Issued: 7:08 AM PST Monday, January 2, 2023
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

A weak front will approach the coast today, spreading waves of high clouds inland but with the front weakening and splitting, precipitation will largely remain offshore. Offshore flow and E-SE winds increased overnight as well, with moderate S through E winds in many locations. Wind speeds have been nudged up about 5-10 mph for today. The other impact of the offshore flow is that low clouds currently along the east slopes of the Cascades will come through the Cascade Passes. Low clouds up to 5000/6000' for Stevens, White and Snoqualmie Passes should hang around for most of the day. There may be some light upslope flurries along the east slopes of the Cascades today with little to no accumulation expected. Relatively milder air can be found over the Olympics today and for areas well west of the Cascade crest and away from the influence of cold offshore flow. 

The frontal boundary will stall and wash out along the coast Monday night.  An upper level shortwave will lift through on Tuesday with generally light and scattered showers expected over most areas.  Ridgeline winds will briefly switch from S-E to W-SW behind the feature Tuesday afternoon and snow levels will rise slightly. 

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 Cloudy with periods of moderate winds.
Monday Night Cloudy with periods of moderate winds. Chace of showers overnight.
Monday Mostly cloudy with periods of high overcast and filtered sunshine.
Monday Night Cloudy with periods of moderate winds.
Monday Mostly cloudy with periods of high overcast and filtered sunshine.
Monday Night Cloudy with periods of moderate winds.
Monday Mostly cloudy with periods of high overcast and filtered sunshine. Low clouds near White Pass and the Cascade crest. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Cloudy with periods of moderate winds.
Monday Cloudy. Moderate E-SE Pass level and ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Cloudy. Moderate E-SE Pass level and ridgeline winds easing overnight.
Monday Cloudy. Moderate E-SE Pass level and ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Cloudy. Moderate E-SE Pass level and ridgeline winds easing overnight.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy with periods of high overcast and filtered sunshine. Areas of low valley clouds.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy with periods of high overcast and filtered sunshine. Areas of low valley clouds. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Mostly with periods of moderate winds.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy with periods of high overcast and filtered sunshine. Areas of low valley clouds. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Mostly with periods of moderate winds.
Monday Mostly cloudy with periods of high overcast and filtered sunshine. Areas of low valley clouds. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers.

Issued: 7:08 AM PST Monday, January 2, 2023

Precipitation (in)

Monday Monday Night Tuesday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0 LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 0 LT 0.25
Stevens Pass 0 0 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0 0 LT 0.10
Paradise 0 0 LT 0.10
White Pass 0 0 LT 0.10
Washington Pass 0 0 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 0 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 0 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Timberline 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday 0
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Monday 0
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Monday 0
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10

Issued: 7:08 AM PST Monday, January 2, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon* Monday Evening* Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon*
Olympics 6000' 5500' 4500' 3500' 3500' 3500'
West North 3500' 4000' 2500' 2000' 2000' 2500'
West Central 2500' 2500' 1500' 1500' 2000' 2500'
West South 1500' 2500' 1000' 1500' 2000' 3000'
Stevens Pass 500' 1500' 500' 500' 1500' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 1000' 2000' 1000' 1000' 1500' 2500'
East North 0 1500' 0 0 1000' 2500'
East Central 0 1500' 500' 0 1000' 2500'
East South 0 1500' 500' 500' 1000' 2500'
Mt. Hood 2500' 1500' 1000' 2000' 2500' 3500'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Morning* 6000'
Monday Afternoon* 5500'
Monday Evening* 4500'
Monday Night* 3500'
Tuesday Morning* 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3500'
West North Elevation
Monday Morning* 3500'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
Monday Evening* 2500'
Monday Night* 2000'
Tuesday Morning* 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2500'
West Central Elevation
Monday Morning* 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 2500'
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night* 1500'
Tuesday Morning* 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2500'
West South Elevation
Monday Morning* 1500'
Monday Afternoon* 2500'
Monday Evening* 1000'
Monday Night* 1500'
Tuesday Morning* 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Morning* 500'
Monday Afternoon* 1500'
Monday Evening* 500'
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday Morning* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Morning* 1000'
Monday Afternoon* 2000'
Monday Evening* 1000'
Monday Night* 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2500'
East North Elevation
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 1500'
Monday Evening* 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2500'
East Central Elevation
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 1500'
Monday Evening* 500'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2500'
East South Elevation
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 1500'
Monday Evening* 500'
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday Morning* 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Morning* 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 1500'
Monday Evening* 1000'
Monday Night* 2000'
Tuesday Morning* 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3500'

Issued: 7:08 AM PST Monday, January 2, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Monday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 34 / 26 26 / 24
West North 31 / 25 23 / 20
West Central 27 / 24 23 / 18
West South 26 / 22 22 / 17
Stevens Pass 22 / 19 21 / 14
Snoqualmie Pass 21 / 20 21 / 16
East North 19 / 14 15 / 14
East Central 21 / 17 20 / 13
East South 21 / 17 22 / 11
Mt. Hood 24 / 20 25 / 16
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 34 / 26
Monday Night 26 / 24
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 31 / 25
Monday Night 23 / 20
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 27 / 24
Monday Night 23 / 18
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 26 / 22
Monday Night 22 / 17
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 22 / 19
Monday Night 21 / 14
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 21 / 20
Monday Night 21 / 16
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 19 / 14
Monday Night 15 / 14
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 21 / 17
Monday Night 20 / 13
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 21 / 17
Monday Night 22 / 11
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 24 / 20
Monday Night 25 / 16

Issued: 7:08 AM PST Monday, January 2, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Monday Morning Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night
Olympics S 10-20 S 10-20 S 10-20 SSW 15-25
West North SSE 10-20 SSE 5-15 S 5-15 S 10-20
West Central SE 10-20 SE 10-20 SW 5-15 SW 10-20
West South SE 15-25 SE 10-20 SW 5-15 SW 10-20
Stevens Pass SE 10-20 ESE 10-20 SSE 5-15 WSW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass SE 15-25 SE 15-25 SE 10-20 WSW 5-15
East North SSE 5-15 SSE 5-15 S 5-15 SW 5-15
East Central SSE 10-20 SSE 10-20 S 10-20 W 10-20
East South SE 5-15 SE 5-15 SSW 5-15 WSW 10-20
Mt. Hood SE 15-25 SE 10-20 SW 5-15 WSW 10-20
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning S 10-20
Monday Afternoon S 10-20
Monday Evening S 10-20
Monday Night SSW 15-25
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning SSE 10-20
Monday Afternoon SSE 5-15
Monday Evening S 5-15
Monday Night S 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning SE 10-20
Monday Afternoon SE 10-20
Monday Evening SW 5-15
Monday Night SW 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning SE 15-25
Monday Afternoon SE 10-20
Monday Evening SW 5-15
Monday Night SW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning SE 10-20
Monday Afternoon ESE 10-20
Monday Evening SSE 5-15
Monday Night WSW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning SE 15-25
Monday Afternoon SE 15-25
Monday Evening SE 10-20
Monday Night WSW 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning SSE 5-15
Monday Afternoon SSE 5-15
Monday Evening S 5-15
Monday Night SW 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning SSE 10-20
Monday Afternoon SSE 10-20
Monday Evening S 10-20
Monday Night W 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning SE 5-15
Monday Afternoon SE 5-15
Monday Evening SSW 5-15
Monday Night WSW 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning SE 15-25
Monday Afternoon SE 10-20
Monday Evening SW 5-15
Monday Night WSW 10-20

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

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’.