Issued: 2:12 PM PST Saturday, February 13, 2021
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

In the wake of a significant mountain and lowland snow event, we remain cold, but temperatures begin to moderate. Shortwave troughs arriving from the west maintaining a snowy pattern in the mountains. Saturday night, expect light snowfall across Washington State and moderate snow in the Mt. Hood area with a subtle trough over the area. Without a break in the snowfall, another trough allows snowfall to increase into the light to moderate range by later Sunday afternoon. An approaching and better organized upper low should bring moderate to heavy snowfall, particularly to the southern Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood on Sunday night and Monday with westerly flow increasing to the strong to very strong range by Monday afternoon. Expect 1-2.5 ft of snow Sunday night and Monday in the Mt. Hood and Paradise areas.

The strengthening westerly winds will increasingly erode the cold air pool east of the Cascade Crest, but cold air will hang on in the central and northern parts. That should allow stronger downslope winds in the mountains around Yakima and on the east slopes of Mt. Hood

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 Snow flurries in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with light snow possibly developing in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with very light snow at times.
Sunday Very light snow in the morning increasing into the light to occasionally moderate range late in the day.
Saturday Night Cloudy with very light snow at times.
Sunday Very light snow in the morning increasing into the light to occasionally moderate range late in the day.
Saturday Night Light snow, heaviest at Paradise, then white pass. Crystal mostly in the "snow shadow."
Sunday Increasing light to occasionally moderate snow at Paradise and White Pass. Light snow at Crystal.
Saturday Night Decreasing light snow. Light E winds at the Pass.
Sunday Increasing light snow. Light E winds at the Pass.
Saturday Night Decreasing light snow. Light to occasionally moderate E winds at the Pass.
Sunday Increasing light to occasionally moderate snow. Light to occasionally moderate E winds at the Pass.
Saturday Night Very light snow or snow flurries.
Sunday Very light snow or snow flurries.
Saturday Night Decreasing light snow.
Sunday Light snow increasing in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Decreasing light snow.
Sunday Light snow increasing in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Moderate to occasionally heavy snow or snow showers. Decreasing moderate to occasionally strong winds.
Sunday Moderate snow. Increasing moderate to occasionally strong winds.

Issued: 2:12 PM PST Saturday, February 13, 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 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.25 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.50
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.50 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 0.25 0.50 0.75
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 - 0.75
Paradise 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 1.00
White Pass LT 0.25 0.25 0.50 0.75
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.50
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 1.00 0.75 -1.00
Timberline 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 1.00 1.00
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.75
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.50 - 0.75
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday 1.00
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.75
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.50
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 1.00
Monday 0.75 -1.00
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 1.00
Monday 1.00

Issued: 2:12 PM PST Saturday, February 13, 2021

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening* Saturday Night* Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon* Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon*
Olympics 0 0 500' 1500' 2500' 3000' 2500' 3000'
West North 0 0 0 500' 1000' 500' 0 1500'
West Central 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1000'
West South 0 0 0 1000' 1000' 500' 500' 2500'
Stevens Pass 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 500'
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 500'
East North 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 500'
East Central 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 500'
East South 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2500'
Mt. Hood 500' 0 0 500' 1500' 1500' 3500' 3000'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 500'
Sunday Afternoon* 1500'
Sunday Evening* 2500'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning* 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 3000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 500'
Sunday Evening* 1000'
Sunday Night* 500'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 1500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 1000'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 1000'
Sunday Evening* 1000'
Sunday Night* 500'
Monday Morning* 500'
Monday Afternoon* 2500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 500'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 500'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening* 500'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 500'
Sunday Evening* 1500'
Sunday Night* 1500'
Monday Morning* 3500'
Monday Afternoon* 3000'

Issued: 2:12 PM PST Saturday, February 13, 2021

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 22 / 17 28 / 22
West North 16 / 10 25 / 17
West Central 17 / 9 24 / 18
West South 23 / 20 28 / 22
Stevens Pass 10 / 4 21 / 10
Snoqualmie Pass 14 / 7 22 / 14
East North 8 / 3 16 / 7
East Central 10 / 3 21 / 10
East South 17 / 8 28 / 16
Mt. Hood 24 / 23 30 / 24
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 22 / 17
Sunday 28 / 22
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 16 / 10
Sunday 25 / 17
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 17 / 9
Sunday 24 / 18
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 23 / 20
Sunday 28 / 22
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 10 / 4
Sunday 21 / 10
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 14 / 7
Sunday 22 / 14
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 8 / 3
Sunday 16 / 7
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 10 / 3
Sunday 21 / 10
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 17 / 8
Sunday 28 / 16
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 24 / 23
Sunday 30 / 24

Issued: 2:12 PM PST Saturday, February 13, 2021

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics WSW 0-10 WSW 5-15 SW 5-15 SW 5-15
West North SSE 5-15 SSW 5-15 SW 5-15 SSW 10-20
West Central SE 5-15 S 5-15 SW 5-15 SSW 5-15
West South W 5-15 WSW 5-15 SW 5-15 SW 10-20
Stevens Pass ESE 0-10 SSE 0-10 S 0-10 SW 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass ESE 5-15 SSE 0-10 SW 0-10 SW 0-10
East North SE 5-15 S 5-15 SW 5-15 SW 5-15
East Central WSW 0-10 W 5-15 W 10-20 WSW 10-20
East South W 5-15 WSW 5-15 WSW 10-20 WSW 10-20
Mt. Hood W 20-30 W 15-25 WSW 15-25 WSW 20-30
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 0-10
Saturday Night WSW 5-15
Sunday Morning SW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SW 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 5-15
Saturday Night SSW 5-15
Sunday Morning SW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SSW 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 5-15
Saturday Night S 5-15
Sunday Morning SW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SSW 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 5-15
Saturday Night WSW 5-15
Sunday Morning SW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ESE 0-10
Saturday Night SSE 0-10
Sunday Morning S 0-10
Sunday Afternoon SW 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ESE 5-15
Saturday Night SSE 0-10
Sunday Morning SW 0-10
Sunday Afternoon SW 0-10
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 5-15
Saturday Night S 5-15
Sunday Morning SW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SW 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 0-10
Saturday Night W 5-15
Sunday Morning W 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 5-15
Saturday Night WSW 5-15
Sunday Morning WSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 20-30
Saturday Night W 15-25
Sunday Morning WSW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 20-30

Issued: 2:12 PM PST Saturday, February 13, 2021

Extended Weather Synopsis

The series of shortwave troughs maintains snowfall on a westerly flow on Monday. Light to moderate snowfall continues Monday night through Tuesday night as a ridge builds offshore, turning flow NWerly. The "dirty" ridge moves into the PNW on Wednesday with mostly cloudy conditions and very light snow showers ahead of a stronger front arriving Thursday. Snow levels gradually rise to seasonal norms by Wednesday.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday *
West North 1500' 1500' 1000' 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass 2000' 2000' 1500' 1500'
Mt. Hood 2500' 2500' 2000' 2000'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 1500'
Tuesday 1500'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday * 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 2000'
Tuesday 2000'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday * 1500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday 2500'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday * 2000'

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

Previous forecast from Feb 13, 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’.