A cool mid-January afternoon featuring a mix of low and high clouds over the area will continue overnight as a ridge of high pressure builds offshore. Occasional high clouds will continue to stream over the area in NW flow aloft while low level moisture/clouds, particularly near and west of the Cascade crest should largely slosh around but stay with us. Also noteworthy, breezy NW winds will continue along ridgelines and in the alpine tonight for the Washington Cascades.
With upper level ridging building overhead on Friday, we're in for a dry day. Low clouds near and west of the Cascade crest in the morning should largely mix out as we head towards mid-day and mostly sunny skies. Freezing levels will bump up a notch vs Thursday, generally settling in the 3500-4500' across the region.
We'll see increasing high clouds Friday night as an approaching Pacific frontal system nears the coast. The frontal system will be a quick mover, with a burst of moderate snowfall for the Olympics/north Cascades in the morning and south Cascades/Mt Hood area in the early afternoon as the front sweeps through. Winds will ramp up quickly with this system as well, expect locally strong S-SW winds to become widespread strong Westerlies by the end of the day Saturday. Total snowfall amounts don't seem to impressive yet, but we'll wait for a few more model runs to get a better handle on storm amounts.
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
Partly to mostly cloudy with a mix of low and high clouds.
Friday
Partly sunny in the morning, becoming mostly sunny. Areas of low clouds in the morning with a few high clouds.
Thursday
Night
Partly to mostly cloudy with a mix of low and high clouds.
Friday
Partly sunny in the morning, becoming mostly sunny. Areas of low clouds in the morning with a few high clouds.
Thursday
Night
Partly to mostly cloudy with a mix of low and high clouds. Moderate NW ridgeline winds.
Friday
Partly sunny in the morning, becoming mostly sunny. Areas of low clouds in the morning with a few high clouds.
Thursday
Night
Partly to mostly cloudy with a mix of low and high clouds.
Friday
Partly sunny in the morning, becoming mostly sunny. Areas of low clouds in the morning with a few high clouds.
Thursday
Night
Partly to mostly cloudy with a mix of low and high clouds. Light to moderate NW ridgeline winds, light west winds at Pass level.
Friday
Partly sunny in the morning, becoming mostly sunny. Areas of low clouds in the morning with a few high clouds. Light west winds at Pass level.
Thursday
Night
Partly to mostly cloudy with a mix of low and high clouds. Moderate NW ridgeline winds, light west winds at Pass level.
Friday
Partly sunny in the morning, becoming mostly sunny. Areas of low clouds in the morning with a few high clouds. Light west winds at Pass level.
Thursday
Night
Partly to mostly clear. Periods of high clouds.
Friday
Mostly sunny.
Thursday
Night
Partly to mostly clear. Periods of high clouds. Moderate NW ridgeline winds.
Friday
Mostly sunny.
Thursday
Night
Partly to mostly clear. Periods of high clouds.
Friday
Mostly sunny.
Thursday
Night
Partly to mostly clear. Periods of high clouds.
Friday
Partly sunny in the morning, becoming mostly sunny. Areas of low clouds in the morning with a few high clouds.
Issued: 2:05 PM PST Thursday, January 19, 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
0
0
LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area
0
0
0
0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
0
0
0
0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass
0
0
0
0.25
Snoqualmie Pass
0
0
0
0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt
0
0
0
LT 0.25
Paradise
0
0
0
0.25
White Pass
0
0
0
LT 0.10
Washington Pass
0
0
0
LT 0.25
Mission Ridge
0
0
0
LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
0
0
0
LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
0
0
0
LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows
0
0
0
LT 0.10
Timberline
0
0
0
LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0.25
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.25
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0.25
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.10
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.25
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.10
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.10
Issued: 2:05 PM PST Thursday, January 19, 2023
Snow Level (ft)
Thursday
Evening
Thursday
Night
Friday
Morning
Friday
Afternoon
Friday
Evening
Friday
Night*
Saturday
Morning*
Saturday
Afternoon
Olympics
1500'
1000'
1500'
4500'
4500'
4500'
3000'
2500'
West North
1500'
1000'
1500'
3500'
3000'
2500'
2500'
2000'
West Central
1500'
1000'
1500'
4000'
3500'
3000'
3500'
2500'
West South
1500'
1000'
1500'
4500'
4000'
3500'
4000'
2500'
Stevens Pass
1500'
1000'
1500'
3500'
3000'
3000'
3500'
2500'
Snoqualmie Pass
1500'
1000'
1500'
4000'
3500'
3000'
3500'
2500'
East North
1500'
0
1500'
4000'
2500'
1500'
1500'
2000'
East Central
1500'
500'
1500'
4000'
2500'
2000'
2500'
2500'
East South
1500'
500'
1500'
4000'
3500'
3000'
3500'
3500'
Mt. Hood
1500'
1000'
1500'
4500'
4500'
4500'
6000'
4500'
Olympics
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
1500'
Thursday
Night
1000'
Friday
Morning
1500'
Friday
Afternoon
4500'
Friday
Evening
4500'
Friday
Night*
4500'
Saturday
Morning*
3000'
Saturday
Afternoon
2500'
West North
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
1500'
Thursday
Night
1000'
Friday
Morning
1500'
Friday
Afternoon
3500'
Friday
Evening
3000'
Friday
Night*
2500'
Saturday
Morning*
2500'
Saturday
Afternoon
2000'
West Central
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
1500'
Thursday
Night
1000'
Friday
Morning
1500'
Friday
Afternoon
4000'
Friday
Evening
3500'
Friday
Night*
3000'
Saturday
Morning*
3500'
Saturday
Afternoon
2500'
West South
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
1500'
Thursday
Night
1000'
Friday
Morning
1500'
Friday
Afternoon
4500'
Friday
Evening
4000'
Friday
Night*
3500'
Saturday
Morning*
4000'
Saturday
Afternoon
2500'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
1500'
Thursday
Night
1000'
Friday
Morning
1500'
Friday
Afternoon
3500'
Friday
Evening
3000'
Friday
Night*
3000'
Saturday
Morning*
3500'
Saturday
Afternoon
2500'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
1500'
Thursday
Night
1000'
Friday
Morning
1500'
Friday
Afternoon
4000'
Friday
Evening
3500'
Friday
Night*
3000'
Saturday
Morning*
3500'
Saturday
Afternoon
2500'
East North
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
1500'
Thursday
Night
0'
Friday
Morning
1500'
Friday
Afternoon
4000'
Friday
Evening
2500'
Friday
Night*
1500'
Saturday
Morning*
1500'
Saturday
Afternoon
2000'
East Central
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
1500'
Thursday
Night
500'
Friday
Morning
1500'
Friday
Afternoon
4000'
Friday
Evening
2500'
Friday
Night*
2000'
Saturday
Morning*
2500'
Saturday
Afternoon
2500'
East South
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
1500'
Thursday
Night
500'
Friday
Morning
1500'
Friday
Afternoon
4000'
Friday
Evening
3500'
Friday
Night*
3000'
Saturday
Morning*
3500'
Saturday
Afternoon
3500'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
1500'
Thursday
Night
1000'
Friday
Morning
1500'
Friday
Afternoon
4500'
Friday
Evening
4500'
Friday
Night*
4500'
Saturday
Morning*
6000'
Saturday
Afternoon
4500'
Issued: 2:05 PM PST Thursday, January 19, 2023
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Thursday
Night
Friday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
23 / 18
33 / 23
West North
21 / 17
30 / 18
West Central
22 / 17
29 / 18
West South
21 / 17
32 / 18
Stevens Pass
21 / 16
31 / 17
Snoqualmie Pass
22 / 18
30 / 18
East North
20 / 15
32 / 16
East Central
20 / 17
32 / 19
East South
21 / 17
34 / 19
Mt. Hood
24 / 19
32 / 20
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
23 / 18
Friday
33 / 23
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
21 / 17
Friday
30 / 18
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
22 / 17
Friday
29 / 18
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
21 / 17
Friday
32 / 18
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
21 / 16
Friday
31 / 17
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
22 / 18
Friday
30 / 18
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
20 / 15
Friday
32 / 16
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
20 / 17
Friday
32 / 19
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
21 / 17
Friday
34 / 19
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
24 / 19
Friday
32 / 20
Issued: 2:05 PM PST Thursday, January 19, 2023
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
Thursday
Night
Friday
Morning
Friday
Afternoon
Olympics
W 0-10
WNW 0-10
NW 5-15
NW 5-15
West North
WNW 5-15
WNW 5-15
WNW 0-10
WNW 0-10
West Central
NW 5-15
WNW 5-15
NW 5-15
NW 5-15
West South
WNW 5-15
NW 5-15
NW 5-15
NW 5-15
Stevens Pass
WNW 5-15
WNW 5-15
NW 5-15
NW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass
NW 10-20
WNW 10-20
NW 10-20
NW 5-15
East North
WNW 5-15
WNW 5-15
NW 5-15
NW 5-15
East Central
NW 10-20
WNW 10-20
WNW 10-20
NW 5-15
East South
NW 5-15
WNW 5-15
NW 5-15
NW 5-15
Mt. Hood
NW 5-15
NW 0-10
NW 0-10
WNW 0-10
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
W
0-10
Thursday
Night
WNW
0-10
Friday
Morning
NW
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
NW
5-15
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
WNW
5-15
Thursday
Night
WNW
5-15
Friday
Morning
WNW
0-10
Friday
Afternoon
WNW
0-10
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
NW
5-15
Thursday
Night
WNW
5-15
Friday
Morning
NW
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
NW
5-15
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
WNW
5-15
Thursday
Night
NW
5-15
Friday
Morning
NW
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
NW
5-15
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
WNW
5-15
Thursday
Night
WNW
5-15
Friday
Morning
NW
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
NW
5-15
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
NW
10-20
Thursday
Night
WNW
10-20
Friday
Morning
NW
10-20
Friday
Afternoon
NW
5-15
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
WNW
5-15
Thursday
Night
WNW
5-15
Friday
Morning
NW
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
NW
5-15
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
NW
10-20
Thursday
Night
WNW
10-20
Friday
Morning
WNW
10-20
Friday
Afternoon
NW
5-15
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
NW
5-15
Thursday
Night
WNW
5-15
Friday
Morning
NW
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
NW
5-15
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
NW
5-15
Thursday
Night
NW
0-10
Friday
Morning
NW
0-10
Friday
Afternoon
WNW
0-10
Issued: 2:05 PM PST Thursday, January 19, 2023
Extended Weather Synopsis
Falling snow levels, post frontal showers and moderate/strong W-NW winds will continue Saturday night will add additional snow, especially along the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt Hood.
Showers and winds should taper off during the day Sunday. A shortwave ridge will build over the area Sunday night but should be short lived. A weak upper trough will bring some very light snow to the central/north Cascades on Monday. After that the pattern is looking fairly quiet for the rest of the week.
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).