Issued: 2:16 PM PST Monday, January 10, 2022
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

We're entering a wet and unseasonably mild stretch as a series of disturbances combine to bring an atmospheric river of moisture into the Washington Cascades and Olympics from Monday night through Wednesday.

Monday evening starts relatively dry with a few showers over the Olympics and the northern Cascades. A low pressure tracking just north of Vancouver Island should bring an associated shortwave trough over our region Monday night. Expect increasing rain and high elevation snow should spread throughout the mountains of Washington State overnight. Southwesterly ridgeline winds increase across the region but may be strong in the Olympics and Mt. Baker areas. Shallow cold air remaining E of the Cascade Crest continues to erode but sets the stage for freezing rain in some locations near and east of the Cascade Crest as snow levels should be above Snoqualmie Pass level.

The next wave of moisture takes a track slightly further south and should focus rain and high elevation snow most heavily on the southern Olympics and central Washington Cascades on Tuesday, but expect all of Washington's mountains to receive precipitation. Winds shift WSW and favor areas east of the Cascade Crest for strong ridgeline winds. Most of the low-elevation cold air east of the Cascades erodes by late Tuesday morning, except in the Methow Valley where freezing rain or snow may continue.

Heavy rain and increasingly high elevation snow continue Tuesday night in similar areas. The heaviest precipitation lifts northward as a third significant wave lifts the front draped over the region northward toward the Canadian border by the end of the day, decreasing and in some cases ending the rain from south to north. Snow levels peak in the 7000-9000 ft range Wednesday afternoon.

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
Monday Night Increasing light rain and high elevation snow becoming moderate at times.
Tuesday Light rain and high elevation snow becoming moderate in the afternoon.
Monday Night Light rain and high snow becoming moderate to occasionally heavy overnight.
Tuesday Increasing light to moderate rain and snow.
Monday Night Light rain and high elevation snow becoming moderate overnight.
Tuesday Heavy rain and high elevation snow.
Monday Night Increasing light rain and snow overnight becoming moderate at Paradise.
Tuesday Moderate rain and high elevation snow at Paradise with light rain and high elevation snow elsewhere.
Monday Night Increasing light rain, snow, or possibly freezing rain. Increasing light E winds at the Pass.
Tuesday Moderate rain, snow, and possibly freezing rain in the morning. Light E winds at the Pass.
Monday Night Increasing light rain or freezing rain. Light to moderate E winds at the Pass.
Tuesday Moderate rain, snow and possibly freezing rain in the morning. Light E winds at the Pass.
Monday Night Increasing light snow.
Tuesday Decreasing light to moderate rain, snow, and possibly freezing rain. Rising snow levels.
Monday Night Increasing light snow, freezing rain, or rain. Increasing ridgeline winds with strong gusts after midnight.
Tuesday Light to moderate snow, freezing rain, or rain. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds peaking in the morning.
Monday Night A mostly dry evening with light snow or freezing rain overnight.
Tuesday Light rain or high elevation snow (possibly mixed with freezing rain early).
Monday Night Very light rain or high elevation snow possible.
Tuesday Light rain or high elevation snow at times.

Issued: 2:16 PM PST Monday, January 10, 2022

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 2:16 PM PST Monday, January 10, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening* Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon* Tuesday Evening* Tuesday Night* Wednesday Morning* Wednesday Afternoon*
Olympics 5500' 5500' 6000' 6000' 6000' 7000' 8000' 8000'
West North 4500' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 4500' 5500' 7000'
West Central 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5500' 6500' 7500'
West South 5500' 5500' 5500' 5500' 5500' 6000' 8000' 8000'
Stevens Pass 4000' 4000' 4000' 5000' 5000' 5500' 7000' 7500'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 4500' 4500' 5000' 5000' 6000' 7500' 7500'
East North 3500' 3000' 3000' 4000' 4500' 4500' 5000' 5500'
East Central 3000' 2500' 3500' 5000' 5000' 5000' 7000' 7000'
East South 5500' 6000' 6000' 5500' 5500' 6000' 8000' 8500'
Mt. Hood 6500' 6500' 6000' 6000' 6000' 7000' 8500' 9000'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening* 5500'
Monday Night* 5500'
Tuesday Morning* 6000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 6000'
Tuesday Evening* 6000'
Tuesday Night* 7000'
Wednesday Morning* 8000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 8000'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening* 4500'
Monday Night* 5000'
Tuesday Morning* 5000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 5000'
Tuesday Evening* 5000'
Tuesday Night* 4500'
Wednesday Morning* 5500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 7000'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening* 5000'
Monday Night* 5000'
Tuesday Morning* 5000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 5000'
Tuesday Evening* 5000'
Tuesday Night* 5500'
Wednesday Morning* 6500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 7500'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening* 5500'
Monday Night* 5500'
Tuesday Morning* 5500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 5500'
Tuesday Evening* 5500'
Tuesday Night* 6000'
Wednesday Morning* 8000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 8000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening* 4000'
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 5000'
Tuesday Evening* 5000'
Tuesday Night* 5500'
Wednesday Morning* 7000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 7500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening* 4000'
Monday Night* 4500'
Tuesday Morning* 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 5000'
Tuesday Evening* 5000'
Tuesday Night* 6000'
Wednesday Morning* 7500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 7500'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening* 3500'
Monday Night* 3000'
Tuesday Morning* 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 4000'
Tuesday Evening* 4500'
Tuesday Night* 4500'
Wednesday Morning* 5000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 5500'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening* 3000'
Monday Night* 2500'
Tuesday Morning* 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 5000'
Tuesday Evening* 5000'
Tuesday Night* 5000'
Wednesday Morning* 7000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 7000'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening* 5500'
Monday Night* 6000'
Tuesday Morning* 6000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 5500'
Tuesday Evening* 5500'
Tuesday Night* 6000'
Wednesday Morning* 8000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 8500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening* 6500'
Monday Night* 6500'
Tuesday Morning* 6000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 6000'
Tuesday Evening* 6000'
Tuesday Night* 7000'
Wednesday Morning* 8500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 9000'

Issued: 2:16 PM PST Monday, January 10, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 35 / 32 35 / 33
West North 34 / 32 35 / 32
West Central 34 / 33 34 / 33
West South 35 / 33 35 / 34
Stevens Pass 34 / 30 34 / 33
Snoqualmie Pass 33 / 30 34 / 33
East North 32 / 27 34 / 31
East Central 34 / 29 34 / 33
East South 36 / 32 35 / 34
Mt. Hood 37 / 33 36 / 34
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 35 / 32
Tuesday 35 / 33
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 34 / 32
Tuesday 35 / 32
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 34 / 33
Tuesday 34 / 33
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 35 / 33
Tuesday 35 / 34
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 34 / 30
Tuesday 34 / 33
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 33 / 30
Tuesday 34 / 33
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 32 / 27
Tuesday 34 / 31
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 34 / 29
Tuesday 34 / 33
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 36 / 32
Tuesday 35 / 34
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 37 / 33
Tuesday 36 / 34

Issued: 2:16 PM PST Monday, January 10, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:16 PM PST Monday, January 10, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

The region partially dries out in the warm sector of the storm as the deluge shifts north into Canada Wednesday night. The dying trailing cold front moves through with some showers and cooling on Thursday. Thursday night a ridge returns to the region, bringing clearing skies. The high pressure lingers Friday with sunny conditions. A mild air mass returns west of the Cascade Crest with cooler air further east.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night* Thursday Thursday Night Friday *
West North 6500' 4000' 5000' 5500'
Snoqualmie Pass 7500' 4500' 5000' 6000'
Mt. Hood 8000' 4500' 5000' 8000'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night* 6500'
Thursday 4000'
Thursday Night 5000'
Friday * 5500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night* 7500'
Thursday 4500'
Thursday Night 5000'
Friday * 6000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night* 8000'
Thursday 4500'
Thursday Night 5000'
Friday * 8000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 10, 2022

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’.