Issued: 2:15 PM PST Tuesday, January 24, 2023
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

The last in a series of weak perturbations rounding the east side of the offshore ridge brings some light rain and snow to the west slopes of the Washington Cascades during the evening hours before tapering off overnight. Snow levels continue to rise to around 4000 ft with the region increasingly influenced by the ridge expanding into the area. The Mountain Loop and Stevens Pass might pick up an inch of snow above the rain/snow line with other areas receiving a dusting. Clouds linger across the west slopes of the Washington Cascades overnight with mostly cloudy skies into Wednesday morning. Warming at mid and upper elevations should help stifle the clouds by the afternoon and we expect freezing levels in most areas to rise above Cascade Crest level between mid-morning and early afternoon.

Elevated (7000-10,000 ft) freezing levels remain across the region through Wednesday night. The offshore ridge retrogrades westward on Thursday as a stronger shortwave moves down the coast of British Columbia. This should lower freezing levels back below Crest level across northern Washington as high and then mid-level clouds expand across the area, thickening during the afternoon.

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
Tuesday Night Partly cloudy early with mostly clearing skies overnight.
Wednesday More sun than clouds.
Tuesday Night Very light rain or snow decreasing or ending by midnight.
Wednesday A few clouds to start the day, then becoming mostly sunny and mild.
Tuesday Night Decreasing light rain or snow ending overnight.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy in the morning with clouds decreasing in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Very light rain or snow at times from Mt. Rainier northward, then remaining mostly cloudy.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy in the morning, then becoming mostly sunny by the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Light rain or snow ending during the evening hours. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy with clouds decreasing late in the day. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Night Light rain or snow ending during the evening hours. Moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy with clouds decreasing late in the day. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of flurries in the evening. Gradually decreasing moderate ridgeline winds becoming light.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy near the Cascade Crest to start, then becoming mostly sunny by the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Decreasing clouds. Gradually decreasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Partly cloudy in the morning, then becoming mostly sunny in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly clearing skies. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Mostly sunny.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear with some low clouds west of Mt. Hood. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Mostly sunny.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon Wednesday Evening Wednesday Night Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon
Olympics 5500' 6500' 8500' 9500' 10000' 9500' 8500' 8500'
West North 3500' 3500' 3000' 7000' 9500' 9000' 4000' 3500'
West Central 3500' 3500' 3500' 7000' 9500' 9000' 5000' 5000'
West South 4000' 4000' 4500' 7500' 9500' 9000' 8000' 7000'
Stevens Pass 3500' 4000' 4000' 7000' 9500' 9000' 8000' 5500'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 4000' 4000' 7000' 9500' 9000' 8000' 6000'
East North 4000' 4000' 4000' 7000' 9000' 9000' 4500' 5500'
East Central 4500' 4000' 4500' 7000' 9000' 9000' 8000' 7500'
East South 5000' 4500' 4500' 7500' 9500' 9000' 8000' 9000'
Mt. Hood 5500' 5500' 7500' 8500' 9500' 9500' 9500' 10500'
Olympics Elevation
Tuesday Evening 5500'
Tuesday Night 6500'
Wednesday Morning 8500'
Wednesday Afternoon 9500'
Wednesday Evening 10000'
Wednesday Night 9500'
Thursday Morning 8500'
Thursday Afternoon 8500'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday Morning 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon 7000'
Wednesday Evening 9500'
Wednesday Night 9000'
Thursday Morning 4000'
Thursday Afternoon 3500'
West Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday Morning 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon 7000'
Wednesday Evening 9500'
Wednesday Night 9000'
Thursday Morning 5000'
Thursday Afternoon 5000'
West South Elevation
Tuesday Evening 4000'
Tuesday Night 4000'
Wednesday Morning 4500'
Wednesday Afternoon 7500'
Wednesday Evening 9500'
Wednesday Night 9000'
Thursday Morning 8000'
Thursday Afternoon 7000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 4000'
Wednesday Morning 4000'
Wednesday Afternoon 7000'
Wednesday Evening 9500'
Wednesday Night 9000'
Thursday Morning 8000'
Thursday Afternoon 5500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening 4000'
Tuesday Night 4000'
Wednesday Morning 4000'
Wednesday Afternoon 7000'
Wednesday Evening 9500'
Wednesday Night 9000'
Thursday Morning 8000'
Thursday Afternoon 6000'
East North Elevation
Tuesday Evening 4000'
Tuesday Night 4000'
Wednesday Morning 4000'
Wednesday Afternoon 7000'
Wednesday Evening 9000'
Wednesday Night 9000'
Thursday Morning 4500'
Thursday Afternoon 5500'
East Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening 4500'
Tuesday Night 4000'
Wednesday Morning 4500'
Wednesday Afternoon 7000'
Wednesday Evening 9000'
Wednesday Night 9000'
Thursday Morning 8000'
Thursday Afternoon 7500'
East South Elevation
Tuesday Evening 5000'
Tuesday Night 4500'
Wednesday Morning 4500'
Wednesday Afternoon 7500'
Wednesday Evening 9500'
Wednesday Night 9000'
Thursday Morning 8000'
Thursday Afternoon 9000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Evening 5500'
Tuesday Night 5500'
Wednesday Morning 7500'
Wednesday Afternoon 8500'
Wednesday Evening 9500'
Wednesday Night 9500'
Thursday Morning 9500'
Thursday Afternoon 10500'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Tuesday Night Wednesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 32 / 28 38 / 30
West North 29 / 26 34 / 29
West Central 29 / 28 32 / 30
West South 30 / 28 40 / 29
Stevens Pass 30 / 28 35 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass 30 / 28 34 / 30
East North 29 / 27 38 / 28
East Central 30 / 29 39 / 29
East South 29 / 28 44 / 30
Mt. Hood 32 / 29 44 / 30
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 32 / 28
Wednesday 38 / 30
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 29 / 26
Wednesday 34 / 29
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 29 / 28
Wednesday 32 / 30
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 30 / 28
Wednesday 40 / 29
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 30 / 28
Wednesday 35 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 30 / 28
Wednesday 34 / 30
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 29 / 27
Wednesday 38 / 28
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 30 / 29
Wednesday 39 / 29
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 29 / 28
Wednesday 44 / 30
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 32 / 29
Wednesday 44 / 30

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon
Olympics NW 5-15 NNW 5-15 N 5-15 NNW 5-15
West North WNW 10-20 WNW 5-15 NNW 5-15 NW 0-10
West Central NW 15-25 NW 5-15 NW 5-15 NNW 0-10
West South WNW 10-20 NW 5-15 NW 5-15 NNW 0-10
Stevens Pass WNW 10-20 WNW 5-15 WNW 5-15 NW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass NW 15-25 NW 10-20 WNW 10-20 NW 5-15
East North WNW 15-25 WNW 10-20 NNW 10-20 NW 10-20
East Central NW 15-25 NW 10-20 NNW 10-20 NNW 5-15
East South NW 10-20 NNW 15-25 NNW 5-15 NNW 5-15
Mt. Hood NNW 10-20 NNW 15-25 NNE 5-15 NNE 0-10
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening NW 5-15
Tuesday Night NNW 5-15
Wednesday Morning N 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon NNW 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening WNW 10-20
Tuesday Night WNW 5-15
Wednesday Morning NNW 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon NW 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening NW 15-25
Tuesday Night NW 5-15
Wednesday Morning NW 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon NNW 0-10
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening WNW 10-20
Tuesday Night NW 5-15
Wednesday Morning NW 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon NNW 0-10
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening WNW 10-20
Tuesday Night WNW 5-15
Wednesday Morning WNW 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon NW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening NW 15-25
Tuesday Night NW 10-20
Wednesday Morning WNW 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon NW 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening WNW 15-25
Tuesday Night WNW 10-20
Wednesday Morning NNW 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon NW 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening NW 15-25
Tuesday Night NW 10-20
Wednesday Morning NNW 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon NNW 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening NW 10-20
Tuesday Night NNW 15-25
Wednesday Morning NNW 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon NNW 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening NNW 10-20
Tuesday Night NNW 15-25
Wednesday Morning NNE 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon NNE 0-10

Extended Weather Synopsis

The shortwave arrives Thursday night and continues as it heads southward on Friday. Expect a round of mostly light snow with most areas picking up 2-4" of snow with snow levels quickly lowering to around 2500-3000 ft with a round of moderate W winds (possibly strong for the east slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood). The north Cascades should dry out by Friday afternoon. Northerly flow cuts off most shower activity Friday night.  An arctic front approaches the area on Saturday, tapping into enough moisture to produce some light snowfall (mostly south of Mt. Baker).

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Night Friday Friday Night Saturday
West North 2500' 2500' 3000' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 3000' 3500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 6000' 3000' 3500' 2500'
West North Elevation
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday 2500'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday 3000'
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Night 6000'
Friday 3000'
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday 2500'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 24, 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’.