An upper level and surface high pressure expands off the west coast of the US and into our region through mid-week. A weak perturbation rounding the back side of the high, slides down the eastern side of the Canadian Rockies with minimal available moisture. It will bring increasing clouds and a chance of very light snowfall for the west slopes of the central and northern Cascades late Monday night and Tuesday before all precipitation tapers off Tuesday evening. We're expecting around 1" of snow for Mt. Baker and the Mountain loop with a dusting for Washington Pass, Stevens, and Snoqualmie Pass.
Light to moderate NW ridgleline winds remain relatively consistent across the region with some slight acceleration east of the Cascade Crest and where eddies bring higher winds aloft down to the surface occasionally on the SE side of volcanoes.
The expanding offshore high center moves into the near-shore waters. Mid and upper-level locations will rise above-freezing temperatures from SW to NE across the region, but expect low dewpoints and minimal impact on shaded snow slopes in many areas. Some areas will experience inversions with colder air at low levels.
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
Becoming mostly cloudy.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of very light snowfall.
Monday
Night
Mostly cloudy with a chance of light snow in the early morning hours.
Tuesday
Monday
Night
Mostly cloudy with a chance of light snow in the early morning hours.
Tuesday
Cloudy with light snow at times.
Monday
Night
Mostly clear.
Tuesday
Increasing clouds with periods of very light snow possible.
Monday
Night
Partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of very light snow developing by morning. Light ridgeline and W wind and the Pass.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with periods of very light snow. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Monday
Night
Partly to mostly cloudy. Light ridgeline and W wind and the Pass.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with periods of very light snow. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Monday
Night
Partly cloudy.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with a chance of light snow at times.
Monday
Night
Partly cloudy to mostly clear.
Tuesday
Partly to mostly cloudy with a few flurries near the Cascade Crest.
Monday
Night
Partly cloudy to mostly clear.
Tuesday
Becoming partly cloudy.
Monday
Night
Mostly clear. Occasional periods of strong winds on the south side of the mountain.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny. Occasional periods of strong winds on the south side of the mountain.
Issued: 2:13 PM PST Monday, January 23, 2023
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
LT 0.10
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
Stevens Pass
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
Snoqualmie Pass
0
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
Crystal Mt
0
LT 0.10
0
0
Paradise
0
0
0
0
White Pass
0
0
0
0
Washington Pass
0
LT 0.10
0
0
Mission Ridge
0
0
0
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
0
0
0
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
0
0
0
0
Mt Hood Meadows
0
0
0
0
Timberline
0
0
0
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
LT 0.10
Wednesday
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
LT 0.10
Tuesday
LT 0.10
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
0
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
LT 0.10
Tuesday
LT 0.10
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
0
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
LT 0.10
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
0
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
LT 0.10
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
LT 0.10
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Issued: 2:13 PM PST Monday, January 23, 2023
Snow Level (ft)
Monday
Evening
Monday
Night
Tuesday
Morning
Tuesday
Afternoon
Tuesday
Evening
Tuesday
Night
Wednesday
Morning
Wednesday
Afternoon
Olympics
4000'
3000'
4500'
5500'
5500'
5000'
8000'
9000'
West North
2500'
1500'
1000'
2500'
2500'
2500'
3000'
7000'
West Central
3000'
1500'
1500'
2500'
2500'
3500'
3500'
7000'
West South
3500'
2000'
2000'
4000'
4500'
3500'
3500'
7500'
Stevens Pass
3000'
1500'
1500'
2500'
3000'
3500'
4000'
7000'
Snoqualmie Pass
3000'
2000'
1500'
2500'
3000'
4000'
4000'
7000'
East North
2500'
1500'
1500'
3500'
3500'
3000'
3000'
7000'
East Central
3000'
1500'
1500'
3500'
3500'
3500'
3500'
7500'
East South
4000'
2500'
2000'
4500'
4000'
4000'
4000'
7500'
Mt. Hood
5000'
3500'
3500'
5000'
5000'
4500'
7500'
8500'
Olympics
Elevation
Monday
Evening
4000'
Monday
Night
3000'
Tuesday
Morning
4500'
Tuesday
Afternoon
5500'
Tuesday
Evening
5500'
Tuesday
Night
5000'
Wednesday
Morning
8000'
Wednesday
Afternoon
9000'
West North
Elevation
Monday
Evening
2500'
Monday
Night
1500'
Tuesday
Morning
1000'
Tuesday
Afternoon
2500'
Tuesday
Evening
2500'
Tuesday
Night
2500'
Wednesday
Morning
3000'
Wednesday
Afternoon
7000'
West Central
Elevation
Monday
Evening
3000'
Monday
Night
1500'
Tuesday
Morning
1500'
Tuesday
Afternoon
2500'
Tuesday
Evening
2500'
Tuesday
Night
3500'
Wednesday
Morning
3500'
Wednesday
Afternoon
7000'
West South
Elevation
Monday
Evening
3500'
Monday
Night
2000'
Tuesday
Morning
2000'
Tuesday
Afternoon
4000'
Tuesday
Evening
4500'
Tuesday
Night
3500'
Wednesday
Morning
3500'
Wednesday
Afternoon
7500'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Monday
Evening
3000'
Monday
Night
1500'
Tuesday
Morning
1500'
Tuesday
Afternoon
2500'
Tuesday
Evening
3000'
Tuesday
Night
3500'
Wednesday
Morning
4000'
Wednesday
Afternoon
7000'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Monday
Evening
3000'
Monday
Night
2000'
Tuesday
Morning
1500'
Tuesday
Afternoon
2500'
Tuesday
Evening
3000'
Tuesday
Night
4000'
Wednesday
Morning
4000'
Wednesday
Afternoon
7000'
East North
Elevation
Monday
Evening
2500'
Monday
Night
1500'
Tuesday
Morning
1500'
Tuesday
Afternoon
3500'
Tuesday
Evening
3500'
Tuesday
Night
3000'
Wednesday
Morning
3000'
Wednesday
Afternoon
7000'
East Central
Elevation
Monday
Evening
3000'
Monday
Night
1500'
Tuesday
Morning
1500'
Tuesday
Afternoon
3500'
Tuesday
Evening
3500'
Tuesday
Night
3500'
Wednesday
Morning
3500'
Wednesday
Afternoon
7500'
East South
Elevation
Monday
Evening
4000'
Monday
Night
2500'
Tuesday
Morning
2000'
Tuesday
Afternoon
4500'
Tuesday
Evening
4000'
Tuesday
Night
4000'
Wednesday
Morning
4000'
Wednesday
Afternoon
7500'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Monday
Evening
5000'
Monday
Night
3500'
Tuesday
Morning
3500'
Tuesday
Afternoon
5000'
Tuesday
Evening
5000'
Tuesday
Night
4500'
Wednesday
Morning
7500'
Wednesday
Afternoon
8500'
Issued: 2:13 PM PST Monday, January 23, 2023
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Monday
Night
Tuesday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
30 / 26
34 / 28
West North
25 / 23
30 / 23
West Central
26 / 23
28 / 22
West South
27 / 25
33 / 23
Stevens Pass
24 / 22
28 / 22
Snoqualmie Pass
25 / 23
28 / 21
East North
24 / 22
31 / 23
East Central
26 / 24
30 / 24
East South
28 / 26
37 / 26
Mt. Hood
32 / 30
39 / 31
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
30 / 26
Tuesday
34 / 28
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
25 / 23
Tuesday
30 / 23
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
26 / 23
Tuesday
28 / 22
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
27 / 25
Tuesday
33 / 23
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
24 / 22
Tuesday
28 / 22
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
25 / 23
Tuesday
28 / 21
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
24 / 22
Tuesday
31 / 23
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
26 / 24
Tuesday
30 / 24
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
28 / 26
Tuesday
37 / 26
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
32 / 30
Tuesday
39 / 31
Issued: 2:13 PM PST Monday, January 23, 2023
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
Monday
Night
Tuesday
Morning
Tuesday
Afternoon
Olympics
WNW 5-15
WNW 5-15
WNW 5-15
WNW 5-15
West North
WNW 5-15
W 5-15
W 10-20
WNW 10-20
West Central
NW 5-15
NW 5-15
WNW 10-20
WNW 10-20
West South
NW 10-20
NW 5-15
WNW 5-15
NW 5-15
Stevens Pass
WNW 5-15
WNW 5-15
WNW 10-20
WNW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass
WNW 10-20
NW 5-15
NW 10-20
NW 10-20
East North
WNW 10-20
WNW 10-20
WNW 10-20
WNW 10-20
East Central
NW 10-20
WNW 10-20
NW 10-20
NW 10-20
East South
NNW 5-15
NW 5-15
NW 5-15
NW 10-20
Mt. Hood
NNW 10-20
NW 10-20
NW 15-25
NW 10-20
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
WNW
5-15
Monday
Night
WNW
5-15
Tuesday
Morning
WNW
5-15
Tuesday
Afternoon
WNW
5-15
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
WNW
5-15
Monday
Night
W
5-15
Tuesday
Morning
W
10-20
Tuesday
Afternoon
WNW
10-20
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
NW
5-15
Monday
Night
NW
5-15
Tuesday
Morning
WNW
10-20
Tuesday
Afternoon
WNW
10-20
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
NW
10-20
Monday
Night
NW
5-15
Tuesday
Morning
WNW
5-15
Tuesday
Afternoon
NW
5-15
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
WNW
5-15
Monday
Night
WNW
5-15
Tuesday
Morning
WNW
10-20
Tuesday
Afternoon
WNW
10-20
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
WNW
10-20
Monday
Night
NW
5-15
Tuesday
Morning
NW
10-20
Tuesday
Afternoon
NW
10-20
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
WNW
10-20
Monday
Night
WNW
10-20
Tuesday
Morning
WNW
10-20
Tuesday
Afternoon
WNW
10-20
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
NW
10-20
Monday
Night
WNW
10-20
Tuesday
Morning
NW
10-20
Tuesday
Afternoon
NW
10-20
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
NNW
5-15
Monday
Night
NW
5-15
Tuesday
Morning
NW
5-15
Tuesday
Afternoon
NW
10-20
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
NNW
10-20
Monday
Night
NW
10-20
Tuesday
Morning
NW
15-25
Tuesday
Afternoon
NW
10-20
Issued: 2:13 PM PST Monday, January 23, 2023
Extended Weather Synopsis
The high-pressure center begins to retrograde westward Wednesday night and Thursday with cooling temperatures for northern Washington with a slight chance for light snow by the end of the day for Mt. Baker. Areas further south remain mild with higher dewpoints (more moisture in the air) than Wednesday. A shortwave system dropping south Thursday night and Friday could bring 1-4" of snow to the west slopes of the Cascades with rapidly cooling temperatures.
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).