Issued: 1:50 PM PST Monday, January 31, 2022
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

Westerly winds and lingering low-level moisture continue to produce snow showers up and down the west slopes of the Cascades this afternoon. A Puget Sound Convergence Zone is creating locally heavier snowfall between Hwy 2 and I-90. This pattern should remain in place into the evening as a weak disturbance passes overhead. As the short-wave system exists overnight, shower activity should decrease and wind speeds drop. 

On Tuesday, the jet stream will pass over the Pacific Northwest and reinvigorate another round of snow showers in the mountains. While a few stray flurries could make it further east, the bulk of the precipitation will occur along the west slopes of the central and southern zones. For many locations expect mostly cloudy skies with a few sun breaks possible in the afternoon. 

As the upper airflow becomes more northerly Tuesday night and Wednesday, colder and drier air will enter the region from Canada. This should help us dry out and provide a break from the precipitation. Another approaching short wave system should keep us from seeing much in the way of clearing. While the weather models differ on the timing and the strength of this disturbance, its safe to say it will at the very least spread clouds and possibly a few showers across the region by Wednesday afternoon. 

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 Cloudy with a few flurries possible. Light W winds becoming moderate overnight.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with a few sun breaks possible. Light to moderate NNW winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with isolated snow showers. Light W winds becoming moderate overnight.
Tuesday Cloudy with isolated snow showers. Light NNW winds becoming calm in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with isolated snow showers. Heaviest under a lingering Puget Sound Convergence zone near and south of Hwy 2 this evening. Light to moderate WNW winds increasing slightly overnight.
Tuesday Cloudy with scattered snow showers. Light WNW winds.
Monday Night Cloudy with isolated snow showers. Light to moderate W winds.
Tuesday Cloudy with scattered snow showers heaviest near the volcanoes. Sun breaks possible. Light NW winds.
Monday Night Cloudy with a lingering Puget Sound Convergence Zone in the evening. Light to moderate W winds.
Tuesday Cloudy with scattered snow showers. Light to moderate W winds.
Monday Night Cloudy with a lingering Puget Sound Convergence Zone in the evening. Light to moderate NW winds.
Tuesday Cloudy with scattered snow showers. Light to moderate NW winds becoming W.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with a few snow flurries possible. Light to moderate W winds increasing slightly overnight.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with sun breaks possible. Light to moderate NW winds becoming W.
Monday Night Cloudy with a few isolated showers near the crest and flurries possible elsewhere. Moderate NW winds decreasing overnight.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with isolated showers near the crest. Sun breaks possible. Light to moderate WNW winds increasing and becoming NW in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with isolated showers near the crest and flurries possible elsewhere. Moderate NW winds decreasing slightly overnight.
Tuesday Cloudy with isolated showers near the crest. Sun breaks possible. Moderate NW winds increasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with snow showers. Moderate to strong WNW winds decreasing slightly overnight.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers. Sun breaks possible. Moderate to strong NW winds.

Issued: 1:50 PM PST Monday, January 31, 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 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0 LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10
Paradise LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Washington Pass 0 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge 0 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Timberline 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0

Issued: 1:50 PM PST Monday, January 31, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon Tuesday Evening* Tuesday Night* Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon
Olympics 1500' 1000' 1000' 1500' 1000' 0 500' 2000'
West North 1000' 500' 500' 500' 0 0 0 500'
West Central 1500' 500' 500' 1000' 0 0 0 1000'
West South 1500' 500' 500' 1000' 0 0 0 1500'
Stevens Pass 1000' 500' 500' 1000' 0 0 0 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 500' 500' 1000' 0 0 0 1000'
East North 500' 500' 500' 500' 0 0 0 500'
East Central 1000' 500' 500' 1000' 0 0 0 1000'
East South 1000' 500' 500' 1000' 0 0 0 1000'
Mt. Hood 2000' 1000' 1000' 1500' 1000' 500' 500' 2000'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon 1500'
Tuesday Evening* 1000'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 2000'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening 1000'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning 0'
Wednesday Afternoon 500'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 1000'
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning 0'
Wednesday Afternoon 1000'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 1000'
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning 0'
Wednesday Afternoon 1500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 1000'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 1000'
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning 0'
Wednesday Afternoon 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 1000'
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning 0'
Wednesday Afternoon 1000'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning 0'
Wednesday Afternoon 500'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening 1000'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 1000'
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning 0'
Wednesday Afternoon 1000'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening 1000'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 1000'
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning 0'
Wednesday Afternoon 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon 1500'
Tuesday Evening* 1000'
Tuesday Night* 500'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 2000'

Issued: 1:50 PM PST Monday, January 31, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 22 / 15 21 / 16
West North 23 / 11 22 / 14
West Central 22 / 14 23 / 16
West South 23 / 14 26 / 15
Stevens Pass 25 / 17 25 / 17
Snoqualmie Pass 26 / 17 24 / 18
East North 20 / 13 19 / 15
East Central 20 / 15 24 / 16
East South 21 / 14 24 / 15
Mt. Hood 26 / 15 26 / 18
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 22 / 15
Tuesday 21 / 16
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 23 / 11
Tuesday 22 / 14
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 22 / 14
Tuesday 23 / 16
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 23 / 14
Tuesday 26 / 15
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 25 / 17
Tuesday 25 / 17
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 26 / 17
Tuesday 24 / 18
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 20 / 13
Tuesday 19 / 15
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 20 / 15
Tuesday 24 / 16
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 21 / 14
Tuesday 24 / 15
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 26 / 15
Tuesday 26 / 18

Issued: 1:50 PM PST Monday, January 31, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 1:50 PM PST Monday, January 31, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

We continue to sit just on the eastern edge of a high-pressure ridge positioned in the central Pacific. A series of weak and often poorly defined disturbances continue to swing into our region from the north-northwest. While none of these storms appear particularly strong, they seem to continue to pump some moisture into our area. This combined with on-shore winds may be enough to produce a few showers in the mountains. By Friday, a slightly more defined short-wave through should start to make its way into Washington. While this doesn't look like a big snow producer, it might be the best chance of precipitation in the long-term forecast. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night Thursday Thursday Night Friday *
West North 500' 2000' 2500' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1000' 2500' 3500' 4000'
Mt. Hood 2000' 3500' 4000' 4000'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night 500'
Thursday 2000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday * 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night 1000'
Thursday 2500'
Thursday Night 3500'
Friday * 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night 2000'
Thursday 3500'
Thursday Night 4000'
Friday * 4000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 31, 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’.