Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, January 15, 2024
by Matt Primomo

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

Weather Synopsis

High clouds and cold temperatures remain in place overnight as easterly winds quiet down through the passes. 

On Tuesday, expect a classic pre-frontal day with high and mid level clouds filling in from the SW. Temperatures will continue to moderate above the inversion, and will be most noticeable on the west side of the crest. On the east side, very cold arctic air has settled into place. From Snoqualmie Pass and south, you might notice a slight uptick in easterly winds by Tuesday afternoon, but they won't be as strong as they were on Monday. Snow may begin to fall in the southwest and Hood before sunset, but should hold off until evening for the rest of our region. 

A front swings in from the southwest and lifts north across the Cascades Tuesday night. This first act should give most mountain areas a nice fresh blanket of 6-12" through Wednesday morning. Behind the front, a low pressure moves into the corner pocket of the Olympic/ Vancouver Island area and slows down. This sets the stage for more disturbances to ripple through in strong westerly flow, which is expected to bring significant snowfall (another 1-2ft+) to the mountains. The front and following disturbances could be likened to a breakdancer throwing a some moves as they slide into the center, then really get down for a while before moving on. By 4pm on Wednesday many areas should have well over a foot of new snow, and it'll be stacking up quickly. Snow densities are expected to be higher than the cold smoke we've enjoyed recently, but at least it should remain an all snow event for most trailhead locations. 

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 High thin clouds and cool.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with a chance of some sun in the morning, but increasing clouds in the afternoon.
Monday Night High clouds and cool.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with a chance of some sun in the morning, but increasing clouds in the afternoon.
Monday Night High, thin clouds and cool.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with a chance of some sun in the morning, but increasing clouds in the afternoon.
Monday Night High, thin clouds and cool.
Tuesday Filtered sun in the morning, becoming fully overcast with deteriorating visibility later. Light snowfall may begin for the volcanoes by late afternoon.
Monday Night Thin, high clouds and cold with light winds through the pass and at ridgelines.
Tuesday Filtered sunshine in the morning, becoming fully overcast with increasing clouds in the afternoon.
Monday Night Thin, high clouds with light east winds through the pass and at ridgetop.
Tuesday Filtered sunshine in the morning, with increasing mid level clouds in the afternoon.
Monday Night Thin, high clouds and cold.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with increasing clouds.
Monday Night Mostly clear with some high clouds, and cold.
Tuesday Filtered sunshine in the morning, becoming overcast with increasing clouds.
Monday Night Mostly clear and cold.
Tuesday Filtered sun in the morning, becoming mostly cloudy with increasing clouds by mid morning.
Monday Night Strong inversion. Thin, high clouds.
Tuesday Overcast with increasing clouds and reduced visibility later. Light snowfall should begin by mid afternoon.

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, January 15, 2024

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 0.25 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0 0.50 1.00
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 0 0.25 - 0.50 1.00
Stevens Pass 0 0 0.25 - 0.50 1.00
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0.25 - 0.50 1.00
Crystal Mt 0 0 0.25 0.75
Paradise 0 LT 0.10 0.50 - 0.75 1.00 - 1.50
White Pass 0 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 -1.00
Washington Pass 0 0 LT 0.25 0.75
Mission Ridge 0 0 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 0 0.25 0.75
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 0 LT 0.25 0.50 - 0.75
Mt Hood Meadows 0 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 1.00 - 1.50
Timberline 0 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 1.00 - 1.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0.50
Wednesday 1.00
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday 1.00
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday 1.00
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday 1.00
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0.75
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Wednesday 1.00 - 1.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday 0.75 -1.00
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0.75
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0.25 - 0.50
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0.75
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0.50 - 0.75
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday 1.00 - 1.50
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday 1.00 - 1.50

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, January 15, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon* Tuesday Afternoon* Monday Night* Tuesday Evening* Tuesday Night* Wednesday Morning*
Olympics 2500' 3000' 4500' 5000' 3000' 4000' 3500' 4000'
West North 1000' 1000' 2500' 3000' 1000' 2500' 2000' 2500'
West Central 0 0 1500' 2000' 0 1500' 1000' 2000'
West South 1000' 500' 1500' 2500' 500' 2000' 2000' 3000'
Stevens Pass 0 0 500' 1000' 0 500' 500' 500'
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 1000' 1000' 0 1000' 1000' 1000'
East North 0 0 0 500' 0 0 0 0
East Central 0 0 0 500' 0 0 0 500'
East South 0 0 500' 1500' 0 500' 1500' 2000'
Mt. Hood 0 0 2000' 3000' 0 2000' 3500' 4500'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening* 2500'
Tuesday Morning* 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 5000'
Monday Night* 3000'
Tuesday Evening* 4000'
Tuesday Night* 3500'
Wednesday Morning* 4000'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening* 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
Monday Night* 1000'
Tuesday Evening* 2500'
Tuesday Night* 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2000'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Evening* 1500'
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday Morning* 2000'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening* 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2500'
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday Evening* 2000'
Tuesday Night* 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 1000'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Evening* 500'
Tuesday Night* 500'
Wednesday Morning* 500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 1000'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Evening* 1000'
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday Morning* 1000'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 500'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 500'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 500'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 1500'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Evening* 500'
Tuesday Night* 1500'
Wednesday Morning* 2000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Evening* 2000'
Tuesday Night* 3500'
Wednesday Morning* 4500'

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, January 15, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 28 / 27 /
West North 24 / 23 /
West Central 25 / 22 /
West South 24 / 18 /
Stevens Pass 10 / 8 /
Snoqualmie Pass 17 / 12 /
East North 11 / 6 /
East Central 11 / 7 /
East South 13 / 8 /
Mt. Hood 28 / 18 /
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 28 / 27
Tuesday /
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 24 / 23
Tuesday /
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 25 / 22
Tuesday /
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 24 / 18
Tuesday /
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 10 / 8
Tuesday /
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 17 / 12
Tuesday /
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 11 / 6
Tuesday /
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 11 / 7
Tuesday /
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 13 / 8
Tuesday /
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 28 / 18
Tuesday /

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, January 15, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics SSW 0-10 SW 0-10 WSW 5-15 SW 5-15
West North SSW 0-10 SSW 0-10 WSW 5-15 SSW 10-20
West Central SE 0-10 S 0-10 SW 5-15 SSW 5-15
West South SSE 10-20 SW 0-10 SW 5-15 SW 10-20
Stevens Pass SE 0-10 SSE 0-10 SSW 0-10 SW 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass ESE 10-20 ESE 5-15 WSW 0-10 W 5-15
East North SW 0-10 WSW 0-10 WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15
East Central SSW 0-10 WSW 5-15 W 10-20 W 15-25
East South S 5-15 WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15 WSW 10-20
Mt. Hood SW 0-10 WSW 5-15 WSW 10-20 SW 25-35
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SSW 0-10
Monday Night SW 0-10
Tuesday Morning WSW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon SW 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SSW 0-10
Monday Night SSW 0-10
Tuesday Morning WSW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SE 0-10
Monday Night S 0-10
Tuesday Morning SW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SSE 10-20
Monday Night SW 0-10
Tuesday Morning SW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon SW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SE 0-10
Monday Night SSE 0-10
Tuesday Morning SSW 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon SW 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening ESE 10-20
Monday Night ESE 5-15
Tuesday Morning WSW 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon W 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SW 0-10
Monday Night WSW 0-10
Tuesday Morning WSW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SSW 0-10
Monday Night WSW 5-15
Tuesday Morning W 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon W 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening S 5-15
Monday Night WSW 5-15
Tuesday Morning WSW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SW 0-10
Monday Night WSW 5-15
Tuesday Morning WSW 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 25-35

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, January 15, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

Wednesday evening we'll be right in the middle of the main event. Snowfall will be heavy for many areas with post frontal instability, and cooler air filtering in. The heaviest snow should favor places in the central Cascades with strong westerly flow and potential for convergence banding. Snowfall should gradually taper off overnight into Thursday. We may get a brief break before the next system approaches, but its still too early to tell. The main theme is continued active weather, but they come with a gradual warming trend as we head into the weekend.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night Thursday * Thursday Night* Friday *
West North 2000' 2000' 3500' 6500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 2000' 2500' 5000'
Mt. Hood 4500' 7000' 4500' 5000'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night 2000'
Thursday * 2000'
Thursday Night* 3500'
Friday * 6500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday * 2000'
Thursday Night* 2500'
Friday * 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night 4500'
Thursday * 7000'
Thursday Night* 4500'
Friday * 5000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 15, 2024

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’.