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.
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).