Issued: 4:15 PM PST Friday, February 3, 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

A front passing through our region this afternoon will usher in a wetter and more active pattern through the weekend and likely into at least the middle of next week. The front will pass through the central Cascades near or after 4 pm with showery post-frontal conditions this evening. The heaviest snowfall is likely to be in the Olympics, Mt Baker area, and the Mt Loop area where 8-14" of snow may accumulate. All areas will see at least a few inches of snow. Strong S-SE winds will become strong W-SW winds later this afternoon and continue Friday night for most areas.

Snow levels will dip slightly into the 3000-3500' Friday night but we won't see a significant cool-down following this storm. That's because on the heels of the frontal passage, another system will lift warm frontal moisture up from the south late tonight through Saturday morning.  Even as this wave of moisture exits, an upper level disturbance will begin to spread light rain/snow over the Mt Hood area and the south Washington Cascades Saturday afternoon. While conditions for the central and north Cascades should be relatively drier with the potential for cloud bases to lift (improving visibility), skies will remain cloudy.  This feature will lift NE Saturday night, spreading light precipitation and dropping a few inches of snow above 2000-3000' near and east of the Cascade crest. 

On Sunday, a cool upper level trough will move inland and bring showers with additional snow accumulations largely for the west slopes of the Cascades.  While not cold by anyone's standards, snow levels will drop another 500-1000' by Sunday afternoon vs earlier in the weekend. 

415 Update: Corrected Olympics Saturday Weather

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
Friday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers becoming periods of light rain or snow after midnight. Strong ridgeline winds easing overnight.
Saturday Cloudy with periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds, possibly becoming strong in the afternoon.
Friday Night Moderate to heavy rain and snow showers becoming light rain or snow after midnight. Strong ridgeline winds easing overnight.
Saturday Periods of light rain and snow. Winds increasing and becoming strong in the afternoon.
Friday Night Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow showers becoming light rain or snow after midnight. Strong ridgeline winds easing overnight.
Saturday Light to moderate rain and snow in the morning, then cloudy.
Friday Night Light to locally moderate rain and snow showers becoming light rain or snow after midnight. Strong ridgeline winds.
Saturday Light to moderate rain and snow in the morning, then cloudy, then light rain and snow developing again in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers becoming light rain or snow after midnight. Strong W winds at Pass level and ridgeline slowly easing overnight.
Saturday Light to moderate rain and snow in the morning, then cloudy in the afternoon. Moderate W ridgeline winds becoming light to moderate E-SE in the afternoon. Variable and light Pass level winds in the morning becoming light E in the afternoon.
Friday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers becoming light rain or snow after midnight. Strong W winds at Pass level and ridgeline slowly easing overnight.
Saturday Light to moderate rain and snow in the morning, then cloudy in the afternoon. Moderate W ridgeline winds becoming light to moderate E-SE in the afternoon. Variable and light Pass level winds in the morning becoming light E in the afternoon.
Friday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers becoming light rain or snow after midnight. Strong ridgeline winds easing overnight.
Saturday Light rain and snow in the morning, then cloudy in the afternoon.
Friday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers becoming light rain or snow after midnight. Strong ridgeline winds slowly easing overnight.
Saturday Light rain and snow in the morning, then cloudy in the afternoon.
Friday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers becoming light rain or snow after midnight. Strong ridgeline winds slowly easing overnight.
Saturday Light rain and snow in the morning, then cloudy, then light rain and snow developing again in the afternoon.
Friday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers becoming light rain or snow after midnight. Strong ridgeline winds easing overnight.
Saturday Light rain and snow.

Issued: 4:15 PM PST Friday, February 3, 2023

Precipitation (in)

Friday Night Saturday Saturday Night Sunday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 1.00 - 1.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.75 -1.00 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Paradise 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Washington Pass 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.25
Timberline 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.75 -1.00
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.75
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.50
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50

Issued: 4:15 PM PST Friday, February 3, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Friday Evening Friday Night Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics 4500' 3500' 4000' 5000' 4500' 4000' 3500' 3000'
West North 3000' 3000' 3500' 4500' 4000' 3500' 3500' 3000'
West Central 3500' 3500' 3500' 4500' 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500'
West South 3500' 3000' 4000' 4500' 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500'
Stevens Pass 3500' 3500' 3500' 4500' 3500' 3000' 3500' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 3500' 4000' 4500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500'
East North 2000' 2000' 3000' 4500' 3000' 2000' 3500' 4000'
East Central 3000' 3000' 3500' 4000' 3000' 3000' 3500' 4000'
East South 3500' 3500' 3500' 4500' 4000' 3000' 3500' 4000'
Mt. Hood 3500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 3500' 3500'
Olympics Elevation
Friday Evening 4500'
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday Morning 4000'
Saturday Afternoon 5000'
Saturday Evening 4500'
Saturday Night 4000'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
West North Elevation
Friday Evening 3000'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday Morning 3500'
Saturday Afternoon 4500'
Saturday Evening 4000'
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
West Central Elevation
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday Morning 3500'
Saturday Afternoon 4500'
Saturday Evening 4000'
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
West South Elevation
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday Morning 4000'
Saturday Afternoon 4500'
Saturday Evening 4000'
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday Morning 3500'
Saturday Afternoon 4500'
Saturday Evening 3500'
Saturday Night 3000'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday Morning 4000'
Saturday Afternoon 4500'
Saturday Evening 3500'
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
East North Elevation
Friday Evening 2000'
Friday Night 2000'
Saturday Morning 3000'
Saturday Afternoon 4500'
Saturday Evening 3000'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
East Central Elevation
Friday Evening 3000'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday Morning 3500'
Saturday Afternoon 4000'
Saturday Evening 3000'
Saturday Night 3000'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
East South Elevation
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday Morning 3500'
Saturday Afternoon 4500'
Saturday Evening 4000'
Saturday Night 3000'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 4500'
Saturday Morning 4500'
Saturday Afternoon 4500'
Saturday Evening 4500'
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'

Issued: 4:15 PM PST Friday, February 3, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Friday Night Saturday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 30 / 27 32 / 29
West North 29 / 27 31 / 27
West Central 28 / 27 32 / 28
West South 29 / 27 33 / 29
Stevens Pass 28 / 27 33 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass 28 / 27 31 / 29
East North 28 / 23 31 / 26
East Central 28 / 26 32 / 27
East South 29 / 28 32 / 29
Mt. Hood 30 / 28 33 / 30
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 30 / 27
Saturday 32 / 29
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 29 / 27
Saturday 31 / 27
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 28 / 27
Saturday 32 / 28
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 29 / 27
Saturday 33 / 29
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 28 / 27
Saturday 33 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 28 / 27
Saturday 31 / 29
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 28 / 23
Saturday 31 / 26
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 28 / 26
Saturday 32 / 27
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 29 / 28
Saturday 32 / 29
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 30 / 28
Saturday 33 / 30

Issued: 4:15 PM PST Friday, February 3, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 4:15 PM PST Friday, February 3, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

We may see a bit of reprieve Sunday night before light warm frontal moisture begins to impact the central/north Cascades and Olympics on Monday. The main moisture plume will be aimed into south-central British Columbia through Monday night. The frontal boundary will likely sag south on Tuesday bringing more significant and widespread precipitation to our area. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Night Monday Monday Night Tuesday
West North 2000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 2000' 3000' 3500' 3500'
Mt. Hood 2000' 3000' 3500' 4000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Night 2000'
Monday 3000'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Night 2000'
Monday 3000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Night 2000'
Monday 3000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday 4000'

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

Previous forecast from Feb 3, 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’.