Issued: 2:00 PM 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 Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis

High pressure will continue to keep us mild and dry through at least the end of the work week. The upper level ridge will buckle as a weak upper level disturbance upstream over central British Columbia approaches. High clouds are already starting to infiltrate the northern Cascades this afternoon. A high overcast will spread to all areas from north to south Sunday evening. This feature will bring a slight lowering of freezing levels and an increase in cloud cover but no precipitation as it quickly passes southeast overnight. We can expect more of the same regarding temperature inversions and low valley clouds and fog without a stronger weather event over the next few days. Mostly sunny skies with 5000' temperatures in the 30's to lower 40s are expected Monday. Moderate NW winds at ridgeline in many areas increase and become strong in the alpine. This wind pattern will continue through mid-day Monday until the flow becomes more northerly and wind speeds begin to fall off. 

Another "dry" upper level shortwave will pass through Tuesday afternoon or night bringing another round of high clouds but no precipitation. Freezing levels will be stagnant over the short term with the highest freezing levels over the Olympics, the area closest to the upper level ridge parked offshore. 

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 Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds clearing late. Areas of low valley clouds and fog.
Monday Mostly sunny. Areas of low valley clouds and fog.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds clearing late. Areas of low valley clouds and fog.
Monday Mostly sunny. Areas of low valley clouds and fog.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds clearing late. Areas of low valley clouds and fog.
Monday Mostly sunny. Areas of low valley clouds and fog.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds clearing late. Areas of low valley clouds and fog.
Monday Mostly sunny. Areas of low valley clouds and fog.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds clearing late. Areas of low valley clouds and fog. Light west winds at Pass level. Moderate NW winds at ridgeline.
Monday Mostly sunny. Areas of low valley clouds and fog. Light and variable winds at Pass level. Moderate NW winds at ridgeline decreasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds clearing late. Areas of low valley clouds and fog. Light west winds at Pass level. Moderate NW winds at ridgeline.
Monday Mostly sunny. Areas of low valley clouds and fog. Light and variable winds at Pass level. Moderate NW winds at ridgeline decreasing late.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds clearing late. Low valley clouds and fog.
Monday Mostly sunny. Low valley clouds and fog.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds clearing late. Low valley clouds and fog. Strong ridgeline winds.
Monday Mostly sunny. Low valley clouds and fog. Moderate ridgeline winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds clearing late. Low valley clouds and fog. Strong ridgeline winds.
Monday Mostly sunny. Low valley clouds and fog. Moderate ridgeline winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds. Strong ridgeline winds.
Monday Mostly sunny. Strong ridgeline winds decreasing in the afternoon.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon*
Olympics 8000' 8000' 9000' 9000' 9000' 9000' 9000' 9000'
West North 7000' 7000' 6500' 7000' 6500' 6500' 7000' 7500'
West Central 8500' 8000' 7500' 8000' 7000' 6500' 7000' 8000'
West South 9500' 8500' 9000' 8500' 7500' 7000' 8000' 9000'
Stevens Pass 8000' 7500' 7000' 7500' 6500' 5500' 6500' 7500'
Snoqualmie Pass 8500' 7500' 7000' 8000' 7500' 6500' 7500' 8000'
East North 8000' 7500' 7000' 7000' 5000' 2000' 4500' 6000'
East Central 8000' 8000' 8000' 7500' 5000' 3000' 4500' 6500'
East South 9000' 8500' 8500' 8500' 6500' 4500' 6500' 8000'
Mt. Hood 10000' 9000' 9000' 10000' 8500' 7500' 8500' 9500'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening 8000'
Sunday Night 8000'
Monday Morning 9000'
Monday Afternoon 9000'
Monday Evening 9000'
Monday Night* 9000'
Tuesday Morning* 9000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 9000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening 7000'
Sunday Night 7000'
Monday Morning 6500'
Monday Afternoon 7000'
Monday Evening 6500'
Monday Night* 6500'
Tuesday Morning* 7000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 7500'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 8500'
Sunday Night 8000'
Monday Morning 7500'
Monday Afternoon 8000'
Monday Evening 7000'
Monday Night* 6500'
Tuesday Morning* 7000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 8000'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening 9500'
Sunday Night 8500'
Monday Morning 9000'
Monday Afternoon 8500'
Monday Evening 7500'
Monday Night* 7000'
Tuesday Morning* 8000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 9000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 8000'
Sunday Night 7500'
Monday Morning 7000'
Monday Afternoon 7500'
Monday Evening 6500'
Monday Night* 5500'
Tuesday Morning* 6500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 7500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 8500'
Sunday Night 7500'
Monday Morning 7000'
Monday Afternoon 8000'
Monday Evening 7500'
Monday Night* 6500'
Tuesday Morning* 7500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 8000'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening 8000'
Sunday Night 7500'
Monday Morning 7000'
Monday Afternoon 7000'
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night* 2000'
Tuesday Morning* 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 6000'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 8000'
Sunday Night 8000'
Monday Morning 8000'
Monday Afternoon 7500'
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night* 3000'
Tuesday Morning* 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 6500'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening 9000'
Sunday Night 8500'
Monday Morning 8500'
Monday Afternoon 8500'
Monday Evening 6500'
Monday Night* 4500'
Tuesday Morning* 6500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 8000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening 10000'
Sunday Night 9000'
Monday Morning 9000'
Monday Afternoon 10000'
Monday Evening 8500'
Monday Night* 7500'
Tuesday Morning* 8500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 9500'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 39 / 36 41 / 34
West North 38 / 34 38 / 33
West Central 37 / 34 38 / 33
West South 40 / 34 38 / 33
Stevens Pass 38 / 35 38 / 33
Snoqualmie Pass 40 / 35 39 / 33
East North 37 / 28 38 / 28
East Central 40 / 34 38 / 31
East South 42 / 35 40 / 33
Mt. Hood 47 / 39 41 / 35
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 39 / 36
Monday 41 / 34
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 38 / 34
Monday 38 / 33
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 37 / 34
Monday 38 / 33
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 40 / 34
Monday 38 / 33
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 38 / 35
Monday 38 / 33
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 40 / 35
Monday 39 / 33
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 37 / 28
Monday 38 / 28
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 40 / 34
Monday 38 / 31
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 42 / 35
Monday 40 / 33
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 47 / 39
Monday 41 / 35

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics WNW 10-20 NW 10-20 WNW 5-15 N 5-15
West North WNW 5-15 W 10-20 W 5-15 NE 5-15
West Central WNW 10-20 WNW 10-20 NW 5-15 N 5-15
West South NW 15-25 WNW 15-25 NW 10-20 N 5-15
Stevens Pass NW 10-20 WNW 15-25 WNW 5-15 N 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass NW 15-25 WNW 15-25 NW 15-25 N 5-15
East North WNW 10-20 WNW 10-20 NW 10-20 N 10-20
East Central NW 10-20 NW 15-25 NW 15-25 N 5-15
East South NW 15-25 NW 20-30 NW 10-20 N 5-15
Mt. Hood NW 20-30 WNW 25-35 NW 20-30 NNW 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 10-20
Sunday Night NW 10-20
Monday Morning WNW 5-15
Monday Afternoon N 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 5-15
Sunday Night W 10-20
Monday Morning W 5-15
Monday Afternoon NE 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 10-20
Sunday Night WNW 10-20
Monday Morning NW 5-15
Monday Afternoon N 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening NW 15-25
Sunday Night WNW 15-25
Monday Morning NW 10-20
Monday Afternoon N 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening NW 10-20
Sunday Night WNW 15-25
Monday Morning WNW 5-15
Monday Afternoon N 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening NW 15-25
Sunday Night WNW 15-25
Monday Morning NW 15-25
Monday Afternoon N 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 10-20
Sunday Night WNW 10-20
Monday Morning NW 10-20
Monday Afternoon N 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening NW 10-20
Sunday Night NW 15-25
Monday Morning NW 15-25
Monday Afternoon N 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening NW 15-25
Sunday Night NW 20-30
Monday Morning NW 10-20
Monday Afternoon N 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening NW 20-30
Sunday Night WNW 25-35
Monday Morning NW 20-30
Monday Afternoon NNW 15-25

Extended Weather Synopsis

No real change is expected through Wednesday with similar freezing levels, mostly clear skies except for low valley clouds and fog and overall dry weather expected. The upper level ridge will shift inland on Thursday and freezing levels and mid/upper mountain temperatures will rise once again. Offshore gradients will increase as well on Thursday, so we'll have to see if cool easterly winds at Pass level increase late in the week. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday * Wednesday Night* Thursday *
West North 6000' 8000' 8000' 10000'
Snoqualmie Pass 6500' 8500' 8500' 10000'
Mt. Hood 9000' 9500' 9500' 10000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 6000'
Wednesday * 8000'
Wednesday Night* 8000'
Thursday * 10000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 6500'
Wednesday * 8500'
Wednesday Night* 8500'
Thursday * 10000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 9000'
Wednesday * 9500'
Wednesday Night* 9500'
Thursday * 10000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 23, 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’.