A massive high pressure expanding into the region will produce spring-like weather throughout the next week, adding to an extended January warm spell. Following an increasingly warm day on Friday, freezing levels continue to rise Friday night. However, multiple freezing levels will develop as strong inversions should form along with fog in the valleys. While ridgeline winds are expected to be light to occasionally moderate in most areas, NNW flow may accelerate winds in isolated areas on the south sides of volcanoes.
Saturday and Sunday should be the warmest days of the week with plenty of sunshine. Each day, shallow cold air below 3000-4000 ft associated with the inversions may not mix out until 10 AM. Bring warm layers to start each day, but expect to shed them. Expect high temperatures 10-25F above normal both days. Freezing levels should soar above 10,000 ft across the region from Saturday afternoon through at least mid-day on Sunday when a weak approaching disturbance should start dampening the ridge. This will bring slight cooling to northern parts of the forecast region along with the potential for moderate NW ridgeline winds in some areas.
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
Friday
Night
Clear skies with an inversion and valley fog developing.
Saturday
Mostly sunny and unseasonably warm with a shallow inversion mixing out by around 10 AM.
Friday
Night
Clear skies with an inversion and valley fog developing.
Saturday
Mostly sunny and unseasonably warm with a shallow inversion mixing out by around 10 AM.
Friday
Night
Clear skies with an inversion and valley fog developing.
Saturday
Mostly sunny and unseasonably warm with a shallow inversion mixing out by around 10 AM.
Friday
Night
Clear skies with an inversion and valley fog developing.
Saturday
Mostly sunny and unseasonably warm with a shallow inversion mixing out by around 10 AM.
Friday
Night
Mostly clear. Light W wind at the Pass.
Saturday
Mostly sunny and unseasonably warm with a shallow inversion mixing out by around 10 AM. Light E or variable winds at the Pass.
Friday
Night
Mostly clear with an inversion forming. Light W wind at the Pass, possibly switching E in the early morning hours.
Saturday
Mostly sunny and unseasonably warm with a shallow inversion mixing out by around 10 AM. Light E or variable winds at the Pass.
Friday
Night
Mostly clear. Inversion and low elevation fog possible.
Saturday
Mostly sunny and unseasonably warm with a shallow inversion mixing out by around 10 AM.
Friday
Night
Mostly clear. Inversion and low elevation fog possible.
Saturday
Mostly sunny and unseasonably warm with a shallow inversion mixing out by around 10 AM.
Friday
Night
Mostly clear. Inversion and low elevation fog forming.
Saturday
Mostly sunny and unseasonably warm with a shallow inversion mixing out by around 10 AM.
Friday
Night
Mostly clear. Inversion and low elevation fog forming.
Saturday
Mostly sunny and unseasonably warm with a shallow inversion mixing out by around 10 AM.
Issued: 2:00 PM PST Friday, January 21, 2022
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
Saturday
Saturday Night
Sunday
4 pm - 4 am
4 am - 4 pm
4 pm - 4 am
4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge
0
0
0
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
0
0
0
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
0
0
0
0
Stevens Pass
0
0
0
0
Snoqualmie Pass
0
0
0
0
Crystal Mt
0
0
0
0
Paradise
0
0
0
0
White Pass
0
0
0
0
Washington Pass
0
0
0
0
Mission Ridge
0
0
0
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
0
0
0
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
0
0
0
0
Mt Hood Meadows
0
0
0
0
Timberline
0
0
0
0
Hurricane Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Issued: 2:00 PM PST Friday, January 21, 2022
Snow Level (ft)
Friday
Evening
Friday
Night
Saturday
Morning*
Saturday
Afternoon*
Saturday
Evening*
Saturday
Night*
Sunday
Morning
Sunday
Afternoon
Olympics
10000'
10500'
11000'
11500'
11500'
11500'
11000'
10500'
West North
6500'
6000'
7500'
10500'
11000'
11500'
10500'
9500'
West Central
7000'
6000'
7500'
11000'
11500'
11500'
11000'
10000'
West South
8000'
8000'
9500'
11500'
11500'
11500'
11500'
11000'
Stevens Pass
7000'
6500'
7500'
11000'
11500'
11500'
11000'
10500'
Snoqualmie Pass
7000'
6500'
7500'
11000'
11500'
11500'
11500'
10500'
East North
6000'
6500'
8000'
10500'
11000'
11500'
11000'
10500'
East Central
7500'
7000'
8000'
10500'
11000'
11500'
11500'
11000'
East South
8000'
7500'
9000'
11500'
11500'
12000'
12000'
11000'
Mt. Hood
9500'
8500'
9000'
11500'
11500'
12000'
12000'
11500'
Olympics
Elevation
Friday
Evening
10000'
Friday
Night
10500'
Saturday
Morning*
11000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
11500'
Saturday
Evening*
11500'
Saturday
Night*
11500'
Sunday
Morning
11000'
Sunday
Afternoon
10500'
West North
Elevation
Friday
Evening
6500'
Friday
Night
6000'
Saturday
Morning*
7500'
Saturday
Afternoon*
10500'
Saturday
Evening*
11000'
Saturday
Night*
11500'
Sunday
Morning
10500'
Sunday
Afternoon
9500'
West Central
Elevation
Friday
Evening
7000'
Friday
Night
6000'
Saturday
Morning*
7500'
Saturday
Afternoon*
11000'
Saturday
Evening*
11500'
Saturday
Night*
11500'
Sunday
Morning
11000'
Sunday
Afternoon
10000'
West South
Elevation
Friday
Evening
8000'
Friday
Night
8000'
Saturday
Morning*
9500'
Saturday
Afternoon*
11500'
Saturday
Evening*
11500'
Saturday
Night*
11500'
Sunday
Morning
11500'
Sunday
Afternoon
11000'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Friday
Evening
7000'
Friday
Night
6500'
Saturday
Morning*
7500'
Saturday
Afternoon*
11000'
Saturday
Evening*
11500'
Saturday
Night*
11500'
Sunday
Morning
11000'
Sunday
Afternoon
10500'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Friday
Evening
7000'
Friday
Night
6500'
Saturday
Morning*
7500'
Saturday
Afternoon*
11000'
Saturday
Evening*
11500'
Saturday
Night*
11500'
Sunday
Morning
11500'
Sunday
Afternoon
10500'
East North
Elevation
Friday
Evening
6000'
Friday
Night
6500'
Saturday
Morning*
8000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
10500'
Saturday
Evening*
11000'
Saturday
Night*
11500'
Sunday
Morning
11000'
Sunday
Afternoon
10500'
East Central
Elevation
Friday
Evening
7500'
Friday
Night
7000'
Saturday
Morning*
8000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
10500'
Saturday
Evening*
11000'
Saturday
Night*
11500'
Sunday
Morning
11500'
Sunday
Afternoon
11000'
East South
Elevation
Friday
Evening
8000'
Friday
Night
7500'
Saturday
Morning*
9000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
11500'
Saturday
Evening*
11500'
Saturday
Night*
12000'
Sunday
Morning
12000'
Sunday
Afternoon
11000'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Friday
Evening
9500'
Friday
Night
8500'
Saturday
Morning*
9000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
11500'
Saturday
Evening*
11500'
Saturday
Night*
12000'
Sunday
Morning
12000'
Sunday
Afternoon
11500'
Issued: 2:00 PM PST Friday, January 21, 2022
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Friday
Night
Saturday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
36 / 30
43 / 36
West North
32 / 28
43 / 27
West Central
33 / 28
44 / 27
West South
35 / 31
46 / 32
Stevens Pass
33 / 29
44 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass
33 / 29
45 / 29
East North
32 / 28
42 / 29
East Central
35 / 31
45 / 31
East South
38 / 34
46 / 31
Mt. Hood
25 / 28
46 / 31
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
36 / 30
Saturday
43 / 36
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
32 / 28
Saturday
43 / 27
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
33 / 28
Saturday
44 / 27
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
35 / 31
Saturday
46 / 32
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
33 / 29
Saturday
44 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
33 / 29
Saturday
45 / 29
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
32 / 28
Saturday
42 / 29
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
35 / 31
Saturday
45 / 31
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
38 / 34
Saturday
46 / 31
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
25 / 28
Saturday
46 / 31
Issued: 2:00 PM PST Friday, January 21, 2022
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
Friday
Night
Saturday
Morning
Saturday
Afternoon
Olympics
NNW 5-15
N 5-15
NNE 5-15
NNE 0-10
West North
NW 10-20
NW 5-15
NW 5-15
WNW 5-15
West Central
NNW 5-15
NNW 10-20
NNW 5-15
NNW 0-10
West South
NW 10-20
NW 10-20
NW 5-15
NW 5-15
Stevens Pass
NW 5-15
NNW 5-15
NW 0-10
WNW 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass
NW 10-20
NNW 5-15
NNW 5-15
NNW 5-15
East North
NW 10-20
NNW 10-20
NNW 10-20
NW 5-15
East Central
NW 5-15
NNW 5-15
NNW 0-10
NW 0-10
East South
NNW 5-15
N 10-20
N 5-15
NNW 0-10
Mt. Hood
N 5-15
NNE 10-20
NE 10-20
ENE 0-10
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
NNW
5-15
Friday
Night
N
5-15
Saturday
Morning
NNE
5-15
Saturday
Afternoon
NNE
0-10
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
NW
10-20
Friday
Night
NW
5-15
Saturday
Morning
NW
5-15
Saturday
Afternoon
WNW
5-15
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
NNW
5-15
Friday
Night
NNW
10-20
Saturday
Morning
NNW
5-15
Saturday
Afternoon
NNW
0-10
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
NW
10-20
Friday
Night
NW
10-20
Saturday
Morning
NW
5-15
Saturday
Afternoon
NW
5-15
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
NW
5-15
Friday
Night
NNW
5-15
Saturday
Morning
NW
0-10
Saturday
Afternoon
WNW
0-10
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
NW
10-20
Friday
Night
NNW
5-15
Saturday
Morning
NNW
5-15
Saturday
Afternoon
NNW
5-15
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
NW
10-20
Friday
Night
NNW
10-20
Saturday
Morning
NNW
10-20
Saturday
Afternoon
NW
5-15
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
NW
5-15
Friday
Night
NNW
5-15
Saturday
Morning
NNW
0-10
Saturday
Afternoon
NW
0-10
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
NNW
5-15
Friday
Night
N
10-20
Saturday
Morning
N
5-15
Saturday
Afternoon
NNW
0-10
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
N
5-15
Friday
Night
NNE
10-20
Saturday
Morning
NE
10-20
Saturday
Afternoon
ENE
0-10
Issued: 2:00 PM PST Friday, January 21, 2022
Extended Weather Synopsis
A disturbance should shift the ridge axis further offshore, resulting in somewhat cooler, but still unseasonably warm temperatures with no precipitation for our region throughout the extended forecast. NW flow aloft continues along with overnight inversions and valley fog. Ridgeline winds across the region should be light to occasionally moderate. Long-range weather models indicate a more active weather pattern developing the last weekend in January.
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).