Issued: 2:14 PM PST Tuesday, January 11, 2022
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

An atmospheric river comprised of three successive waves continues to bring heavy precipitation (increasingly rain) and unseasonably mild temperatures. The second wave of moisture is associated with a shortwave trough moving over the region on WSW flow. This feature brings the heaviest and most widespread precipitation of the atmospheric river with heavy precipitation across the mountains of Washington State through Tuesday night. Expect 1-2" of water for the west slopes of the Cascades from Paradise to Mt. Baker overnight. This wave should bring in the mild and increasingly warmer air with an uptick in wind speeds. Expect moderate winds in most areas, but strong ridgeline WSW winds for parts of the east slopes of the Cascades Tuesday night. As warm air mixes the cold air pool out, below-freezing temperatures (and freezing rain) become increasingly relegated to more isolated pockets in deep valley locations across the east slopes of the Cascades north of highway 2. Washington Pass will flirt with rain, snow and freezing rain, but increasingly change to rain as the westerly wind component overpowers the weak east flow. 

A more significant low pressure well offshore lifts the stalled frontal boundary over our region northward, bringing further increases in snow level and a decrease or end to rainfall from south to north on Wednesday. Much of Washington State from highway 20 southward should be in the dry sector by the afternoon. The offshore low should bring rain and high elevation snow Olympics and possibly the Cascades. Snow levels should also lower slightly.

A weak trough settles over the region Thursday with snow levels dropping to 4000-6000 ft and light to moderate shower activity across the region.

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
Tuesday Night Moderate rain becoming light to moderate overnight.
Wednesday Decreasing light rain.
Tuesday Night Moderate rain and high elevation snow decreases overnight.
Wednesday Decreasing moderate rain.
Tuesday Night Heavy rain and highest elevation snow.
Wednesday Moderate to heavy rain becoming light or ending in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Heavy rain and highest elevation snow at Paradise; light to moderate at Crystal and White Pass.
Wednesday Light rain tapering to sprinkles by mid-morning.
Tuesday Night Heavy rain and highest elevation snow. Variable and generally light winds at the Pass.
Wednesday Light rain tapering and ending during the afternoon. Variable winds switching light E in the afternoon at the Pass.
Tuesday Night Heavy rain and highest elevation snow. Variable and generally light winds at the Pass.
Wednesday Light rain tapering and ending during the afternoon. Variable winds switching light E in the afternoon at the Pass.
Tuesday Night Moderate to heavy rain and snow mixing with freezing rain at lower elevations and becoming light overnight.
Wednesday Light rain and highest elevation snow with freezing rain possible deep valleys.
Tuesday Night Moderate to heavy rain and snow western part. Light rain and snow further east. Strong ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Light rain tapering and ending during the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Light rain.
Wednesday Light rain ending early, then becoming mostly cloudy.
Tuesday Night Light rain and highest elevation snow. Strong ridgeline wind gusts.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Evening* Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon* Wednesday Evening* Wednesday Night* Thursday Morning* Thursday Afternoon
Olympics 7000' 8000' 8000' 8000' 7500' 6500' 5500' 5000'
West North 5000' 6000' 7000' 7500' 7000' 7000' 5500' 4500'
West Central 6000' 7000' 7500' 7500' 7000' 7000' 5500' 4500'
West South 6500' 8000' 8000' 8000' 9000' 6500' 5500' 4000'
Stevens Pass 6000' 7000' 7500' 7500' 8500' 6500' 4500' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 6500' 7000' 8000' 7500' 8500' 7000' 5500' 4000'
East North 5000' 5500' 7000' 6500' 7500' 7000' 4500' 4000'
East Central 6500' 7500' 8000' 7500' 9500' 7500' 5500' 4500'
East South 6500' 8500' 8500' 9500' 9500' 7000' 5500' 4500'
Mt. Hood 7500' 8500' 9500' 10500' 10500' 7500' 6000' 4000'
Olympics Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 7000'
Tuesday Night 8000'
Wednesday Morning 8000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 8000'
Wednesday Evening* 7500'
Wednesday Night* 6500'
Thursday Morning* 5500'
Thursday Afternoon 5000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 5000'
Tuesday Night 6000'
Wednesday Morning 7000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 7500'
Wednesday Evening* 7000'
Wednesday Night* 7000'
Thursday Morning* 5500'
Thursday Afternoon 4500'
West Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 6000'
Tuesday Night 7000'
Wednesday Morning 7500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 7500'
Wednesday Evening* 7000'
Wednesday Night* 7000'
Thursday Morning* 5500'
Thursday Afternoon 4500'
West South Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 6500'
Tuesday Night 8000'
Wednesday Morning 8000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 8000'
Wednesday Evening* 9000'
Wednesday Night* 6500'
Thursday Morning* 5500'
Thursday Afternoon 4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 6000'
Tuesday Night 7000'
Wednesday Morning 7500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 7500'
Wednesday Evening* 8500'
Wednesday Night* 6500'
Thursday Morning* 4500'
Thursday Afternoon 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 6500'
Tuesday Night 7000'
Wednesday Morning 8000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 7500'
Wednesday Evening* 8500'
Wednesday Night* 7000'
Thursday Morning* 5500'
Thursday Afternoon 4000'
East North Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 5000'
Tuesday Night 5500'
Wednesday Morning 7000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 6500'
Wednesday Evening* 7500'
Wednesday Night* 7000'
Thursday Morning* 4500'
Thursday Afternoon 4000'
East Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 6500'
Tuesday Night 7500'
Wednesday Morning 8000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 7500'
Wednesday Evening* 9500'
Wednesday Night* 7500'
Thursday Morning* 5500'
Thursday Afternoon 4500'
East South Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 6500'
Tuesday Night 8500'
Wednesday Morning 8500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 9500'
Wednesday Evening* 9500'
Wednesday Night* 7000'
Thursday Morning* 5500'
Thursday Afternoon 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 7500'
Tuesday Night 8500'
Wednesday Morning 9500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 10500'
Wednesday Evening* 10500'
Wednesday Night* 7500'
Thursday Morning* 6000'
Thursday Afternoon 4000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Tuesday Night Wednesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 38 / 36 39 / 37
West North 37 / 34 38 / 37
West Central 37 / 35 38 / 37
West South 38 / 35 39 / 37
Stevens Pass 38 / 36 38 / 37
Snoqualmie Pass 38 / 35 39 / 38
East North 38 / 33 38 / 37
East Central 38 / 35 38 / 37
East South 37 / 36 39 / 37
Mt. Hood 38 / 35 41 / 38
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 38 / 36
Wednesday 39 / 37
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 37 / 34
Wednesday 38 / 37
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 37 / 35
Wednesday 38 / 37
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 38 / 35
Wednesday 39 / 37
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 38 / 36
Wednesday 38 / 37
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 38 / 35
Wednesday 39 / 38
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 38 / 33
Wednesday 38 / 37
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 38 / 35
Wednesday 38 / 37
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 37 / 36
Wednesday 39 / 37
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 38 / 35
Wednesday 41 / 38

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Extended Weather Synopsis

Rain and snow shower activity should end in southern parts of our forecast region Thursday night, with dry weather overnight through Saturday as a ridge of high pressure dominates the region through Saturday. Expect temperatures only slightly above normal Thursday night and Friday with above normal temperatures particularly west of the Cascade Crest late Friday into Saturday. Southern parts of the forecast region should have better chances for sunshine as weather systems spill over the ridge into British Columbia.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Night Friday * Friday Night* Saturday
West North 6000' 7000' 5500' 5500'
Snoqualmie Pass 5500' 6000' 5500' 6000'
Mt. Hood 5000' 9000' 8500' 8000'
West North Elevation
Thursday Night 6000'
Friday * 7000'
Friday Night* 5500'
Saturday 5500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Night 5500'
Friday * 6000'
Friday Night* 5500'
Saturday 6000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Night 5000'
Friday * 9000'
Friday Night* 8500'
Saturday 8000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 11, 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’.