Winter Storm Warnings Issued for Pacific Northwest—Feet of Snow Expected at Ski Resorts

High-Level Summary

A short break fades quickly as a series of systems reloads the Pacific Northwest with the best snow from Tuesday night through Thursday (January 6-8, 2026), when multiple mountains stack up meaningful overnight totals and keep daytime snow going.

Snow levels stay favorable for most higher-elevation terrain through midweek, and temperatures remain cold enough for solid snow quality, especially in Washington’s Cascades and at Whistler. The main limiting factor is wind, with very strong west winds and extreme gusts on Oregon’s high volcanoes likely to impact both comfort and snow quality, despite large totals.

Late-week trends are warmer, with higher snow levels and denser snow at lower-elevation Cascade passes, while Whistler stays comparatively cold with lighter follow-up snow.

Keep reading for forecasted snow totals at popular ski resorts, daily forecasts, and more.

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Notable Snowfall Totals

1. Mt. Baker Ski Area, WA: 26–37 inches
2. Stevens Pass, WA: 25–37 inches
3. Timberline, OR: 25–37 inches
4. Snoqualmie Pass, WA: 20–30 inches
5. Mt. Bachelor, OR: 13–19 inches
6. Whistler, BC: 13–19 inches
7. Crystal Mountain, WA: 12–18 inches

Key Points

Good

The core signal favors sustained midweek snowfall with snow levels generally low enough for high-elevation, all-snow periods, especially Tuesday night through Thursday. Temperatures trend cold enough for good preservation, and several windows feature moderate to high snow-to-liquid ratios that support soft, chalky to fluffy turns, particularly at Whistler and Washington’s higher terrain.

Bad

Wind is the main spoiler. Oregon’s volcano resorts face very strong west winds with extreme gust potential, which can strip snow, drift it into variable surfaces, and limit terrain even while totals climb. Late week also trends warmer at lower-elevation Cascade passes, increasing the risk of heavier, denser snow and less favorable conditions near base elevations.

Wildcards

Snow level swings and timing differences between storm waves create meaningful variability in where the best quality lands each day. A small shift in the coldest air arrival can tighten the window for lighter snow at lower-elevation passes, while a minor wind forecast error can be the difference between excellent mid-mountain skiing and heavily wind-affected surfaces on exposed terrain.

Daily Forecasts, January 6-9, 2026

Tuesday (Jan 6)

Whistler is the best Tuesday chase. It combines about 7–9 inches from Monday night plus Tuesday daytime, with cold temperatures and generally manageable winds supporting good snow quality. Snoqualmie Pass can reach about 4–5 inches from Monday night plus Tuesday daytime, but snow-to-liquid ratios stay on the denser side, so expect more supportive powder than true blower.

Wednesday (Jan 7)

Wednesday is the headline day across multiple open areas. Snoqualmie Pass and Crystal Mountain both stack about 7–10 inches from Tuesday night plus Wednesday daytime, and the combination of colder temperatures and moderate winds should preserve quality well. Timberline posts the biggest numbers, around 11–16 inches from Tuesday night plus Wednesday daytime, but very strong winds could meaningfully reduce the overall ski experience even with deep totals.

Thursday (Jan 8)

Thursday keeps the momentum. Timberline adds about 8–13 inches from Wednesday night plus Thursday daytime, while Snoqualmie Pass and Mt Bachelor each land around 6–9 inches from Wednesday night plus Thursday daytime. Mt Bachelor’s snow quality trends better late as snow-to-liquid ratios rise, but strong winds remain a persistent factor on exposed terrain.

Friday (Jan 9)

Washington’s Cascade passes trend warmer with higher snow levels and heavier snow potential near base elevations, while Whistler’s additional snowfall stays light. If you ski Friday, prioritize preserved midweek snow on sheltered terrain and higher elevations rather than expecting significant new snow.

Forecast Details

A multi-wave pattern targets the Cascades with the most productive stretch from Tuesday through Thursday. The strongest burst arrives Tuesday into early Wednesday with widespread moderate to heavy mountain snowfall, followed by additional rounds Wednesday afternoon and evening and continued snowfall into Thursday. Snow levels generally sit in a favorable range for mountain snow through midweek, then creep higher late week, which matters most for lower-elevation passes and base areas.

Washington’s Cascades offer the best balance of snowfall and manageable wind for open terrain midweek. Snoqualmie Pass builds steadily into a strong Wednesday and Thursday setup, while Crystal Mountain peaks on Wednesday with higher snow-to-liquid ratios that support lighter turns compared with earlier, denser periods. In Oregon, Timberline and Mt Bachelor both accumulate substantial midweek snow, but sustained strong west winds with very high gusts can significantly impact snow quality and available terrain despite impressive totals. Farther north, Whistler runs colder with generally light to moderate winds, producing consistently better snow quality, even though totals are lower than the biggest Cascade winners.

Extended Outlook

The broader pattern favors a turn toward warmer and drier weather across Washington and Oregon from January 10 onward, which should reduce storm frequency and tilt conditions toward snow preservation over fresh reloads.