Issued: 2:08 PM PST Thursday, January 12, 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

Moisture from an atmospheric river continues to pummel our region this afternoon widespread precipitation and rising snow levels. Successive waves of moisture rotating out from a deep low pressure system parked offshore will move over the area from south to north. From this afternoon through Friday afternoon, the heaviest precipitation will continue to be focused along the west slopes of the Cascades, especially the Mt Baker area, and south slopes of the Olympic mountains. More moderate but still impactful precipitation will be felt in other areas, although east slopes of the Cascades south of I-90 and the Mt Hood region will see lower amounts relative to everyone else.  

Cooler air along the east side of the Cascades and near the major Cascade Passes continues to erode despite cool offshore/easterly flow through the Cascade gaps.  Snow levels will continue to creep up overnight and by Friday afternoon, we'll be looking at a well-mixed air mass on both sides of the Cascades with snow levels between 4500-6000'. The north-south frontal boundary that's offshore will swing through tomorrow and we'll see winds turn from S-SE to SW by Friday afternoon and evening. 

Another wave of moisture will pass through Friday night with a similar story as the last 2 days.  On Saturday the parent upper low will start to shift towards the OR/CA coast, and we may see a brief drying trend over the northern half of the forecast area. Snow/freezing levels may stay pegged around mid-mountain over this stretch. 

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
Thursday Night Stormy with strong winds and moderate rain and snow, heaviest south slopes of the Olympics.
Friday Stormy with strong winds and moderate rain and snow in the morning, heaviest south slopes of the Olympics. Light to moderate showers in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Stormy with moderate to strong winds and moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow.
Friday Stormy with moderate to strong winds and moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow.
Thursday Night Stormy with moderate to strong winds and moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow.
Friday Stormy with moderate to strong winds and moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow.
Thursday Night Periods of light to moderate rain and snow overnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Stormy with moderate to strong winds and moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow. Snow and rain turning to showers mid-afternoon.
Thursday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Moderate E-SE ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Friday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Moderate E-SE ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Thursday Night Light to moderate rain and snow. Moderate to strong E-SE ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Friday Light to moderate rain and snow. Moderate E-SE ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Thursday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Friday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Periods of light rain and snow overnight. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Friday Periods of light rain and snow. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds, tapering in the afternoon.

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Thursday, January 12, 2023

Precipitation (in)

Thursday Night Friday Friday Night Saturday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 2.00 - 2.50 1.50 - 2.00 0.75 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 1.00 1.00 LT 0.25 0.25
Stevens Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25
Paradise 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 0.25
White Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Washington Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Timberline LT 0.10 0.25 0.25 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Friday 0.50
Friday Night 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 2.00 - 2.50
Friday 1.50 - 2.00
Friday Night 0.75
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 1.00
Friday 1.00
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Friday 0.25
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0.50
Friday 0.25 - 0.50
Friday Night 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Friday 0.50
Friday Night 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Friday 0.50 - 0.75
Friday Night 0.50
Saturday 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Friday 0.25
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0.25
Friday 0.25
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Friday 0.25
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday 0.25
Friday Night 0.25
Saturday 0.25

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Thursday, January 12, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Evening* Thursday Night* Friday Morning* Friday Afternoon Friday Evening Friday Night Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon
Olympics 7000' 7000' 6500' 6000' 5500' 5000' 5000' 5500'
West North 6500' 6500' 6500' 6000' 5500' 5000' 5000' 5000'
West Central 6500' 6500' 6500' 5500' 5500' 5000' 5000' 5000'
West South 7000' 7000' 7000' 5500' 5500' 5000' 5000' 5000'
Stevens Pass 4000' 4500' 4500' 5000' 5000' 4500' 4500' 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass 7000' 7000' 7000' 5500' 5500' 5000' 5000' 5000'
East North 3000' 3500' 3500' 5000' 5000' 4500' 4000' 4500'
East Central 3500' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 4500' 4500' 4500'
East South 6500' 6500' 6500' 5000' 5000' 4500' 4500' 5000'
Mt. Hood 7500' 9000' 7500' 6500' 6000' 5500' 5500' 5500'
Olympics Elevation
Thursday Evening* 7000'
Thursday Night* 7000'
Friday Morning* 6500'
Friday Afternoon 6000'
Friday Evening 5500'
Friday Night 5000'
Saturday Morning 5000'
Saturday Afternoon 5500'
West North Elevation
Thursday Evening* 6500'
Thursday Night* 6500'
Friday Morning* 6500'
Friday Afternoon 6000'
Friday Evening 5500'
Friday Night 5000'
Saturday Morning 5000'
Saturday Afternoon 5000'
West Central Elevation
Thursday Evening* 6500'
Thursday Night* 6500'
Friday Morning* 6500'
Friday Afternoon 5500'
Friday Evening 5500'
Friday Night 5000'
Saturday Morning 5000'
Saturday Afternoon 5000'
West South Elevation
Thursday Evening* 7000'
Thursday Night* 7000'
Friday Morning* 7000'
Friday Afternoon 5500'
Friday Evening 5500'
Friday Night 5000'
Saturday Morning 5000'
Saturday Afternoon 5000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening* 4000'
Thursday Night* 4500'
Friday Morning* 4500'
Friday Afternoon 5000'
Friday Evening 5000'
Friday Night 4500'
Saturday Morning 4500'
Saturday Afternoon 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening* 7000'
Thursday Night* 7000'
Friday Morning* 7000'
Friday Afternoon 5500'
Friday Evening 5500'
Friday Night 5000'
Saturday Morning 5000'
Saturday Afternoon 5000'
East North Elevation
Thursday Evening* 3000'
Thursday Night* 3500'
Friday Morning* 3500'
Friday Afternoon 5000'
Friday Evening 5000'
Friday Night 4500'
Saturday Morning 4000'
Saturday Afternoon 4500'
East Central Elevation
Thursday Evening* 3500'
Thursday Night* 5000'
Friday Morning* 5000'
Friday Afternoon 5000'
Friday Evening 5000'
Friday Night 4500'
Saturday Morning 4500'
Saturday Afternoon 4500'
East South Elevation
Thursday Evening* 6500'
Thursday Night* 6500'
Friday Morning* 6500'
Friday Afternoon 5000'
Friday Evening 5000'
Friday Night 4500'
Saturday Morning 4500'
Saturday Afternoon 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening* 7500'
Thursday Night* 9000'
Friday Morning* 7500'
Friday Afternoon 6500'
Friday Evening 6000'
Friday Night 5500'
Saturday Morning 5500'
Saturday Afternoon 5500'

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Thursday, January 12, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Thursday Night Friday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 38 / 36 36 / 33
West North 37 / 36 36 / 34
West Central 36 / 35 36 / 33
West South 40 / 36 38 / 34
Stevens Pass 33 / 30 37 / 34
Snoqualmie Pass 36 / 32 35 / 33
East North 33 / 29 34 / 32
East Central 35 / 30 36 / 34
East South 38 / 33 37 / 34
Mt. Hood 40 / 38 38 / 34
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 38 / 36
Friday 36 / 33
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 37 / 36
Friday 36 / 34
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 36 / 35
Friday 36 / 33
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 40 / 36
Friday 38 / 34
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 33 / 30
Friday 37 / 34
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 36 / 32
Friday 35 / 33
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 33 / 29
Friday 34 / 32
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 35 / 30
Friday 36 / 34
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 38 / 33
Friday 37 / 34
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 40 / 38
Friday 38 / 34

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Thursday, January 12, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Thursday Evening Thursday Night Friday Morning Friday Afternoon
Olympics SSW 25-35 SSW 25-35 SSW 25-35 SW 15-25
West North S 20-30 S 20-30 S 20-30 S 20-30
West Central SSE 15-25 SSE 15-25 SSE 20-30 SW 15-25
West South SE 15-25 SE 20-30 SSE 20-30 SW 15-25
Stevens Pass SSE 15-25 SSE 15-25 SE 10-20 SSW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass SSE 20-30 SE 20-30 SE 15-25 SSW 10-20
East North SSE 10-20 S 10-20 S 10-20 SSW 10-20
East Central S 20-30 S 20-30 S 20-30 SSW 15-25
East South S 20-30 S 20-30 S 20-30 SSW 15-25
Mt. Hood SSW 25-35 SSW 30-40 S 30-40 SW 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SSW 25-35
Thursday Night SSW 25-35
Friday Morning SSW 25-35
Friday Afternoon SW 15-25
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening S 20-30
Thursday Night S 20-30
Friday Morning S 20-30
Friday Afternoon S 20-30
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SSE 15-25
Thursday Night SSE 15-25
Friday Morning SSE 20-30
Friday Afternoon SW 15-25
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SE 15-25
Thursday Night SE 20-30
Friday Morning SSE 20-30
Friday Afternoon SW 15-25
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SSE 15-25
Thursday Night SSE 15-25
Friday Morning SE 10-20
Friday Afternoon SSW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SSE 20-30
Thursday Night SE 20-30
Friday Morning SE 15-25
Friday Afternoon SSW 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SSE 10-20
Thursday Night S 10-20
Friday Morning S 10-20
Friday Afternoon SSW 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening S 20-30
Thursday Night S 20-30
Friday Morning S 20-30
Friday Afternoon SSW 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening S 20-30
Thursday Night S 20-30
Friday Morning S 20-30
Friday Afternoon SSW 15-25
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SSW 25-35
Thursday Night SSW 30-40
Friday Morning S 30-40
Friday Afternoon SW 15-25

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Thursday, January 12, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

That same low pressure system will rotate up showers Saturday night through Sunday night. Precipitation amounts will be lighter and we'll start to see snow levels dip back into the 4000-4500' range. We may be headed toward a relatively drier day on Monday with only a few mountain showers expected. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
West North 4500' 4000' 2500' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 4500' 4000' 2500' 4000'
Mt. Hood 4500' 4000' 3500' 4000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday 4000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday 4000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday 4000'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday 4000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 12, 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’.