Issued: 2:02 PM PST Sunday, January 1, 2023
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

To kick off the New Year, most mountain locations are enjoying pleasant sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-20s to mid-30s this afternoon.  There are a few pesky areas of low-clouds, most notably on the south side of Mt Hood. Mostly clear skies this evening will give way to increasing high clouds overnight as a weak and splitting frontal system approaches the coast. Besides the increase in high clouds, low clouds locked up along the east slopes of the Cascades will shove into the Cascades Passes as offshore flow and easterly winds increase overnight.  The Olympics will be the mildest spot overnight, with 5000' temperatures hovering near freezing. 

On Monday, we'll see a fair bit of high clouds, likely teetering between filtered sunshine and overcast periods near and west of the Crest with partly sunny skies and valley low clouds along the east slopes of the Cascades.  A noticeable SE breeze will be felt in the Passes and along ridgelines.  Another weak frontal system will approach the coast on Monday night and should bring plenty of clouds along with some light and scattered showers to the area Monday night and Tuesday. 

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 clear early then high clouds increasing in the evening.
Monday Cloudy with a high overcast.
Sunday Night Mostly clear early then high clouds increasing late in the evening.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy. Periods of high overcast and filtered sunshine.
Sunday Night Mostly clear early then high clouds increasing late in the evening.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy. Periods of high overcast and filtered sunshine.
Sunday Night Mostly clear early then high clouds increasing late in the evening.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy. Periods of high overcast and filtered sunshine.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy in the evening, becoming cloudy after midnight. Light east winds at Pass level.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy. Areas of low clouds at and east of the Pass and periods of high overcast. Light to moderate East winds.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy in the evening, becoming cloudy after midnight.Light east winds at Pass level.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy. Areas of low clouds at and east of the Pass and periods of high overcast. Moderate East winds.
Sunday Night Mostly clear early then high clouds increasing after midnight. Low clouds in the valleys.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy. Areas of low clouds in the valleys and periods of high overcast.
Sunday Night Mostly clear early then high clouds increasing after midnight. Low clouds in the valleys.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy. Areas of low clouds in the valleys and periods of high overcast.
Sunday Night Mostly clear early then high clouds increasing after midnight. Low clouds in the valleys.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy. Areas of low clouds in the valleys and periods of high overcast.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy early then high clouds increasing after midnight.
Monday Cloudy with areas of low clouds and periods of high overcast.

Issued: 2:02 PM PST Sunday, January 1, 2023

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

Issued: 2:02 PM PST Sunday, January 1, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon* Monday Evening* Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon*
Olympics 4500' 6000' 6000' 5000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500'
West North 3000' 3500' 4500' 4000' 3000' 2000' 2500' 2500'
West Central 3000' 2500' 2500' 3500' 2000' 1500' 2500' 3000'
West South 3000' 2500' 2000' 3500' 1500' 1000' 3000' 3000'
Stevens Pass 2500' 1500' 1500' 2500' 1000' 0 1000' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 2500' 2000' 2500' 1500' 1000' 1500' 2500'
East North 2000' 1000' 1000' 2000' 0 0 1000' 3500'
East Central 2000' 1000' 1000' 2000' 0 0 1000' 3000'
East South 2500' 1500' 1500' 2000' 0 0 1500' 3000'
Mt. Hood 3000' 2500' 2000' 2500' 1500' 2000' 2000' 3000'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 6000'
Monday Morning* 6000'
Monday Afternoon* 5000'
Monday Evening* 4000'
Monday Night* 3500'
Tuesday Morning* 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3500'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning* 4500'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
Monday Evening* 3000'
Monday Night* 2000'
Tuesday Morning* 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2500'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 2500'
Monday Morning* 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 3500'
Monday Evening* 2000'
Monday Night* 1500'
Tuesday Morning* 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 2500'
Monday Morning* 2000'
Monday Afternoon* 3500'
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night* 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening* 2500'
Sunday Night* 1500'
Monday Morning* 1500'
Monday Afternoon* 2500'
Monday Evening* 1000'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 2500'
Monday Morning* 2000'
Monday Afternoon* 2500'
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night* 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2500'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening* 2000'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 1000'
Monday Afternoon* 2000'
Monday Evening* 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3500'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening* 2000'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 1000'
Monday Afternoon* 2000'
Monday Evening* 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening* 2500'
Sunday Night* 1500'
Monday Morning* 1500'
Monday Afternoon* 2000'
Monday Evening* 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 2500'
Monday Morning* 2000'
Monday Afternoon* 2500'
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night* 2000'
Tuesday Morning* 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'

Issued: 2:02 PM PST Sunday, January 1, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 35 / 30 31 / 25
West North 31 / 25 31 / 24
West Central 28 / 25 25 / 20
West South 28 / 23 26 / 19
Stevens Pass 23 / 20 21 / 15
Snoqualmie Pass 26 / 22 20 / 18
East North 21 / 16 19 / 13
East Central 23 / 17 20 / 14
East South 23 / 19 20 / 15
Mt. Hood 25 / 20 22 / 18
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 35 / 30
Monday 31 / 25
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 25
Monday 31 / 24
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 28 / 25
Monday 25 / 20
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 28 / 23
Monday 26 / 19
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 23 / 20
Monday 21 / 15
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 26 / 22
Monday 20 / 18
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 21 / 16
Monday 19 / 13
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 23 / 17
Monday 20 / 14
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 23 / 19
Monday 20 / 15
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 25 / 20
Monday 22 / 18

Issued: 2:02 PM PST Sunday, January 1, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics S 5-15 S 10-20 S 10-20 S 10-20
West North S 5-15 S 5-15 SSE 10-20 SSE 5-15
West Central S 0-10 SE 5-15 S 5-15 S 5-15
West South SE 5-15 SE 10-20 SE 10-20 SE 5-15
Stevens Pass SE 0-10 SE 5-15 SE 10-20 SE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass SE 5-15 SE 10-20 SE 10-20 SE 5-15
East North VAR 0-10 S 5-15 S 5-15 SE 5-15
East Central S 5-15 S 10-20 SSE 10-20 SE 5-15
East South SSE 0-10 SSE 10-20 SSE 10-20 SE 5-15
Mt. Hood SE 10-20 SE 10-20 SE 10-20 SE 5-15
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening S 5-15
Sunday Night S 10-20
Monday Morning S 10-20
Monday Afternoon S 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening S 5-15
Sunday Night S 5-15
Monday Morning SSE 10-20
Monday Afternoon SSE 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening S 0-10
Sunday Night SE 5-15
Monday Morning S 5-15
Monday Afternoon S 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SE 5-15
Sunday Night SE 10-20
Monday Morning SE 10-20
Monday Afternoon SE 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SE 0-10
Sunday Night SE 5-15
Monday Morning SE 10-20
Monday Afternoon SE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SE 5-15
Sunday Night SE 10-20
Monday Morning SE 10-20
Monday Afternoon SE 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening VAR 0-10
Sunday Night S 5-15
Monday Morning S 5-15
Monday Afternoon SE 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening S 5-15
Sunday Night S 10-20
Monday Morning SSE 10-20
Monday Afternoon SE 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SSE 0-10
Sunday Night SSE 10-20
Monday Morning SSE 10-20
Monday Afternoon SE 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SE 10-20
Sunday Night SE 10-20
Monday Morning SE 10-20
Monday Afternoon SE 5-15

Issued: 2:02 PM PST Sunday, January 1, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

A deeper low pressure system will wander closer on Wednesday with light warm frontal moisture likely reaching the Olympics and Mt Hood during the day.  This system will more drastically increase offshore flow, with strong E-SE winds developing in the Passes and along ridgelines during the day with winds continuing Wednesday night. While precipitation should generally be light, an upslope component along the east-side of the Cascades so help squeeze out some additional snowfall through early Thursday. A trailing upper level feature from the same low pressure system should swing through Thursday afternoon or night. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night* Wednesday * Wednesday Night* Thursday *
West North 1500' 4000' 2500' 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Mt. Hood 1500' 2000' 2000' 4000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night* 1500'
Wednesday * 4000'
Wednesday Night* 2500'
Thursday * 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night* 1500'
Wednesday * 2000'
Wednesday Night* 2000'
Thursday * 2000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night* 1500'
Wednesday * 2000'
Wednesday Night* 2000'
Thursday * 4000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 1, 2023

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’.