Issued: 1:47 PM PST Sunday, January 30, 2022
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

A cold front is already starting to work its way into the region this afternoon with a rather compact band of precipitation draped from the Olympics to Mt Baker. As the rain and snow spreads from NW to SE expect several hours of moderate to heavy precipitation in the early evening. Initially freezing levels may hover in the 4000 to 5000 ft range, but as the cold front moves inland, snow levels will plummet and fall well below the Cascade Passes. This first wave of precipitation should easily reach east of the Cascade crest and bring several inches of snow to locations like Lake Chelan, the Wenatchee Mts, and Ahtanum Meadows. Very strong S to SW winds out ahead of the front will increase across most mountain areas this evening. Look for winds to shift to more a westerly direction but remain strong after the front passes. 

Strong westerly winds and plenty of low-level moisture will continue to ring out snow showers late Sunday night and into Monday. A Puget Sound Convergence Zone will take aim at the central Cascades and focus a narrow band of heavier precipitation near the Stevens Pass. As the upper airflow becomes more NW, the convergence zone should drift south and point most of its precipitation at the I90 area.

A high-pressure ridge will begin to grow in the central Pacific and we should be situated just outside its easter edge. As a result, cold northwest flow and some lingering moisture will keep our weather unsettled Monday night into Tuesday. A few isolated snow showers should continue for locations near the volcanoes and Cascade passes. East of the crest, look for cold temperatures and periods of sunshine.

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 Cloudy with rain and snow showers. Snow levels quickly falling. Strong W winds increasing overnight.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers. Strong WNW winds decreasing and becoming NW.
Sunday Night Cloudy with heavy rain and snow becoming showery in the evening. Moderate to strong W winds.
Monday Cloudy with scattered snow showers. Moderate W winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with periods of moderate to heavy precipitation becoming showery overnight. Snow levels quickly dropping. Strong SW winds becoming WNW. Puget Sound Convergence Zone focussed mainly near and south of Hwy 2.
Monday Cloudy with snow showers. Moderate to strong W winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with periods of moderate to heavy rain and snow, becoming showery overnight. Snow levels quickly dropping. Strong W winds increasing overnight.
Monday Cloudy with snow showers heavies near the volcanoes. Strong W winds decreasing and becoming moderate in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with periods of moderate to heavy rain and snow. Easterly flow at pass level turning wester in the early evening causing a bump in temperatures. Then snow levels quickly falling. Moderate to strong WSW winds increasing and becoming WNW.
Monday Cloudy with snow showers. A Puget Sound Convergence Zone possible in the morning. Moderate to strong W winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with periods of moderate to heavy precipitation. Easterly flow quickly turning west causing a bump in temperatures. Snow levels quickly falling below pass level late in the evening. Strong W winds increasing overnight.
Monday Puget Sound Convergence Zone brings periods of locally heavy snow. Snow showers elsewhere. Strong W winds decreasing slightly in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with periods moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow. Snow levels quickly dropping. Moderate to strong SW winds increasing and becoming W overnight.
Monday Cloudy with scattered snow showers. Strong W winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with periods of moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow, becoming showery overnight Snow levels quickly dropping. Very strong W winds.
Monday Cloudy with scattered snow showers mainly near the crest. Very strong WNW winds decreasing significantly in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with periods of moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow, becoming showery overnight. Snow levels quickly dropping. Very strong W winds.
Monday Cloudy with snow showers particularly near the crest. Very strong WNW winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with periods of moderate to heavy rain and snow. Snow levels dropping rapidly. Very strong W winds.
Monday Cloudy with snow showers heaviest in the morning. Very strong WNW winds decreasing slightly in the afternoon.

Issued: 1:47 PM PST Sunday, January 30, 2022

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 0.25 0.25 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 1.00 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 LT 0.25
Stevens Pass 0.75 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 1.00 0.75 0.25 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Paradise 1.00 - 1.50 0.75 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
White Pass 0.75 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Washington Pass 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Mission Ridge 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.50 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Mt Hood Meadows 1.00 - 1.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25
Timberline 1.00 - 1.50 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 1.00
Monday 0.50 - 0.75
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday 0.50 - 0.75
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 1.00
Monday 0.75
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Monday 0.75
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday 0.50
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Monday 0.50
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25

Issued: 1:47 PM PST Sunday, January 30, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 3000' 1500' 2000' 2000' 1500' 1000' 1000' 1500'
West North 2500' 1000' 1000' 1500' 500' 500' 500' 1000'
West Central 3500' 1500' 1000' 1500' 1000' 500' 500' 1000'
West South 4000' 1500' 1000' 2000' 1000' 500' 500' 1000'
Stevens Pass 3500' 1000' 1000' 1500' 500' 500' 500' 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 1500' 1000' 2000' 1000' 500' 500' 1000'
East North 3000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 500' 500' 500' 500'
East Central 3000' 1000' 1000' 1500' 500' 500' 500' 1000'
East South 4500' 1500' 1000' 2000' 500' 500' 500' 1000'
Mt. Hood 4500' 1500' 1500' 2000' 1500' 1000' 1000' 1500'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 2000'
Monday Afternoon 2000'
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon 1500'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 1000'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
Monday Evening 1000'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 1000'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 2000'
Monday Evening 1000'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 1000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 2000'
Monday Evening 1000'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 1000'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 1000'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 2000'
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 2000'
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon 1500'

Issued: 1:47 PM PST Sunday, January 30, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 33 / 19 21 / 20
West North 30 / 18 21 / 18
West Central 32 / 17 21 / 18
West South 34 / 18 23 / 20
Stevens Pass 33 / 19 22 / 19
Snoqualmie Pass 34 / 18 22 / 19
East North 27 / 17 22 / 17
East Central 30 / 18 23 / 19
East South 33 / 19 23 / 19
Mt. Hood 35 / 20 23 / 20
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 33 / 19
Monday 21 / 20
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 18
Monday 21 / 18
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 17
Monday 21 / 18
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 34 / 18
Monday 23 / 20
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 33 / 19
Monday 22 / 19
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 34 / 18
Monday 22 / 19
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 27 / 17
Monday 22 / 17
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 18
Monday 23 / 19
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 33 / 19
Monday 23 / 19
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 35 / 20
Monday 23 / 20

Issued: 1:47 PM PST Sunday, January 30, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics W 20-30 WNW 25-35 WNW 20-30 NW 10-20
West North WSW 20-30 W 20-30 W 15-25 W 10-20
West Central SW 25-35 WNW 25-35 W 20-30 WNW 10-20
West South WSW 25-35 W 30-40 W 25-35 W 15-25
Stevens Pass WSW 20-30 WNW 25-35 W 20-30 W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass W 25-35 W 30-40 W 25-35 W 20-30
East North SW 20-30 W 30-40 W 25-35 W 15-25
East Central W 35-50 W 35-50 WNW 35-50 WNW 20-30
East South WSW 35-50 W 35-50 WNW 35-50 WNW 25-35
Mt. Hood W 35-50 WNW 35-50 WNW 35-50 WNW 25-35
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 20-30
Sunday Night WNW 25-35
Monday Morning WNW 20-30
Monday Afternoon NW 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 20-30
Sunday Night W 20-30
Monday Morning W 15-25
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 25-35
Sunday Night WNW 25-35
Monday Morning W 20-30
Monday Afternoon WNW 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 25-35
Sunday Night W 30-40
Monday Morning W 25-35
Monday Afternoon W 15-25
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 20-30
Sunday Night WNW 25-35
Monday Morning W 20-30
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 25-35
Sunday Night W 30-40
Monday Morning W 25-35
Monday Afternoon W 20-30
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 20-30
Sunday Night W 30-40
Monday Morning W 25-35
Monday Afternoon W 15-25
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 35-50
Sunday Night W 35-50
Monday Morning WNW 35-50
Monday Afternoon WNW 20-30
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 35-50
Sunday Night W 35-50
Monday Morning WNW 35-50
Monday Afternoon WNW 25-35
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 35-50
Sunday Night WNW 35-50
Monday Morning WNW 35-50
Monday Afternoon WNW 25-35

Issued: 1:47 PM PST Sunday, January 30, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

The high-pressure ridge will continue to grow in the central Pacific as we head into the middle of the week. This should turn our upper-level winds more northerly and usher in increasingly colder air from Canada. A weak short-wave system appears to slide down the ridge Tuesday night into Wednesday. Weather models seem to disagree about whether this little disturbance will draw enough moisture to produce any real precipitation or if it will only bring additional clouds to the northwest. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night* Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
West North 0 500' 1500' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 0 500' 1500' 3000'
Mt. Hood 500' 1000' 1500' 3500'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday 500'
Wednesday Night 1500'
Thursday 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday 500'
Wednesday Night 1500'
Thursday 3000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night* 500'
Wednesday 1000'
Wednesday Night 1500'
Thursday 3500'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 30, 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’.