Issued: 2:08 PM PST Friday, January 3, 2025
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

The Pacific Northwest remains in the storm track through the weekend. A low is wrapping up off the Washington Coast on Friday afternoon while an associated frontal system brings moderate precipitation to the region. The warm front lifts north of the Canadian border by the evening. Temperatures gradually cool overnight into the 2500-3000 ft range as the trailing trough arrives with light snow showers focused more on the southern Cascades through Saturday morning. Most areas further north will experience sun breaks early Saturday before clouds lower and thicken during the mid-day hours ahead of the next system approaching from the west.

Light to moderate rain and snow focus on the southern volcanoes and the Olympics in the afternoon, but reach the rest of the Washington Cascades by dusk as WSW winds increase. Moderate to locally heavy rain and snow focus on the west slopes of the Cascades Saturday night, with moderate WSW ridgeline winds gradually raising the snow level. The precipitation should stay snow at all the passes overnight but may transition to rain behind the frontal passage early Sunday morning as snow levels rise to around 4000 ft. Light rain and snow showers focus more on the central and northern Cascades on Sunday morning before decreasing in the afternoon. Areas near the Cascade Crest can generally expect 4-10” snow accumulations with this system.

 

 

 

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 and scattered rain and snow showers with some breaks in the clouds. Light to moderate ridgeline winds become light.
Saturday Clouds lower and thicken in the morning, then light rain and snow develop in the afternoon.
Friday Night Decreasing light rain and snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds become light.
Saturday Mostly cloudy with isolated rain or snow showers. Clouds lower and thicken in the afternoon with light rain and snow developing.
Friday Night Decreasing light rain and snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds become light.
Saturday Mostly cloudy with isolated rain or snow showers. Clouds lower and thicken in the afternoon with light rain and snow developing.
Friday Night Increasing light rain and snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Light rain and snow showers transition to moderate rain and snow by mid-afternoon.
Friday Night Light rain and snow showers. Decreasing light to occasionally moderate (WSW) ridgeline and light E wind at the Pass.
Saturday Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers through mid-afternoon, transitioning to light rain and snow late in the day. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Friday Night Light rain and snow showers. Decreasing light to moderate (WSW) ridgeline and light E wind at the Pass.
Saturday Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers through mid-afternoon, transitioning to light rain and snow late in the day. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Friday Night Decreasing very light snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Snow flurries. Partly cloudy in the morning, becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
Friday Night Decreasing light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Snow flurries near the Cascade Crest with partly cloudy skies in the morning. Mostly cloudy in the afternoon with light rain and snow developing by dusk. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Snow flurries near the Cascade Crest with partly cloudy skies in the morning. Mostly cloudy in the afternoon with light rain and snow developing by dusk. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Increasing light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Light rain and snow showers becomes moderate rain and snow from mid-day onwards. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Friday, January 3, 2025

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 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 LT 0.25 0.75 -1.00 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0.75 0.25
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.75 -1.00 0.25
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Paradise LT 0.25 0.25 1.00 LT 0.10
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.50 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 0 0.25 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.50 LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.10
Timberline LT 0.10 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night 0.75 -1.00
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night 0.75
Sunday 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night 0.75 -1.00
Sunday 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night 1.00
Sunday LT 0.10
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0.50
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday LT 0.25

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Friday, January 3, 2025

Snow Level (ft)

Friday Evening* Friday Night* Saturday Morning* Saturday Afternoon* Saturday Evening* Saturday Night* Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon*
Olympics 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 5000' 4500' 5000'
West North 3500' 3000' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
West Central 3500' 3000' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500' 4000'
West South 3500' 3000' 2500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4000'
Stevens Pass 3000' 2500' 2000' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 2500' 2500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3000' 4000'
East North 2500' 2000' 1000' 3000' 2500' 2000' 2000' 3000'
East Central 2500' 2000' 1500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3000'
East South 3000' 2500' 1500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4000'
Mt. Hood 4000' 3500' 3000' 3500' 3500' 4500' 5000' 5000'
Olympics Elevation
Friday Evening* 3500'
Friday Night* 3500'
Saturday Morning* 3500'
Saturday Afternoon* 3500'
Saturday Evening* 3500'
Saturday Night* 5000'
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon* 5000'
West North Elevation
Friday Evening* 3500'
Friday Night* 3000'
Saturday Morning* 2500'
Saturday Afternoon* 3000'
Saturday Evening* 3000'
Saturday Night* 3000'
Sunday Morning* 3000'
Sunday Afternoon* 3500'
West Central Elevation
Friday Evening* 3500'
Friday Night* 3000'
Saturday Morning* 2500'
Saturday Afternoon* 3000'
Saturday Evening* 3000'
Saturday Night* 3000'
Sunday Morning* 3500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
West South Elevation
Friday Evening* 3500'
Friday Night* 3000'
Saturday Morning* 2500'
Saturday Afternoon* 3500'
Saturday Evening* 3500'
Saturday Night* 3500'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Evening* 3000'
Friday Night* 2500'
Saturday Morning* 2000'
Saturday Afternoon* 3000'
Saturday Evening* 2500'
Saturday Night* 2500'
Sunday Morning* 3000'
Sunday Afternoon* 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening* 3000'
Friday Night* 2500'
Saturday Morning* 2500'
Saturday Afternoon* 3000'
Saturday Evening* 2500'
Saturday Night* 2500'
Sunday Morning* 3000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
East North Elevation
Friday Evening* 2500'
Friday Night* 2000'
Saturday Morning* 1000'
Saturday Afternoon* 3000'
Saturday Evening* 2500'
Saturday Night* 2000'
Sunday Morning* 2000'
Sunday Afternoon* 3000'
East Central Elevation
Friday Evening* 2500'
Friday Night* 2000'
Saturday Morning* 1500'
Saturday Afternoon* 3000'
Saturday Evening* 2500'
Saturday Night* 2500'
Sunday Morning* 3000'
Sunday Afternoon* 3000'
East South Elevation
Friday Evening* 3000'
Friday Night* 2500'
Saturday Morning* 1500'
Saturday Afternoon* 3500'
Saturday Evening* 3500'
Saturday Night* 3500'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening* 4000'
Friday Night* 3500'
Saturday Morning* 3000'
Saturday Afternoon* 3500'
Saturday Evening* 3500'
Saturday Night* 4500'
Sunday Morning* 5000'
Sunday Afternoon* 5000'

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Friday, January 3, 2025

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Friday Night Saturday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 30 / 27 32 / 25
West North 30 / 28 31 / 25
West Central 31 / 28 31 / 27
West South 30 / 27 32 / 27
Stevens Pass 30 / 24 32 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 30 / 24 32 / 25
East North 26 / 22 28 / 21
East Central 29 / 23 32 / 23
East South 28 / 24 33 / 26
Mt. Hood 30 / 26 34 / 30
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 30 / 27
Saturday 32 / 25
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 30 / 28
Saturday 31 / 25
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 31 / 28
Saturday 31 / 27
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 30 / 27
Saturday 32 / 27
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 30 / 24
Saturday 32 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 30 / 24
Saturday 32 / 25
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 26 / 22
Saturday 28 / 21
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 29 / 23
Saturday 32 / 23
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 28 / 24
Saturday 33 / 26
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 30 / 26
Saturday 34 / 30

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Friday, January 3, 2025

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Friday, January 3, 2025

Extended Weather Synopsis

Light snow shower activity ends across the northern Cascades Sunday night, but light snow may re-develop Monday for Mt Hood as a weak system moves into Oregon. An unusually strong ridge of high pressure will dominate much of next week, bringing warmer days, cool nights, sunny/clear skies, and dry conditions to the mountains. This setup offers a perfect opportunity to escape a potential low-level inversion and valley fog by heading to higher elevations!

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Night* Monday * Monday Night* Tuesday *
West North 4000' 4000' 3500' 6000'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 4000' 3500' 6500'
Mt. Hood 5000' 4500' 3500' 6500'
West North Elevation
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday * 4000'
Monday Night* 3500'
Tuesday * 6000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday * 4000'
Monday Night* 3500'
Tuesday * 6500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Night* 5000'
Monday * 4500'
Monday Night* 3500'
Tuesday * 6500'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 3, 2025

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’.