Issued: 1:57 PM PST Monday, January 24, 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

Dry and mild weather will continue for the remainder of this week with strong upper level ridging keeping weather systems at bay. An upper level shortwave that passed along the northern Rockies continues to shift winds to more north or even northeasterly this afternoon.  Moderate to locally strong alpine winds will decrease overnight. Freezing levels will take a temporary dip along the east slopes of the Cascades while freezing levels are steadier along the west slopes of the Cascades Monday night. Skies will be clear except for the dreay lowland/valley low clouds and fog that come with strong temperature inversions in winter. Surface high pressure will drift south from British Columbia into eastern Washington overnight. This will begin to increase the cross-Cascade offshore flow and east winds at Pass level. It should also start to bring low clouds at least temporarily back into main Cascade Passes overnight.  

The pattern will be on repeat Tuesday with mostly sunny skies through mid-day. Low clouds in the Passes should break up by late morning as the easterly flow weakens.  High clouds from the next weak upper level disturbance upstream should spread over the north Cascades and Olympics in the afternoon. 

Cloud cover from this "dry" shortwave will pass from north to south over the region Tuesday afternoon through late evening before clearing after midnight. The upper level ridge will quickly amplify offshore as it inches closer to the West Coast. Wednesday should be sunny and slightly warmer than Tuesday, with freezing levels 7000'-9000' across the region and with 5000' temperatures in the upper 30s and 40s. 

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
Monday Night Mostly clear. Areas of low clouds and fog.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning, becoming partly sunny in the afternoon with increasing high clouds.Areas of low clouds and fog.
Monday Night Mostly clear. Areas of low clouds and fog.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning, becoming partly sunny in the afternoon with increasing high clouds.Areas of low clouds and fog.
Monday Night Mostly clear. Areas of low clouds and fog.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning, becoming partly sunny in the afternoon with increasing high clouds.Areas of low clouds and fog.
Monday Night Mostly clear. Areas of low clouds and fog.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning, becoming partly sunny late in the afternoon with increasing high clouds.Areas of low clouds and fog.
Monday Night Mostly clear. Increasing low clouds overnight near and east of the Pass. Light to moderate east winds at Pass level.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning, becoming partly sunny in the afternoon with increasing high clouds. Areas of low clouds and fog decreasing by mid-day. Light east winds at Pass level.
Monday Night Mostly clear. Increasing low clouds overnight near and east of the Pass. Moderate east winds at Pass level. Moderate to strong north winds at ridgeline easing in the evening.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning, becoming partly sunny later in the afternoon with increasing high clouds. Areas of low clouds and fog decreasing before mid-day. Light east winds at Pass level.
Monday Night Mostly clear. Low clouds and fog in the valleys.
Tuesday Mostly sunny. Low clouds and fog in the valleys. High clouds increasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly clear. Low clouds and fog in the valleys.
Tuesday Mostly sunny. Low clouds and fog in the valleys.
Monday Night Mostly clear. Low clouds and fog in the valleys.
Tuesday Mostly sunny. Areas of low clouds and fog in the valleys.
Monday Night Mostly clear.
Tuesday Mostly sunny.

Issued: 1:57 PM PST Monday, January 24, 2022

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 1:57 PM PST Monday, January 24, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening* Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon* Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon
Olympics 8500' 8500' 9000' 9000' 8500' 8000' 8000' 8500'
West North 6500' 6500' 7000' 7000' 6500' 5500' 6500' 7500'
West Central 7000' 7000' 7500' 8000' 7500' 6500' 7000' 8000'
West South 7500' 7500' 8000' 9000' 8000' 7500' 8000' 8500'
Stevens Pass 6000' 4000' 4500' 7000' 6500' 6000' 7000' 8000'
Snoqualmie Pass 7000' 7000' 7500' 8000' 7500' 7000' 7500' 8000'
East North 3000' 2000' 3500' 5000' 3500' 2000' 5000' 7000'
East Central 5000' 3000' 3500' 6500' 5500' 4000' 5500' 7500'
East South 5000' 3500' 4500' 8000' 7000' 6000' 7000' 8500'
Mt. Hood 7500' 7500' 8000' 9000' 8500' 8000' 8500' 9000'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening* 8500'
Monday Night* 8500'
Tuesday Morning* 9000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 9000'
Tuesday Evening 8500'
Tuesday Night 8000'
Wednesday Morning 8000'
Wednesday Afternoon 8500'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening* 6500'
Monday Night* 6500'
Tuesday Morning* 7000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 7000'
Tuesday Evening 6500'
Tuesday Night 5500'
Wednesday Morning 6500'
Wednesday Afternoon 7500'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening* 7000'
Monday Night* 7000'
Tuesday Morning* 7500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 8000'
Tuesday Evening 7500'
Tuesday Night 6500'
Wednesday Morning 7000'
Wednesday Afternoon 8000'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening* 7500'
Monday Night* 7500'
Tuesday Morning* 8000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 9000'
Tuesday Evening 8000'
Tuesday Night 7500'
Wednesday Morning 8000'
Wednesday Afternoon 8500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening* 6000'
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday Morning* 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 7000'
Tuesday Evening 6500'
Tuesday Night 6000'
Wednesday Morning 7000'
Wednesday Afternoon 8000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening* 7000'
Monday Night* 7000'
Tuesday Morning* 7500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 8000'
Tuesday Evening 7500'
Tuesday Night 7000'
Wednesday Morning 7500'
Wednesday Afternoon 8000'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening* 3000'
Monday Night* 2000'
Tuesday Morning* 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 5000'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday Morning 5000'
Wednesday Afternoon 7000'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening* 5000'
Monday Night* 3000'
Tuesday Morning* 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 6500'
Tuesday Evening 5500'
Tuesday Night 4000'
Wednesday Morning 5500'
Wednesday Afternoon 7500'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening* 5000'
Monday Night* 3500'
Tuesday Morning* 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 8000'
Tuesday Evening 7000'
Tuesday Night 6000'
Wednesday Morning 7000'
Wednesday Afternoon 8500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening* 7500'
Monday Night* 7500'
Tuesday Morning* 8000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 9000'
Tuesday Evening 8500'
Tuesday Night 8000'
Wednesday Morning 8500'
Wednesday Afternoon 9000'

Issued: 1:57 PM PST Monday, January 24, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 42 / 35 42 / 36
West North 39 / 33 39 / 33
West Central 39 / 33 39 / 34
West South 38 / 33 39 / 33
Stevens Pass 34 / 30 36 / 32
Snoqualmie Pass 36 / 32 39 / 34
East North 31 / 24 34 / 24
East Central 32 / 27 35 / 28
East South 36 / 28 37 / 31
Mt. Hood 42 / 33 43 / 37
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 42 / 35
Tuesday 42 / 36
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 39 / 33
Tuesday 39 / 33
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 39 / 33
Tuesday 39 / 34
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 38 / 33
Tuesday 39 / 33
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 34 / 30
Tuesday 36 / 32
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 36 / 32
Tuesday 39 / 34
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 31 / 24
Tuesday 34 / 24
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 32 / 27
Tuesday 35 / 28
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 36 / 28
Tuesday 37 / 31
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 42 / 33
Tuesday 43 / 37

Issued: 1:57 PM PST Monday, January 24, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics NE 0-10 W 0-10 W 0-10 WSW 5-15
West North NE 10-20 VAR 0-10 W 0-10 WNW 5-15
West Central NE 10-20 W 0-10 W 0-10 WNW 5-15
West South NE 5-15 VAR 0-10 W 0-10 W 5-15
Stevens Pass NE 5-15 NE 0-10 W 0-10 WNW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass NE 10-20 E 5-15 W 5-15 WNW 10-20
East North NNE 5-15 VAR 0-10 W 5-15 W 5-15
East Central NE 10-20 NNE 5-15 W 5-15 WNW 10-20
East South ENE 5-15 E 0-10 VAR 0-10 W 5-15
Mt. Hood ENE 10-20 E 10-20 SE 0-10 W 5-15
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening NE 0-10
Monday Night W 0-10
Tuesday Morning W 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening NE 10-20
Monday Night VAR 0-10
Tuesday Morning W 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon WNW 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening NE 10-20
Monday Night W 0-10
Tuesday Morning W 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon WNW 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening NE 5-15
Monday Night VAR 0-10
Tuesday Morning W 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon W 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening NE 5-15
Monday Night NE 0-10
Tuesday Morning W 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon WNW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening NE 10-20
Monday Night E 5-15
Tuesday Morning W 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon WNW 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening NNE 5-15
Monday Night VAR 0-10
Tuesday Morning W 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon W 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening NE 10-20
Monday Night NNE 5-15
Tuesday Morning W 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon WNW 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening ENE 5-15
Monday Night E 0-10
Tuesday Morning VAR 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon W 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening ENE 10-20
Monday Night E 10-20
Tuesday Morning SE 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon W 5-15

Issued: 1:57 PM PST Monday, January 24, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

The upper level ridge will slowly shift inland Thursday and Friday.  Freezing levels and temperatures should peak Thursday and Thursday night before slowly starting to lower on Friday as the ridge begins to break down. Slightly cooler conditions will persist along the east slopes of the Cascades, especially north of I-90 and areas along the Cascade crest with a cool E-SE breeze. Mostly clear skies will continue with the exception of low valley clouds and fog.  Weather systems will attempt to break down the ridge with precipitation more likely the latter half of the weekend. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night* Thursday * Thursday Night* Friday *
West North 7500' 9000' 9000' 7500'
Snoqualmie Pass 8000' 9000' 9000' 8000'
Mt. Hood 9000' 9500' 10000' 9000'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night* 7500'
Thursday * 9000'
Thursday Night* 9000'
Friday * 7500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night* 8000'
Thursday * 9000'
Thursday Night* 9000'
Friday * 8000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night* 9000'
Thursday * 9500'
Thursday Night* 10000'
Friday * 9000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 24, 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’.