Issued: 2:06 PM PST Sunday, January 4, 2026
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

The last organized weather disturbance in our recent pattern is currently crossing the Olympics this afternoon, and should spread another band of steady precipitation inland later this afternoon and evening. The trailing upper-level trough will focus shower activity on the Olympics, north and central Cascades tonight, and keep the winds in the moderate to locally strong range. With snow levels continuing to slide downwards overnight to 2000-2500', most locations will see an additional few inches of snow, with the higher end at 6-8" for the Mt Baker area. 

A brief period of convergence should set up early Monday morning, focusing between Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes, adding another few inches to these areas. Shower activity will really taper into Monday afternoon with a break between weather systems.  Mostly cloudy skies with sunbreaks should give way to partly sunny skies along the east slopes of the Cascades and on the eastern side of Mt Hood. 

Snow levels will fall to around 1500' Monday night as we await the next storm. Light snow should develop over the Olympics and northern Cascades before daybreak, followed by moderate to heavy snowfall with strong to locally extreme west winds on Tuesday for the Olympics and Washington Cascades. The heavier precipitation may hold off for the Mt Hood area and the far southern WA Cascades. This will be predominantly a snow storm, but we should see a minor snow level rise into the 2500-3500' range from Mt Hood to Snoqualmie Pass ahead of the frontal passage Tuesday afternoon/early evening. 

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
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow becoming scattered light snow showers after midnight. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers in the morning becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the morning becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Monday Mostly cloudy with light snow showers in the morning becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Light to moderate W Pass level and ridgeline winds.
Monday Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the morning becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Moderate W ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate W Pass level and ridgeline winds.
Monday Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the morning becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Moderate W ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers, occasionally moderate in the evening near the Cascade crest. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Mostly cloudy in the morning with isolated light snow showers near the Crest becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers, occasionally moderate in the evening near the Cascade crest. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Mostly cloudy in the morning with light snow showers mainly near the Crest becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Mostly cloudy in the morning with isolated light snow showers near the Crest becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Mostly cloudy in the morning with scattered light snow showers becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:06 PM PST Sunday, January 4, 2026

Precipitation (in)

Sunday Night Monday Monday Night Tuesday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.75
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 1.00 - 1.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.10 1.00 - 1.50
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10 0.75 -1.00
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0.75 -1.00
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0.25 - 0.50
Paradise 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 0 0.75
White Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.50
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 0 0 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0.50 - 0.75
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0.25
Timberline 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0.25 - 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday 0.75
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday 1.00 - 1.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 1.00 - 1.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0.75
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0.50
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50

Issued: 2:06 PM PST Sunday, January 4, 2026

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 2:06 PM PST Sunday, January 4, 2026

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 27 / 23 25 / 21
West North 27 / 24 25 / 21
West Central 27 / 24 25 / 22
West South 28 / 23 25 / 23
Stevens Pass 26 / 23 25 / 23
Snoqualmie Pass 28 / 23 25 / 22
East North 26 / 21 27 / 17
East Central 27 / 22 27 / 19
East South 27 / 23 28 / 21
Mt. Hood 29 / 25 28 / 24
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 27 / 23
Monday 25 / 21
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 27 / 24
Monday 25 / 21
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 27 / 24
Monday 25 / 22
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 28 / 23
Monday 25 / 23
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 26 / 23
Monday 25 / 23
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 28 / 23
Monday 25 / 22
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 26 / 21
Monday 27 / 17
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 27 / 22
Monday 27 / 19
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 27 / 23
Monday 28 / 21
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 25
Monday 28 / 24

Issued: 2:06 PM PST Sunday, January 4, 2026

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:06 PM PST Sunday, January 4, 2026

Extended Weather Synopsis

The good news doesn't stop there, and neither does the snow; we'll see two additional frontal systems arrive through Thursday, with snow levels well below Pass levels and many low-elevation trailheads. We'll be measuring storm totals in feet by the end of the day on Thursday.  Expect a few rounds of strong westerly winds as well over the extended period. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
West North 1500' 1500' 500' 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 1500' 1000' 1500'
Mt. Hood 2000' 2000' 1000' 2000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday 1500'
Wednesday Night 500'
Thursday 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday 1500'
Wednesday Night 1000'
Thursday 1500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday 2000'
Wednesday Night 1000'
Thursday 2000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 4, 2026

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’.

📱 Download Avy App today ( iOS | Android )