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.
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.
Issued: 2:15 PM PST Tuesday, January 24, 2023
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
Issued: 2:15 PM PST Tuesday, January 24, 2023
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'
Issued: 2:15 PM PST Tuesday, January 24, 2023
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
Issued: 2:15 PM PST Tuesday, January 24, 2023
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
Issued: 2:15 PM PST Tuesday, January 24, 2023
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).
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).