Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, February 4, 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

Light warm frontal moisture will continue this evening and overnight, especially near and along the east slopes of the Cascades as the feature lifts northward. Cool easterly flow will help lower snow levels down to 2000-3000' along the east slopes of the Cascades. It will be slightly warmer on the west side of the Cascades Saturday night.  

A disorganized N-S frontal boundary will approach our coast on Sunday. Some forecast models suggest this boundary splits with a weak surface low wandering inland near the mouth of the Columbia River and focusing more precipitation for the Olympics and south Washington Cascades in the morning. Precipitation in the Mt Hood area could be locally heavy on Sunday. Eventually, the upper level trough swings through Sunday afternoon bringing about a shift to moderate to strong westerly winds and steadier shower activity near and west of the Cascade crest. Late in the day, we're likely to see less cloud cover east of the Cascade crest with downsloping/drying east of the crest. 

Further shower activity and cooling will take place Sunday night with additional snowfall accumulation below all the major Cascade Passes and moderate to strong westerly ridgeline winds. A Puget Sound Convergence zone may form overnight and focus on Stevens and/or Snoqualmie Pass. 

That cool westerly flow won't last too long in this active pattern.  Light warm frontal moisture draping down from a front system aimed into south central B.C. will keep light snow and cloudy conditions for the Washington Cascades. While snowfall doesn't look too heavy during the day, it does look continuous. 

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 Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow.
Sunday Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow in the morning, then mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow.
Sunday Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow in the morning, then cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow.
Sunday Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow in the morning, then cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow.
Sunday Light to locally occasionally moderate rain and snow in the morning, then cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. Light E Pass level and ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to locally occasionally moderate rain and snow in the morning, then cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Variable winds in the morning, then light to moderate W ridgeline wind and Pass level winds in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. Light to moderate E Pass level and ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to locally occasionally moderate rain and snow in the morning, then cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Variable winds in the morning, then moderate W ridgeline wind and Pass level winds in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow.
Sunday Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow in the morning, then mostly cloudy with scattered showers near the Cascade crest in the afternoon. Partly sunny further east of the crest. Moderate ridgeline winds in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light rain and snow.
Sunday Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow in the morning, then mostly cloudy with scattered showers near the Cascade crest in the afternoon. Partly sunny further east of the crest. Moderate ridgeline winds in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light rain and snow.
Sunday Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow in the morning, then mostly cloudy with scattered showers near the Cascade crest in the afternoon. Partly sunny further east of the crest. Moderate ridgeline winds in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light rain and snow.
Sunday Light to moderate rain and snow in the morning becoming light to moderate showers in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds becoming strong in the afternoon.

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, February 4, 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 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.25
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
White Pass LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 0.25 0
Timberline 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 -1.00 0.25 - 0.50 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.75
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.75 -1.00
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, February 4, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening* Saturday Night* Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 4000' 4500' 4000' 3500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3500'
West North 3500' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3500'
West Central 3500' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3500'
West South 3500' 3500' 4000' 3500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3500'
Stevens Pass 3000' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 3500' 4000' 3500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3500'
East North 2000' 2000' 3000' 4000' 3000' 2500' 2500' 4000'
East Central 2500' 2500' 3000' 4000' 3000' 2500' 2500' 4000'
East South 3000' 3000' 3000' 4000' 3000' 2500' 2500' 4000'
Mt. Hood 4000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 4000'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening* 4000'
Saturday Night* 4500'
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 3500'
Saturday Night* 3000'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 3500'
Saturday Night* 3000'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 3500'
Saturday Night* 3500'
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 3000'
Saturday Night* 3000'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 3000'
Saturday Night* 3500'
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2000'
Saturday Night* 2000'
Sunday Morning 3000'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2500'
Saturday Night* 2500'
Sunday Morning 3000'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 3000'
Saturday Night* 3000'
Sunday Morning 3000'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening* 4000'
Saturday Night* 4000'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 4000'

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, February 4, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 29 / 27 31 / 26
West North 30 / 26 30 / 25
West Central 29 / 25 30 / 24
West South 30 / 27 30 / 26
Stevens Pass 29 / 24 31 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 29 / 26 30 / 26
East North 27 / 24 32 / 24
East Central 29 / 25 32 / 25
East South 30 / 28 31 / 28
Mt. Hood 32 / 29 30 / 27
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 27
Sunday 31 / 26
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 30 / 26
Sunday 30 / 25
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 25
Sunday 30 / 24
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 30 / 27
Sunday 30 / 26
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 24
Sunday 31 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 26
Sunday 30 / 26
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 27 / 24
Sunday 32 / 24
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 25
Sunday 32 / 25
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 30 / 28
Sunday 31 / 28
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 29
Sunday 30 / 27

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, February 4, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics S 10-20 S 5-15 W 0-10 W 10-20
West North SSE 5-15 SE 5-15 SW 0-10 WSW 10-20
West Central SE 5-15 SSE 5-15 VAR 0-10 W 10-20
West South SSE 15-25 SE 5-15 VAR 5-15 W 15-25
Stevens Pass SE 10-20 SSE 0-10 VAR 0-10 W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass SE 10-20 SE 5-15 VAR 0-10 W 15-25
East North SE 10-20 S 5-15 SW 0-10 W 10-20
East Central SSE 15-25 SSE 10-20 S 0-10 W 15-25
East South S 10-20 SSE 5-15 S 5-15 W 10-20
Mt. Hood SSE 10-20 S 15-25 WSW 15-25 W 25-35
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 10-20
Saturday Night S 5-15
Sunday Morning W 0-10
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 5-15
Saturday Night SE 5-15
Sunday Morning SW 0-10
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 5-15
Saturday Night SSE 5-15
Sunday Morning VAR 0-10
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 15-25
Saturday Night SE 5-15
Sunday Morning VAR 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 15-25
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 10-20
Saturday Night SSE 0-10
Sunday Morning VAR 0-10
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 10-20
Saturday Night SE 5-15
Sunday Morning VAR 0-10
Sunday Afternoon W 15-25
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 10-20
Saturday Night S 5-15
Sunday Morning SW 0-10
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 15-25
Saturday Night SSE 10-20
Sunday Morning S 0-10
Sunday Afternoon W 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 10-20
Saturday Night SSE 5-15
Sunday Morning S 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 10-20
Saturday Night S 15-25
Sunday Morning WSW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon W 25-35

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, February 4, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

That aforementioned frontal boundary will sag south and take aim at our next of the woods Monday night and Tuesday.  We should see some moderate to heavy precipitation along the west slopes of the Cascades. This won't be a warm storm but snow levels will creep up on Tuesday as precipitation rates increase.  

The associated cold front will swing through Tuesday night with significant post-frontal showers and cooler temperatures. Lighter showers are likely to carry over into Wednesday along the west slopes of the Cascades. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 3000' 3500' 2000' 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 3500' 2000' 2000'
Mt. Hood 4500' 4500' 2000' 2500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday 3500'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday 3500'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday 2000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday 4500'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday 2500'

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

Previous forecast from Feb 4, 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’.