230 PM Update - Adjusted East Slopes South snow levels Wednesday night.
Scattered light showers over the west slopes of the Cascades and Olympics will continue to taper off overnight with very light snow additional accumulations possible. An upper level ridge will build offshore and temporarily delay the arrival of warm frontal precipitation on Wednesday. The exception may be the Mt. Hood area where light rain and snow may develop during the day on Wednesday. Low clouds will break up a bit for the Washington Cascades on Wednesday just as high clouds start streaming overhead in advance of the next weather system. Snow levels will more or less stay steady over the Washington Cascades, while temperatures/freezing levels start to rise for the Olympics and Mt Hood area.
Warm frontal precipitation will move inland Wednesday night along with rising snow levels and increasing winds. There may be a period of freezing rain for Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Pass Wednesday evening before a change to rain later that night. Most trailheads will see rain as snow levels rise to 5000-8000' across the region, with the lowest snow levels relatively speaking over the north Cascades. The heaviest precipitation should come with the frontal passage Thursday morning. Post-frontal showers will decrease on Thursday and should be heaviest where a Puget Sound Convergence zone forms. There won't much cooling behind the strong front but expect plenty of wind. Strong to extreme westerly winds will rock most areas later Thursday afternoon, strongest in the central and southern Washington Cascades, especially east of the Cascade crest.
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
Cloudy.
Wednesday
Cloudy with a chance of light rain or snow in the afternoon.
Tuesday
Night
Cloudy. Chance of showers.
Wednesday
Partly to mostly cloudy in the morning, becoming cloudy in the afternoon.
Tuesday
Night
Cloudy. Chance of showers.
Wednesday
Partly to mostly cloudy in the morning, becoming cloudy in the afternoon.
Tuesday
Night
Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers early.
Wednesday
Partly to mostly cloudy in the morning, becoming cloudy in the afternoon.
Tuesday
Night
Cloudy. Chance of showers early. Light west wind becoming variable at Pass level.
Wednesday
Partly to mostly cloudy in the morning, becoming cloudy in the afternoon. Light east winds at Pass level increasing late.
Tuesday
Night
Cloudy. Chance of showers early. Light west wind becoming variable at Pass level.
Wednesday
Partly to mostly cloudy in the morning, becoming cloudy in the afternoon. Light east winds at Pass level increasing late.
Tuesday
Night
Mostly cloudy.
Wednesday
Partly sunny, becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
Tuesday
Night
Partly to mostly cloudy.
Wednesday
Partly sunny, becoming cloudy in the afternoon.
Tuesday
Night
Partly cloudy.
Wednesday
Partly sunny, becoming cloudy in the afternoon.
Tuesday
Night
Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers.
Wednesday
Cloudy with periods of light rain or snow.
Issued: 2:34 PM PST Tuesday, January 18, 2022
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
LT 0.10
0.25
LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area
LT 0.10
0
0.25 - 0.50
0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
LT 0.10
0
0.25 - 0.50
0.75
Stevens Pass
LT 0.10
0
0.25
0.50 - 0.75
Snoqualmie Pass
LT 0.10
0
0.25 - 0.50
0.75
Crystal Mt
0
0
LT 0.25
0.25
Paradise
LT 0.10
0
0.25 - 0.50
0.50 - 0.75
White Pass
0
0
LT 0.25
0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass
0
0
LT 0.10
0.25
Mission Ridge
0
0
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
0
0
LT 0.25
0.25 - 0.50
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
0
0
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows
0
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
0.25 - 0.50
Timberline
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
0.50 - 0.75
Hurricane Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
LT 0.10
Wednesday Night
0.25
Thursday
LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
0.25 - 0.50
Thursday
0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
0.25 - 0.50
Thursday
0.75
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
0.25
Thursday
0.50 - 0.75
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
0.25 - 0.50
Thursday
0.75
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.25
Thursday
0.25
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
0.25 - 0.50
Thursday
0.50 - 0.75
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.25
Thursday
0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
0.25
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.25
Thursday
0.25 - 0.50
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
LT 0.10
Wednesday Night
LT 0.25
Thursday
0.25 - 0.50
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
LT 0.10
Wednesday Night
LT 0.25
Thursday
0.50 - 0.75
Issued: 2:34 PM PST Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Snow Level (ft)
Tuesday
Evening
Tuesday
Night
Wednesday
Morning
Wednesday
Afternoon*
Wednesday
Evening*
Wednesday
Night*
Thursday
Morning
Thursday
Afternoon
Olympics
3500'
3000'
3500'
5500'
6500'
7500'
5500'
5000'
West North
3000'
3000'
3000'
3500'
3500'
5500'
5000'
4000'
West Central
3000'
3000'
3000'
3500'
4500'
6000'
6000'
4500'
West South
3500'
3000'
3000'
4500'
5500'
7500'
7000'
5000'
Stevens Pass
3000'
3000'
3000'
3500'
3000'
5000'
6000'
5000'
Snoqualmie Pass
3500'
3000'
3000'
3500'
3000'
6500'
6500'
5000'
East North
3000'
2000'
2000'
3500'
2500'
3500'
5000'
5500'
East Central
3500'
3000'
3000'
3500'
3000'
4000'
6000'
6000'
East South
3500'
3000'
3000'
4500'
4500'
6500'
7000'
6000'
Mt. Hood
4000'
4500'
4500'
6000'
6000'
8500'
7500'
6500'
Olympics
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
3500'
Tuesday
Night
3000'
Wednesday
Morning
3500'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
5500'
Wednesday
Evening*
6500'
Wednesday
Night*
7500'
Thursday
Morning
5500'
Thursday
Afternoon
5000'
West North
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
3000'
Tuesday
Night
3000'
Wednesday
Morning
3000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
3500'
Wednesday
Evening*
3500'
Wednesday
Night*
5500'
Thursday
Morning
5000'
Thursday
Afternoon
4000'
West Central
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
3000'
Tuesday
Night
3000'
Wednesday
Morning
3000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
3500'
Wednesday
Evening*
4500'
Wednesday
Night*
6000'
Thursday
Morning
6000'
Thursday
Afternoon
4500'
West South
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
3500'
Tuesday
Night
3000'
Wednesday
Morning
3000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
4500'
Wednesday
Evening*
5500'
Wednesday
Night*
7500'
Thursday
Morning
7000'
Thursday
Afternoon
5000'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
3000'
Tuesday
Night
3000'
Wednesday
Morning
3000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
3500'
Wednesday
Evening*
3000'
Wednesday
Night*
5000'
Thursday
Morning
6000'
Thursday
Afternoon
5000'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
3500'
Tuesday
Night
3000'
Wednesday
Morning
3000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
3500'
Wednesday
Evening*
3000'
Wednesday
Night*
6500'
Thursday
Morning
6500'
Thursday
Afternoon
5000'
East North
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
3000'
Tuesday
Night
2000'
Wednesday
Morning
2000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
3500'
Wednesday
Evening*
2500'
Wednesday
Night*
3500'
Thursday
Morning
5000'
Thursday
Afternoon
5500'
East Central
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
3500'
Tuesday
Night
3000'
Wednesday
Morning
3000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
3500'
Wednesday
Evening*
3000'
Wednesday
Night*
4000'
Thursday
Morning
6000'
Thursday
Afternoon
6000'
East South
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
3500'
Tuesday
Night
3000'
Wednesday
Morning
3000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
4500'
Wednesday
Evening*
4500'
Wednesday
Night*
6500'
Thursday
Morning
7000'
Thursday
Afternoon
6000'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
4000'
Tuesday
Night
4500'
Wednesday
Morning
4500'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
6000'
Wednesday
Evening*
6000'
Wednesday
Night*
8500'
Thursday
Morning
7500'
Thursday
Afternoon
6500'
Issued: 2:34 PM PST Tuesday, January 18, 2022
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Tuesday
Night
Wednesday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
29 / 27
34 / 27
West North
29 / 26
29 / 25
West Central
29 / 27
30 / 26
West South
29 / 27
32 / 26
Stevens Pass
29 / 27
30 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass
29 / 27
30 / 26
East North
27 / 25
28 / 23
East Central
28 / 26
29 / 24
East South
28 / 27
31 / 26
Mt. Hood
31 / 29
35 / 29
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
29 / 27
Wednesday
34 / 27
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
29 / 26
Wednesday
29 / 25
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
29 / 27
Wednesday
30 / 26
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
29 / 27
Wednesday
32 / 26
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
29 / 27
Wednesday
30 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
29 / 27
Wednesday
30 / 26
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
27 / 25
Wednesday
28 / 23
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
28 / 26
Wednesday
29 / 24
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
28 / 27
Wednesday
31 / 26
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
31 / 29
Wednesday
35 / 29
Issued: 2:34 PM PST Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
Tuesday
Night
Wednesday
Morning
Wednesday
Afternoon
Olympics
VAR 0-10
VAR 0-10
W 0-10
W 5-15
West North
W 0-10
VAR 0-10
W 0-10
W 0-10
West Central
W 0-10
W 0-10
W 0-10
W 5-15
West South
W 0-10
W 0-10
W 5-15
W 10-20
Stevens Pass
WNW 0-10
W 0-10
W 0-10
W 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass
WNW 5-15
WNW 5-15
W 5-15
W 5-15
East North
W 0-10
W 0-10
W 0-10
W 5-15
East Central
WNW 10-20
WNW 5-15
WNW 10-20
W 10-20
East South
WNW 5-15
WNW 5-15
W 10-20
W 5-15
Mt. Hood
W 15-25
W 15-25
W 20-30
WNW 10-20
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
VAR
0-10
Tuesday
Night
VAR
0-10
Wednesday
Morning
W
0-10
Wednesday
Afternoon
W
5-15
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
W
0-10
Tuesday
Night
VAR
0-10
Wednesday
Morning
W
0-10
Wednesday
Afternoon
W
0-10
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
W
0-10
Tuesday
Night
W
0-10
Wednesday
Morning
W
0-10
Wednesday
Afternoon
W
5-15
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
W
0-10
Tuesday
Night
W
0-10
Wednesday
Morning
W
5-15
Wednesday
Afternoon
W
10-20
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
WNW
0-10
Tuesday
Night
W
0-10
Wednesday
Morning
W
0-10
Wednesday
Afternoon
W
0-10
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
WNW
5-15
Tuesday
Night
WNW
5-15
Wednesday
Morning
W
5-15
Wednesday
Afternoon
W
5-15
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
W
0-10
Tuesday
Night
W
0-10
Wednesday
Morning
W
0-10
Wednesday
Afternoon
W
5-15
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
WNW
10-20
Tuesday
Night
WNW
5-15
Wednesday
Morning
WNW
10-20
Wednesday
Afternoon
W
10-20
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
WNW
5-15
Tuesday
Night
WNW
5-15
Wednesday
Morning
W
10-20
Wednesday
Afternoon
W
5-15
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
W
15-25
Tuesday
Night
W
15-25
Wednesday
Morning
W
20-30
Wednesday
Afternoon
WNW
10-20
Issued: 2:34 PM PST Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Extended Weather Synopsis
Showers will taper off Thursday night, lingering longest along the west slopes of the Cascades. A strong upper level ridge and surface high pressure will build offshore and dominate our weather through the weekend. While conditions will dry out on Friday, strong NNW winds and low-level clouds may linger west of the Cascade crest. Freezing levels will begin to warm across the region on Friday, but skyrocket on Saturday to 12,000'. 5000' temperatures will be into the 40s and potentially milder. Warm dry weather will continue through Sunday. There are no significant storms on the horizon looking out well into next week.
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).