuesday morning. Fewer clouds and a lower chance of showers should be seen near Mt Rainier down to Mt Hood and for the Olympics. On Tuesday afternoon we'll see some stratocumulus build up. You're likely to either be in the sunshine or in low based clouds with tops around 6000-7000', hence the partly sunny rating. 

A similar forecast will continue into Wednesday with cold conditions and a mix of sun and clouds in the mountains. 

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
Monday Night Partly cloudy.
Tuesday Partly sunny.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers in the morning, becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers in the morning, becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
Monday Night Partly to mostly cloudy. Periods of high clouds.
Tuesday Partly sunny.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers. Light east winds at Pass level.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers in the morning, becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers. Light east winds at Pass level.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers in the morning, becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with occasional light snow flurries.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with occasional light snow flurries in the morning, becoming partly sunny in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with occasional light snow flurries.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with occasional light snow flurries in the morning, becoming partly sunny in the afternoon.
Monday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with occasional light snow flurries.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with occasional light snow flurries in the morning, becoming partly sunny in the afternoon.
Monday Night Partly to mostly cloudy. Periods of high clouds.
Tuesday Partly sunny. Periods of high clouds in the morning.

Issued: 2:16 PM PST Monday, February 8, 2021

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 2:16 PM PST Monday, February 8, 2021

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 2:16 PM PST Monday, February 8, 2021

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 16 / 8 19 / 7
West North 11 / 6 15 / 6
West Central 16 / 11 16 / 9
West South 18 / 9 22 / 9
Stevens Pass 17 / 12 19 / 11
Snoqualmie Pass 17 / 11 18 / 11
East North 10 / 5 14 / 3
East Central 15 / 10 19 / 10
East South 15 / 10 23 / 10
Mt. Hood 19 / 12 27 / 11
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 16 / 8
Tuesday 19 / 7
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 11 / 6
Tuesday 15 / 6
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 16 / 11
Tuesday 16 / 9
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 18 / 9
Tuesday 22 / 9
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 17 / 12
Tuesday 19 / 11
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 17 / 11
Tuesday 18 / 11
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 10 / 5
Tuesday 14 / 3
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 15 / 10
Tuesday 19 / 10
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 15 / 10
Tuesday 23 / 10
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 19 / 12
Tuesday 27 / 11

Issued: 2:16 PM PST Monday, February 8, 2021

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:16 PM PST Monday, February 8, 2021

Extended Weather Synopsis

The excitement potentially starts Wednesday night and continues through the weekend. We will most likely drawdown even colder air in the extended; 5000' temperatures in the northeast Cascades may fall below zero with widespread single digits elsewhere in Washington. Offshore flow through the Cascade gaps and Fraser Valley outflow will likely crank up on Thursday for localized strong winds as well. 

The ingredient in question is moisture. Forecast models and ensembles are not in good agreement with systems approaching from the west on Wednesday night or Thursday. A warm frontal band may lift into Oregon or may extend north into most of Washington during this time frame.  There's increasing confidence in modified arctic air arriving later this week but precipitation amounts and location are still very uncertain. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night Thursday Thursday Night Friday
West North 0 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0 0
Mt. Hood 1500' 0 0 0
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night 0'
Thursday 0'
Thursday Night 0'
Friday 0'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night 0'
Thursday 0'
Thursday Night 0'
Friday 0'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night 1500'
Thursday 0'
Thursday Night 0'
Friday 0'

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

Previous forecast from Feb 8, 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’.