Issued: 2:17 PM PST Wednesday, January 19, 2022
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

A frontal system moves into our region, rounding the top of a high-pressure system off the California coastline. A discontinuous rain band has reached the Olympic Peninsula on Wednesday afternoon. Precipitation should gradually increase in coverage as it moves into the Cascades and Olympics during the evening hours.

Easterly low-level flow could bring several hours of freezing rain to Snoqualmie Pass, Stevens Pass and areas just east of the passes as the precipitation moves in Wednesday evening, but with temperatures currently around 38F at Snoqualmie Pass, freezing rain seems less likely. Overnight, moderate precipitation increasingly changes to all rain event as rain/snow lines rise to 6000-8000 ft and the cold front approaches and ridgeline WSW winds increase into the moderate to occasionally strong range.

The cold front arrives Thursday morning with moderate to heavy rain and high elevation snow. The frontal passage should taper to light rain and snow to showers by late morning.  Mid-level cooler air arrives in the afternoon, bringing some snow back to locations mostly above the passes. Modest convergence could develop in the Stevens Pass vicinity. Strong W ridgeline winds behind the front should focus on the east slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood.

The trough beind the front will continue to bring light rain and snow shower activity with lowering snow levels Thursday evening with precipitation ending by Friday morning as a ridge of high pressure amplifies just offshore. Snow levels should drop to Pass levels.

Friday should be cooler with mix of decreasing clouds and sun. Temperatures remain above normal.

 

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
Wednesday Night Increasing light rain and highest elevation snow.
Thursday Decreasing light rain and snow showers, mostly ending by the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Light rain and snow becoming moderate overnight.
Thursday Moderate to heavy rain and snow tapering to light shower activity in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Increasing light rain and high elevation snow becoming moderate overnight.
Thursday Moderate to heavy rain and snow in the morning. Light rain, snow showers, and moderate convergence in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Increasing light rain and high elevation and snow becoming moderate to heavy at Paradise and light to moderate at White Pass.
Thursday Moderate to heavy rain and snow in the morning at Paradise, moderate at White Pass, and light at Crystal; all tapering to light rain and snow showers from late morning onwards. Strong ridgeline winds at times.
Wednesday Night Increasing light rain and snow becoming moderate overnight. Freezing rain may mix with rain early at Pass level. Light E winds at the Pass.
Thursday Moderate to heavy rain and snow through mid-morning. Moderate rain and snow shower activity with convergence likely in the afternoon. E wind switching to moderate W in the early morning.
Wednesday Night Increasing light rain and snow becoming moderate overnight. Freezing rain may mix with rain early at Pass level. Light E winds at the Pass.
Thursday Moderate to heavy rain and snow through mid-morning. Moderate rain and snow shower activity with convergence possible in the afternoon. E wind switching to moderate W in the early morning.
Wednesday Night Increasing light rain and snow.
Thursday Moderate rain and snow tapering to light showers by late morning.
Wednesday Night Increasing light rain, freezing rain, and snow becoming moderate in the early morning hours.
Thursday Moderate rain and snow tapering to light showers and convergence spillover by late morning. Strong ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Night Light rain and high elevation snow developing.
Thursday Light rain and high elevation snow tapering to light showers and ending during the afternoon. Strong ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Night Light rain and high elevation snow becoming moderate overnight. Strong ridgeline wind gusts.
Thursday Moderate to heavy rain and snow in the morning tapering to light showers in the afternoon. Strong ridgeline winds.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Evening* Wednesday Night* Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon Thursday Evening Thursday Night Friday Morning Friday Afternoon
Olympics 7500' 8000' 6000' 4500' 3000' 3000' 5000' 8000'
West North 4000' 6000' 5000' 4500' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3500'
West Central 5000' 6500' 6000' 5000' 3000' 2500' 3500' 3500'
West South 6000' 7500' 6500' 5000' 3000' 2500' 3500' 4500'
Stevens Pass 4000' 6500' 6000' 5000' 3000' 2500' 3500' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 5500' 7500' 6500' 5000' 3500' 3000' 3500' 4000'
East North 3500' 4000' 5000' 4500' 2500' 2000' 3000' 4000'
East Central 4000' 6500' 6500' 5000' 3500' 3000' 3500' 4500'
East South 6000' 8000' 7500' 5550' 3500' 2500' 3500' 5500'
Mt. Hood 7500' 8000' 7500' 5500' 4000' 2500' 3500' 6000'
Olympics Elevation
Wednesday Evening* 7500'
Wednesday Night* 8000'
Thursday Morning 6000'
Thursday Afternoon 4500'
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 5000'
Friday Afternoon 8000'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Evening* 4000'
Wednesday Night* 6000'
Thursday Morning 5000'
Thursday Afternoon 4500'
Thursday Evening 2500'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 3000'
Friday Afternoon 3500'
West Central Elevation
Wednesday Evening* 5000'
Wednesday Night* 6500'
Thursday Morning 6000'
Thursday Afternoon 5000'
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 3500'
West South Elevation
Wednesday Evening* 6000'
Wednesday Night* 7500'
Thursday Morning 6500'
Thursday Afternoon 5000'
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening* 4000'
Wednesday Night* 6500'
Thursday Morning 6000'
Thursday Afternoon 5000'
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening* 5500'
Wednesday Night* 7500'
Thursday Morning 6500'
Thursday Afternoon 5000'
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 4000'
East North Elevation
Wednesday Evening* 3500'
Wednesday Night* 4000'
Thursday Morning 5000'
Thursday Afternoon 4500'
Thursday Evening 2500'
Thursday Night 2000'
Friday Morning 3000'
Friday Afternoon 4000'
East Central Elevation
Wednesday Evening* 4000'
Wednesday Night* 6500'
Thursday Morning 6500'
Thursday Afternoon 5000'
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
East South Elevation
Wednesday Evening* 6000'
Wednesday Night* 8000'
Thursday Morning 7500'
Thursday Afternoon 5550'
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 5500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Evening* 7500'
Wednesday Night* 8000'
Thursday Morning 7500'
Thursday Afternoon 5500'
Thursday Evening 4000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 6000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Wednesday Night Thursday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 37 / 36 34 / 25
West North 35 / 31 36 / 27
West Central 36 / 32 36 / 25
West South 37 / 34 36 / 28
Stevens Pass 36 / 32 36 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 36 / 33 36 / 26
East North 33 / 23 35 / 25
East Central 36 / 31 36 / 26
East South 37 / 34 36 / 28
Mt. Hood 38 / 36 37 / 31
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 37 / 36
Thursday 34 / 25
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 35 / 31
Thursday 36 / 27
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 36 / 32
Thursday 36 / 25
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 37 / 34
Thursday 36 / 28
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 36 / 32
Thursday 36 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 36 / 33
Thursday 36 / 26
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 33 / 23
Thursday 35 / 25
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 36 / 31
Thursday 36 / 26
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 37 / 34
Thursday 36 / 28
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 38 / 36
Thursday 37 / 31

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Wednesday Evening Wednesday Night Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon
Olympics SW 10-20 SW 20-30 WSW 15-25 WSW 10-20
West North SSW 10-20 SSW 10-20 WSW 20-30 WSW 20-30
West Central SSW 5-15 SW 15-25 WSW 20-30 WNW 20-30
West South SW 10-20 WSW 15-25 WSW 20-30 W 25-35
Stevens Pass SW 5-15 WSW 10-20 WSW 25-35 W 25-35
Snoqualmie Pass SW 5-15 WSW 10-20 W 25-35 W 25-35
East North SW 10-20 SW 10-20 WSW 20-30 W 30-40
East Central WSW 10-20 WSW 20-30 W 30-40 W 30-40
East South WSW 10-20 WSW 20-30 W 25-35 W 25-35
Mt. Hood WSW 15-25 WSW 20-30 WSW 25-35 W 30-40
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SW 10-20
Wednesday Night SW 20-30
Thursday Morning WSW 15-25
Thursday Afternoon WSW 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SSW 10-20
Wednesday Night SSW 10-20
Thursday Morning WSW 20-30
Thursday Afternoon WSW 20-30
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SSW 5-15
Wednesday Night SW 15-25
Thursday Morning WSW 20-30
Thursday Afternoon WNW 20-30
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SW 10-20
Wednesday Night WSW 15-25
Thursday Morning WSW 20-30
Thursday Afternoon W 25-35
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SW 5-15
Wednesday Night WSW 10-20
Thursday Morning WSW 25-35
Thursday Afternoon W 25-35
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SW 5-15
Wednesday Night WSW 10-20
Thursday Morning W 25-35
Thursday Afternoon W 25-35
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SW 10-20
Wednesday Night SW 10-20
Thursday Morning WSW 20-30
Thursday Afternoon W 30-40
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening WSW 10-20
Wednesday Night WSW 20-30
Thursday Morning W 30-40
Thursday Afternoon W 30-40
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening WSW 10-20
Wednesday Night WSW 20-30
Thursday Morning W 25-35
Thursday Afternoon W 25-35
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening WSW 15-25
Wednesday Night WSW 20-30
Thursday Morning WSW 25-35
Thursday Afternoon W 30-40

Extended Weather Synopsis

A high pressure centered just off the northern California coastline extends a blocking ridge northward, keeping our weather mostly clear Friday night and sunny on Saturday under NNW flow aloft. Sinking air under the high pressure will result in sufficiently rapid warming of our mid-level atmosphere that many NWAC weather stations should overcome typical diurnal cooling, resulting in warming temperatures overnight. Expect a spring-like day on Saturday with freezing levels rising to 10,000-11,500 ft by the afternoon. Saturday night remains mild, but clouds should increase and temperatures cool somewhat Saturday night and Sunday as a shortwave transits over the top of the ridge through British Columbia on Sunday.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Friday Night Saturday * Saturday Night Sunday
West North 4500' 8000' 7500' 7000'
Snoqualmie Pass 5500' 9000' 8500' 7500'
Mt. Hood 9000' 10500' 11000' 10500'
West North Elevation
Friday Night 4500'
Saturday * 8000'
Saturday Night 7500'
Sunday 7000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Night 5500'
Saturday * 9000'
Saturday Night 8500'
Sunday 7500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Night 9000'
Saturday * 10500'
Saturday Night 11000'
Sunday 10500'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 19, 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’.