Issued: 7:03 AM PST Sunday, January 23, 2022
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

High pressure will continue to dominate our weather over the short term and through much of next week.  Over the short term, a strong ridge of high pressure will remain anchored off the Oregon coast. For today, look for sunny skies and high passing high clouds, the thickest near the Canadian border and especially east of the Cascade crest where upper level NW winds are also the strongest. There is extensive low land/valley fog and steep but shallow temperature inversions. Low level clouds near and east of the Cascade Passes will mix out at least near the Passes as the flow becomes more westerly this afternoon. Mid and upper slopes will be quite warm again today, widespread 40s with a few low 50s near Mt Hood, but not quite as warm as Saturday. 

Most areas will see moderate NW winds above treeline by the end of the day. If you venture into the alpine, you can expect strong NW winds to affect most areas tonight through much of Monday.  A dry upper level disturbance will pass through the area tonight from the NW, keeping those alpine winds strong and spreading high clouds over the region. Freezling levels and temperatures will be slightly cooler 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
Sunday Mostly sunny with periods of high clouds. Areas of low valley clouds and fog.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds. Areas of low valley clouds and fog.
Sunday Partly to mostly sunny with periods of high clouds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds. Areas of low valley clouds and fog.
Sunday Partly to mostly sunny with periods of high clouds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds. Areas of low valley clouds and fog.
Sunday Mostly sunny with periods of high clouds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds. Low valley clouds and fog.
Sunday Partly to mostly sunny with periods of high clouds. Low valley clouds and fog. Light east winds at Pass level becoming light west in the afternoon. Moderate NW winds at ridgeline.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds. Low valley clouds and fog. Light west winds at Pass level. Moderate NW winds at ridgeline.
Sunday Partly to mostly sunny with periods of high clouds. Low valley clouds and fog. Light east winds at Pass level becoming light west in the afternoon. Moderate NW winds at ridgeline.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds. Low valley clouds and fog. Light west winds at Pass level. Moderate NW winds at ridgeline.
Sunday Partly to mostly cloudy with high clouds, cloudier east of the Cascade crest. Low valley clouds and fog. Strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds. Low valley clouds and fog.
Sunday Partly to mostly sunny with periods of high clouds, cloudier near and north of Hwy 2. Low valley clouds and fog. Strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds. Low valley clouds and fog. Strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Mostly sunny with periods of high clouds. Low valley clouds and fog.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds. Low valley clouds and fog. Strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Mostly sunny with a few high clouds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds. Strong ridgeline winds.

Precipitation (in)

Sunday Sunday Night Monday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 0 0
Stevens Pass 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0
Crystal Mt 0 0 0
Paradise 0 0 0
White Pass 0 0 0
Washington Pass 0 0 0
Mission Ridge 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 0 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 0
Timberline 0 0 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 9500' 9000' 8000' 8000' 9000' 9000'
West North 9000' 8000' 7000' 7000' 6500' 7000'
West Central 10000' 9500' 8500' 8000' 7500' 8000'
West South 11000' 10500' 9500' 8500' 9000' 9000'
Stevens Pass 10500' 9000' 8000' 7500' 7000' 7000'
Snoqualmie Pass 10500' 9000' 8500' 7500' 7000' 8000'
East North 9500' 8500' 8000' 7500' 7000' 6500'
East Central 10000' 9500' 8000' 8000' 8000' 7500'
East South 11000' 10500' 9000' 8500' 8500' 9000'
Mt. Hood 12000' 12000' 10000' 9000' 9000' 10500'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Morning* 9500'
Sunday Afternoon 9000'
Sunday Evening 8000'
Sunday Night 8000'
Monday Morning 9000'
Monday Afternoon 9000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Morning* 9000'
Sunday Afternoon 8000'
Sunday Evening 7000'
Sunday Night 7000'
Monday Morning 6500'
Monday Afternoon 7000'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Morning* 10000'
Sunday Afternoon 9500'
Sunday Evening 8500'
Sunday Night 8000'
Monday Morning 7500'
Monday Afternoon 8000'
West South Elevation
Sunday Morning* 11000'
Sunday Afternoon 10500'
Sunday Evening 9500'
Sunday Night 8500'
Monday Morning 9000'
Monday Afternoon 9000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning* 10500'
Sunday Afternoon 9000'
Sunday Evening 8000'
Sunday Night 7500'
Monday Morning 7000'
Monday Afternoon 7000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning* 10500'
Sunday Afternoon 9000'
Sunday Evening 8500'
Sunday Night 7500'
Monday Morning 7000'
Monday Afternoon 8000'
East North Elevation
Sunday Morning* 9500'
Sunday Afternoon 8500'
Sunday Evening 8000'
Sunday Night 7500'
Monday Morning 7000'
Monday Afternoon 6500'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Morning* 10000'
Sunday Afternoon 9500'
Sunday Evening 8000'
Sunday Night 8000'
Monday Morning 8000'
Monday Afternoon 7500'
East South Elevation
Sunday Morning* 11000'
Sunday Afternoon 10500'
Sunday Evening 9000'
Sunday Night 8500'
Monday Morning 8500'
Monday Afternoon 9000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Morning* 12000'
Sunday Afternoon 12000'
Sunday Evening 10000'
Sunday Night 9000'
Monday Morning 9000'
Monday Afternoon 10500'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Sunday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 49 / 41 38 / 34
West North 45 / 40 38 / 34
West Central 49 / 41 37 / 34
West South 50 / 42 40 / 35
Stevens Pass 47 / 41 38 / 35
Snoqualmie Pass 48 / 41 40 / 35
East North 45 / 35 37 / 33
East Central 50 / 41 40 / 34
East South 50 / 41 42 / 35
Mt. Hood 51 / 45 47 / 39
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 49 / 41
Sunday Night 38 / 34
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 45 / 40
Sunday Night 38 / 34
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 49 / 41
Sunday Night 37 / 34
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 50 / 42
Sunday Night 40 / 35
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 47 / 41
Sunday Night 38 / 35
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 48 / 41
Sunday Night 40 / 35
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 45 / 35
Sunday Night 37 / 33
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 50 / 41
Sunday Night 40 / 34
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 50 / 41
Sunday Night 42 / 35
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 51 / 45
Sunday Night 47 / 39

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night
Olympics WNW 5-15 WNW 10-20 WNW 10-20 NW 10-20
West North WNW 5-15 W 5-15 WNW 10-20 W 10-20
West Central NW 15-25 WNW 15-25 WNW 10-20 WNW 10-20
West South WNW 5-15 WNW 15-25 NW 15-25 WNW 15-25
Stevens Pass NW 5-15 W 15-25 NW 10-20 WNW 15-25
Snoqualmie Pass NW 10-20 WNW 15-25 NW 15-25 WNW 15-25
East North NW 20-30 WNW 15-25 WNW 10-20 WNW 10-20
East Central WNW 15-25 WNW 25-35 NW 10-20 NW 15-25
East South NW 10-20 WNW 15-25 NW 15-25 NW 20-30
Mt. Hood NW 5-15 NW 15-25 NW 20-30 WNW 25-35
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning WNW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon WNW 10-20
Sunday Evening WNW 10-20
Sunday Night NW 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning WNW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
Sunday Evening WNW 10-20
Sunday Night W 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning NW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon WNW 15-25
Sunday Evening WNW 10-20
Sunday Night WNW 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning WNW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon WNW 15-25
Sunday Evening NW 15-25
Sunday Night WNW 15-25
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning NW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 15-25
Sunday Evening NW 10-20
Sunday Night WNW 15-25
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning NW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WNW 15-25
Sunday Evening NW 15-25
Sunday Night WNW 15-25
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning NW 20-30
Sunday Afternoon WNW 15-25
Sunday Evening WNW 10-20
Sunday Night WNW 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning WNW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon WNW 25-35
Sunday Evening NW 10-20
Sunday Night NW 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning NW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WNW 15-25
Sunday Evening NW 15-25
Sunday Night NW 20-30
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning NW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon NW 15-25
Sunday Evening NW 20-30
Sunday Night WNW 25-35

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

Previous forecast from Jan 22, 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’.