The strong high pressure centered off the Oregon Coast will continue to bring unseasonably warm temperatures to the Pacific Northwest. The warmest temperatures will continue to be felt above an inversion that extends to 4000-5000 ft. Mountain temperatures in the 5000 ft range were in the upper 40s to mid 50s on Saturday with temperatures slightly below record highs for the date. These exceedingly mild conditions will continue with a minimal dip in temperatures Saturday night, with highs Sunday morning in the upper 40s to mid 50s. Highs will occur earlier in the day in the northern Cascades as a subtle disturbance moving down the Canadian Rockies increases WNW ridgeline winds into the moderate range and also squashes the ridge enough to reduce temperatures 5F or so during the afternoon. The southern Cascades could see their warmest high temperatures of January during the afternoon.
Inversions will re-form Saturday night with lowland stratus developing. Temperatures should drop into the 30s in most locations below 4500 ft, but 20s may be rare due to more extensive high cloud cover. The more extensive cloud high cloud cover on Sunday may also limit daytime highs in some areas.
The aforementioned subtle disturbance should further decrease temperatures Sunday night and Monday. By Monday afternoon, 5000 ft mountain temperatures should only be about 5-15F above normal, rather than the 15-30F anomaly we've seen over the weekend. Light to moderate WNW winds Sunday night should decrease, giving way to light and variable winds. Expect low elevation inversions and very low elevation valley stratus in the morning with mostly sunny skies on Monday.
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
Saturday
Night
Partial high cloud cover and unseasonably mild with a low-level inversion. Fog in low-elevation valleys.
Sunday
Partial high cloud cover and unseasonably mild with a low-level inversion. Cooler in the afternoon. Fog in low-elevation valleys mixing out during the morning hours.
Saturday
Night
Partial high cloud cover and unseasonably mild with a low-level inversion. Cooler in the afternoon. Fog in low-elevation valleys.
Sunday
Partial high cloud cover and unseasonably mild with a low-level inversion. Fog in low-elevation valleys mixing out during the morning hours.
Saturday
Night
Partial high cloud cover and unseasonably mild with a low-level inversion. Fog in low-elevation valleys.
Sunday
Partial high cloud cover and unseasonably mild with a low-level inversion. Fog in low-elevation valleys mixing out during the morning hours.
Saturday
Night
Partial high cloud cover and unseasonably mild with a low-level inversion. Fog in low-elevation valleys.
Sunday
Partial high cloud cover and unseasonably mild with a low-level inversion. Fog in low-elevation valleys mixing out during the morning hours.
Saturday
Night
Partial high cloud cover and unseasonably mild with a low-level inversion. Fog in low-elevation valleys. Light to moderate E winds at the Pass.
Sunday
Partial high cloud cover and unseasonably mild with a low-level inversion. Fog in low-elevation valleys mixing out during the morning hours. Light E winds switching W at the Pass.
Saturday
Night
Partial high cloud cover and unseasonably mild with a low-level inversion. Fog in low-elevation valleys. Light to moderate E winds at the Pass.
Sunday
Partial high cloud cover and unseasonably mild with a low-level inversion. Fog in low-elevation valleys mixing out during the morning hours. Light E winds switching W at the Pass.
Saturday
Night
Partial high cloud cover and unseasonably mild with a low-level inversion. Fog in low-elevation valleys.
Sunday
Partial high cloud cover and unseasonably mild with a low-level inversion. Fog in low-elevation valleys.
Saturday
Night
Partial high cloud cover and unseasonably mild with a low-level inversion. Fog in low-elevation valleys.
Sunday
Partial high cloud cover and unseasonably mild with a low-level inversion. Fog in low-elevation valleys.
Saturday
Night
Partial high cloud cover and unseasonably mild with a low-level inversion. Fog in low-elevation valleys.
Sunday
Partial high cloud cover and unseasonably mild with a low-level inversion. Fog in low-elevation valleys.
Saturday
Night
Partial high cloud cover and unseasonably mild with a low-level inversion. Fog in low-elevation valleys.
Sunday
Partial high cloud cover and unseasonably mild with a low-level inversion. Fog in low-elevation valleys.
Issued: 1:58 PM PST Saturday, January 22, 2022
Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night
Sunday
Sunday Night
Monday
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)
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Sunday Night
0
Monday
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Sunday Night
0
Monday
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Sunday Night
0
Monday
0
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Sunday Night
0
Monday
0
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Sunday Night
0
Monday
0
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Sunday Night
0
Monday
0
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Sunday Night
0
Monday
0
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Sunday Night
0
Monday
0
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Sunday Night
0
Monday
0
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Sunday Night
0
Monday
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Sunday Night
0
Monday
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Sunday Night
0
Monday
0
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Sunday Night
0
Monday
0
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Sunday Night
0
Monday
0
Issued: 1:58 PM PST Saturday, January 22, 2022
Snow Level (ft)
Saturday
Evening*
Saturday
Night*
Sunday
Morning*
Sunday
Afternoon
Sunday
Evening
Sunday
Night
Monday
Morning
Monday
Afternoon
Olympics
11500'
11500'
11500'
10500'
10000'
9500'
8500'
10500'
West North
11000'
11000'
10500'
9500'
9000'
8000'
7500'
7500'
West Central
11000'
11000'
11000'
10000'
9500'
8500'
8000'
8500'
West South
11500'
11500'
11500'
11000'
10500'
10000'
8500'
9500'
Stevens Pass
11000'
11000'
11000'
10500'
10000'
9000'
8000'
8500'
Snoqualmie Pass
11500'
11500'
11000'
10500'
10000'
9500'
8500'
9000'
East North
11000'
11000'
10500'
10000'
9000'
8500'
8000'
7000'
East Central
11000'
11500'
11000'
11000'
10000'
9500'
8500'
8500'
East South
11500'
11500'
11500'
11000'
11000'
10500'
9000'
9000'
Mt. Hood
11500'
12000'
11500'
11500'
11500'
11000'
10000'
9500'
Olympics
Elevation
Saturday
Evening*
11500'
Saturday
Night*
11500'
Sunday
Morning*
11500'
Sunday
Afternoon
10500'
Sunday
Evening
10000'
Sunday
Night
9500'
Monday
Morning
8500'
Monday
Afternoon
10500'
West North
Elevation
Saturday
Evening*
11000'
Saturday
Night*
11000'
Sunday
Morning*
10500'
Sunday
Afternoon
9500'
Sunday
Evening
9000'
Sunday
Night
8000'
Monday
Morning
7500'
Monday
Afternoon
7500'
West Central
Elevation
Saturday
Evening*
11000'
Saturday
Night*
11000'
Sunday
Morning*
11000'
Sunday
Afternoon
10000'
Sunday
Evening
9500'
Sunday
Night
8500'
Monday
Morning
8000'
Monday
Afternoon
8500'
West South
Elevation
Saturday
Evening*
11500'
Saturday
Night*
11500'
Sunday
Morning*
11500'
Sunday
Afternoon
11000'
Sunday
Evening
10500'
Sunday
Night
10000'
Monday
Morning
8500'
Monday
Afternoon
9500'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Saturday
Evening*
11000'
Saturday
Night*
11000'
Sunday
Morning*
11000'
Sunday
Afternoon
10500'
Sunday
Evening
10000'
Sunday
Night
9000'
Monday
Morning
8000'
Monday
Afternoon
8500'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Saturday
Evening*
11500'
Saturday
Night*
11500'
Sunday
Morning*
11000'
Sunday
Afternoon
10500'
Sunday
Evening
10000'
Sunday
Night
9500'
Monday
Morning
8500'
Monday
Afternoon
9000'
East North
Elevation
Saturday
Evening*
11000'
Saturday
Night*
11000'
Sunday
Morning*
10500'
Sunday
Afternoon
10000'
Sunday
Evening
9000'
Sunday
Night
8500'
Monday
Morning
8000'
Monday
Afternoon
7000'
East Central
Elevation
Saturday
Evening*
11000'
Saturday
Night*
11500'
Sunday
Morning*
11000'
Sunday
Afternoon
11000'
Sunday
Evening
10000'
Sunday
Night
9500'
Monday
Morning
8500'
Monday
Afternoon
8500'
East South
Elevation
Saturday
Evening*
11500'
Saturday
Night*
11500'
Sunday
Morning*
11500'
Sunday
Afternoon
11000'
Sunday
Evening
11000'
Sunday
Night
10500'
Monday
Morning
9000'
Monday
Afternoon
9000'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Saturday
Evening*
11500'
Saturday
Night*
12000'
Sunday
Morning*
11500'
Sunday
Afternoon
11500'
Sunday
Evening
11500'
Sunday
Night
11000'
Monday
Morning
10000'
Monday
Afternoon
9500'
Issued: 1:58 PM PST Saturday, January 22, 2022
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Saturday
Night
Sunday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
46 / 42
50 / 43
West North
47 / 44
47 / 43
West Central
46 / 43
49 / 44
West South
46 / 43
49 / 44
Stevens Pass
45 / 42
49 / 43
Snoqualmie Pass
47 / 44
49 / 44
East North
46 / 43
47 / 41
East Central
43 / 40
49 / 42
East South
43 / 40
52 / 44
Mt. Hood
45 / 42
53 / 45
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Saturday
Night
46 / 42
Sunday
50 / 43
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Saturday
Night
47 / 44
Sunday
47 / 43
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Saturday
Night
46 / 43
Sunday
49 / 44
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Saturday
Night
46 / 43
Sunday
49 / 44
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Saturday
Night
45 / 42
Sunday
49 / 43
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Saturday
Night
47 / 44
Sunday
49 / 44
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Saturday
Night
46 / 43
Sunday
47 / 41
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Saturday
Night
43 / 40
Sunday
49 / 42
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Saturday
Night
43 / 40
Sunday
52 / 44
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Saturday
Night
45 / 42
Sunday
53 / 45
Issued: 1:58 PM PST Saturday, January 22, 2022
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday
Evening
Saturday
Night
Sunday
Morning
Sunday
Afternoon
Olympics
NNE 5-15
N 0-10
W 0-10
WNW 5-15
West North
NW 5-15
WNW 5-15
W 5-15
W 10-20
West Central
N 0-10
NNW 5-15
NW 5-15
WNW 5-15
West South
WNW 5-15
NW 0-10
WNW 0-10
WNW 5-15
Stevens Pass
WNW 0-10
NW 0-10
WNW 5-15
W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass
NNE 0-10
NNW 0-10
NW 5-15
NW 5-15
East North
NW 5-15
WNW 5-15
WNW 10-20
WNW 15-25
East Central
WNW 0-10
NW 5-15
WNW 5-15
WNW 10-20
East South
SW 0-10
N 0-10
NW 0-10
W 0-10
Mt. Hood
NE 5-15
ENE 0-10
NE 0-10
WNW 5-15
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday
Evening
NNE
5-15
Saturday
Night
N
0-10
Sunday
Morning
W
0-10
Sunday
Afternoon
WNW
5-15
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday
Evening
NW
5-15
Saturday
Night
WNW
5-15
Sunday
Morning
W
5-15
Sunday
Afternoon
W
10-20
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday
Evening
N
0-10
Saturday
Night
NNW
5-15
Sunday
Morning
NW
5-15
Sunday
Afternoon
WNW
5-15
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday
Evening
WNW
5-15
Saturday
Night
NW
0-10
Sunday
Morning
WNW
0-10
Sunday
Afternoon
WNW
5-15
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday
Evening
WNW
0-10
Saturday
Night
NW
0-10
Sunday
Morning
WNW
5-15
Sunday
Afternoon
W
5-15
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday
Evening
NNE
0-10
Saturday
Night
NNW
0-10
Sunday
Morning
NW
5-15
Sunday
Afternoon
NW
5-15
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday
Evening
NW
5-15
Saturday
Night
WNW
5-15
Sunday
Morning
WNW
10-20
Sunday
Afternoon
WNW
15-25
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday
Evening
WNW
0-10
Saturday
Night
NW
5-15
Sunday
Morning
WNW
5-15
Sunday
Afternoon
WNW
10-20
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday
Evening
SW
0-10
Saturday
Night
N
0-10
Sunday
Morning
NW
0-10
Sunday
Afternoon
W
0-10
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday
Evening
NE
5-15
Saturday
Night
ENE
0-10
Sunday
Morning
NE
0-10
Sunday
Afternoon
WNW
5-15
Issued: 1:58 PM PST Saturday, January 22, 2022
Extended Weather Synopsis
The dominant high-pressure ridge remains off the coast of Oregon but shifts slightly south toward the California border. This keeps temperatures cooler than this weekend. Expect light NW winds aloft with low-level inversions and periods of light E flow through the mountain gaps. Skies will be mostly sunny in the mountains with periods of high clouds.
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).