Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, January 28, 2023
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 upper-level trough is ushering in much colder temperatures and widespread light snow this afternoon. The disturbance is moving from north to south across the region with a weak surface low parked off the mouth of the Columbia River, helping to provide some additional lift and moisture for the southern Washington Cascades and Mt Hood. Areas along the east slopes of the Cascades, specifically near and south of Lake Chelan and on both sides of the Cascades south of Stevens Pass should continue to pick up light snowfall through the evening, with light snow lingering longest for the Mt Hood area overnight. Even though this system doesn't have a lot of moisture to work with, cold temperatures will help squeeze a few inches of fluffy low density snow.  

Besides light snowfall, the other big story will be moderate to strong E-NE winds in most areas through Sunday morning. As the trough pulls away and digs further south along the west coast, winds will be slow to taper off generally from north to south across the forecast area during the day Sunday. In the wake of this system, very dry air will move over the area and we can expect a cold and sunny day.  Widespread single-digit low temperatures in the mountains are likely and highs will struggle in the teens on Sunday.

Clear and cold conditions will persist on Sunday night.  On Monday, a ridge offshore will begin to break down and while we'll remain dry, some high clouds may move over the northern half of the forecast area. Temperatures and freezing levels will inch up a notch on Monday. 

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 Partly to mostly cloudy with light snow showers mainly north slopes of the Olympics. Cold. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Mostly sunny. Moderate ridgeline winds easing in the morning.
Saturday Night Mostly clear and cold. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Mostly sunny and cold. Moderate ridgeline winds easing in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of light snow showers in the evening, then mostly clear. Cold. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Mostly sunny and cold. Moderate ridgeline winds easing in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of light snow showers, then clearing late. Cold. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Mostly sunny and cold. Moderate ridgeline winds easing in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of light snow showers, then clearing late. Cold. Moderate ridgeline and Pass level E winds.
Sunday Mostly sunny and cold. Moderate ridgeline and Pass level E winds easing in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of light snow showers, then becoming partly cloudy late. Cold. Moderate to strong ridgeline and Pass level E winds.
Sunday Mostly sunny and cold. Moderate to strong ridgeline and Pass level E winds easing in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of light snow showers, then clearing after midnight. Cold. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Mostly sunny and cold. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds easing in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light snow becoming mostly cloudy with light snow showers after midnight. Cold. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Partly cloudy in the morning with a chance of a snow shower early then mostly sunny. Cold. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds easing in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light snow becoming mostly cloudy with light snow showers after midnight. Cold. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Partly cloudy in the morning with a chance of a snow shower early then mostly sunny and cold. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds slowly easing in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light snow. Cold. Strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Mostly cloudy in the morning with a chance of a snow shower then mostly sunny. Strong ridgeline winds slowly easing in the afternoon.

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, January 28, 2023

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 0 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0 0 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 0 0 0
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 0 0 0
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 0 0 0
Paradise LT 0.10 0 0 0
White Pass LT 0.10 0 0 0
Washington Pass 0 0 0 0
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 0 0 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 0 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 0 0 0
Timberline LT 0.25 0 0 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, January 28, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, January 28, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 16 / 9 21 / 8
West North 14 / 8 19 / 9
West Central 14 / 9 17 / 9
West South 14 / 8 15 / 8
Stevens Pass 13 / 8 15 / 8
Snoqualmie Pass 14 / 8 15 / 8
East North 11 / 1 15 / 5
East Central 11 / 4 14 / 7
East South 11 / 4 14 / 3
Mt. Hood 17 / 8 14 / 4
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 16 / 9
Sunday 21 / 8
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 14 / 8
Sunday 19 / 9
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 14 / 9
Sunday 17 / 9
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 14 / 8
Sunday 15 / 8
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 13 / 8
Sunday 15 / 8
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 14 / 8
Sunday 15 / 8
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 11 / 1
Sunday 15 / 5
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 11 / 4
Sunday 14 / 7
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 11 / 4
Sunday 14 / 3
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 17 / 8
Sunday 14 / 4

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, January 28, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics NE 15-25 NE 15-25 NE 10-20 NNW 5-15
West North ENE 15-25 NE 15-25 NE 10-20 NW 5-15
West Central ENE 15-25 NE 15-25 NE 10-20 N 5-15
West South ENE 20-30 NE 20-30 NE 10-20 N 5-15
Stevens Pass ENE 15-25 ENE 15-25 NE 10-20 NE 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass ENE 20-30 ENE 15-25 NE 10-20 NE 5-15
East North ENE 15-25 NE 20-30 NE 10-20 N 5-15
East Central ENE 20-30 NE 20-30 ENE 15-25 NNE 10-20
East South ENE 20-30 NE 20-30 ENE 15-25 NE 10-20
Mt. Hood NE 20-30 NE 30-40 E 30-40 ENE 20-30
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening NE 15-25
Saturday Night NE 15-25
Sunday Morning NE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon NNW 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ENE 15-25
Saturday Night NE 15-25
Sunday Morning NE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon NW 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ENE 15-25
Saturday Night NE 15-25
Sunday Morning NE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon N 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ENE 20-30
Saturday Night NE 20-30
Sunday Morning NE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon N 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ENE 15-25
Saturday Night ENE 15-25
Sunday Morning NE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon NE 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ENE 20-30
Saturday Night ENE 15-25
Sunday Morning NE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon NE 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ENE 15-25
Saturday Night NE 20-30
Sunday Morning NE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon N 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ENE 20-30
Saturday Night NE 20-30
Sunday Morning ENE 15-25
Sunday Afternoon NNE 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ENE 20-30
Saturday Night NE 20-30
Sunday Morning ENE 15-25
Sunday Afternoon NE 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening NE 20-30
Saturday Night NE 30-40
Sunday Morning E 30-40
Sunday Afternoon ENE 20-30

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, January 28, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

We'll see the ridge break down midweek with light precipitation generally brushing the Olympics and most of the Washington Cascades while largely leaving the Mt Hood area dry.  Forecast models are out of sync about the midweek pattern so we'll have to wait for clarity regarding timing.  Temperatures will slowly moderate through midweek. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday *
West North 1000' 1000' 2000' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 1000' 1500' 2000' 3500'
Mt. Hood 4000' 3500' 4500' 5500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday 1000'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday * 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday 1500'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday * 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday 3500'
Tuesday Night 4500'
Wednesday * 5500'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 27, 2023

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’.