Issued: 2:09 PM PST Sunday, January 21, 2024
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

An offshore trough continues to rotate a series of disturbances into the area through Monday. Shower activity continues across the area Monday night and Tuesday. The surface feature impacting the region Sunday afternoon lifts north of the area Monday evening, with additional bands of precipitation quickly filling in any brief gaps west of the Cascade Crest. A second circulation center sits just off the mouth of the Columbia River in the early morning hours on Monday and lifts north with moderate precipitation during the morning hours. Behind this feature, winds shift more SW and then WSW with precipitation becoming slightly more showery and focusing more on the west slopes of the Cascades more broadly. The approaching and flattening offshore trough keeps decreasing light to moderate shower activity going through Tuesday.

SSW upper-level flow has already warmed areas west of the Cascade Crest where snow levels hover around 4500-5500 ft. However, this pattern will continue to erode the cold air pool east of the Cascades. Easterly low-level flow continues to keep the passes slightly cooler, but as that cold air pool erodes, Snoqualmie Pass should experience a transition to rain at the Pass late Sunday and Stevens should remain a wet snow at the Pass by late Monday.

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
Sunday Night Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. Light to moderate ridgeline winds become light.
Monday Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. Light ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Cloudy with moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Cloudy with periods of moderate to heavy rain and snow. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Cloudy with periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Cloudy with periods of moderate rain and snow. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Cloudy with periods of moderate rain and snow (Paradise) and light rain and snow (White Pass). Increasing light ridgeline winds.
Monday Cloudy with moderate to heavy rain and snow (Paradise) and light rain and snow (Crystal and White Pass). Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Cloudy with periods of light to moderate rain and snow. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Monday Cloudy with periods of moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline and decreasing light E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Night Cloudy with periods of light to moderate rain and snow. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Monday Cloudy with periods of moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline and decreasing light E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Night Cloudy with periods of light snow. Light ridgeline winds.
Monday Cloudy with periods of light snow (transitioning to rain at lower elevations). Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Cloudy with periods of light rain or snow along with rising snow levels. Light ridgeline winds may be locally moderate for the Wenatchee Mountains.
Monday Cloudy with periods of light rain or snow (heaviest in the Salmon La Sac Area). Rising snow levels. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Cloudy with periods of light rain or snow along with rising snow levels. Light ridgeline winds.
Monday Cloudy with periods of light rain or snow. Increasing light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Cloudy with periods of moderate rain and snow. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Cloudy with periods of moderate rain and snow. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Sunday, January 21, 2024

Precipitation (in)

Sunday Night Monday Monday Night Tuesday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.50 - 0.75 0.75 -1.00 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.25 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Stevens Pass 0.25 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 0.25 0.25
Crystal Mt 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise 0.75 0.75 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass 0.25 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Washington Pass LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge 0.25 0.25 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 0.50 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25
Timberline 0.50 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 0.75 -1.00
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.50 - 0.75
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.50
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday 0.75
Monday Night 0.50
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.50
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.50
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Sunday, January 21, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon* Monday Evening* Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4000'
West North 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000'
West Central 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4000' 4500' 4000' 4000'
West South 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000'
Stevens Pass 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000'
East North 2000' 2500' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000'
East Central 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000'
East South 4000' 4000' 4000' 5000' 4500' 4500' 4000' 4500'
Mt. Hood 5500' 5500' 5500' 5500' 5000' 5000' 4500' 4000'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening* 5000'
Sunday Night* 5000'
Monday Morning* 5000'
Monday Afternoon* 5000'
Monday Evening* 4500'
Monday Night* 4500'
Tuesday Morning* 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 4500'
Monday Morning* 4000'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
Monday Evening* 4000'
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 4500'
Monday Morning* 4500'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
Monday Evening* 4000'
Monday Night* 4500'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening* 5000'
Sunday Night* 5000'
Monday Morning* 5000'
Monday Afternoon* 5000'
Monday Evening* 4500'
Monday Night* 4500'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning* 3000'
Monday Afternoon* 3500'
Monday Evening* 4000'
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening* 3500'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning* 3500'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
Monday Evening* 4500'
Monday Night* 4500'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening* 2000'
Sunday Night* 2500'
Monday Morning* 3000'
Monday Afternoon* 3500'
Monday Evening* 3500'
Monday Night* 3500'
Tuesday Morning* 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning* 3000'
Monday Afternoon* 3500'
Monday Evening* 4000'
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday Morning* 4000'
Monday Afternoon* 5000'
Monday Evening* 4500'
Monday Night* 4500'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening* 5500'
Sunday Night* 5500'
Monday Morning* 5500'
Monday Afternoon* 5500'
Monday Evening* 5000'
Monday Night* 5000'
Tuesday Morning* 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Sunday, January 21, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 33 / 30 34 / 32
West North 32 / 31 33 / 31
West Central 31 / 30 32 / 30
West South 33 / 32 34 / 32
Stevens Pass 30 / 28 33 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass 31 / 29 32 / 30
East North 28 / 25 32 / 28
East Central 30 / 28 33 / 30
East South 32 / 31 35 / 31
Mt. Hood 34 / 33 34 / 32
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 33 / 30
Monday 34 / 32
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 31
Monday 33 / 31
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 30
Monday 32 / 30
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 33 / 32
Monday 34 / 32
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 28
Monday 33 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 29
Monday 32 / 30
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 28 / 25
Monday 32 / 28
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 28
Monday 33 / 30
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 31
Monday 35 / 31
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 34 / 33
Monday 34 / 32

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Sunday, January 21, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics SSW 10-20 SSE 5-15 SSW 5-15 SW 10-20
West North S 10-20 SSE 10-20 SSE 15-25 SSW 20-30
West Central SE 5-15 SE 10-20 SE 10-20 SSW 10-20
West South S 5-15 SSE 10-20 SSW 10-20 WSW 10-20
Stevens Pass SSE 5-15 SE 10-20 SSE 10-20 SW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass ESE 10-20 SE 15-25 SE 15-25 SW 10-20
East North SSE 5-15 SE 5-15 SE 10-20 SSW 10-20
East Central S 10-20 SSE 10-20 S 10-20 WSW 15-25
East South S 5-15 SSE 5-15 SSW 10-20 WSW 10-20
Mt. Hood SSW 10-20 SW 15-25 SW 20-30 WSW 20-30
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SSW 10-20
Sunday Night SSE 5-15
Monday Morning SSW 5-15
Monday Afternoon SW 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening S 10-20
Sunday Night SSE 10-20
Monday Morning SSE 15-25
Monday Afternoon SSW 20-30
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SE 5-15
Sunday Night SE 10-20
Monday Morning SE 10-20
Monday Afternoon SSW 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening S 5-15
Sunday Night SSE 10-20
Monday Morning SSW 10-20
Monday Afternoon WSW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SSE 5-15
Sunday Night SE 10-20
Monday Morning SSE 10-20
Monday Afternoon SW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening ESE 10-20
Sunday Night SE 15-25
Monday Morning SE 15-25
Monday Afternoon SW 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SSE 5-15
Sunday Night SE 5-15
Monday Morning SE 10-20
Monday Afternoon SSW 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening S 10-20
Sunday Night SSE 10-20
Monday Morning S 10-20
Monday Afternoon WSW 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening S 5-15
Sunday Night SSE 5-15
Monday Morning SSW 10-20
Monday Afternoon WSW 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SSW 10-20
Sunday Night SW 15-25
Monday Morning SW 20-30
Monday Afternoon WSW 20-30

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Sunday, January 21, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

The extended forecast remains somewhat active with temperatures above average for mid January. A subtle shortwave ridge brings a relative break in the shower activity Tuesday night. A cold front moves through the region on Wednesday. A trailing trough continues shower activity Wednesday night and Thursday with cooling temperatures.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night* Wednesday * Wednesday Night* Thursday *
West North 3500' 3000' 3000' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 2500' 3000' 3500'
Mt. Hood 3500' 3500' 4000' 3500'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night* 3500'
Wednesday * 3000'
Wednesday Night* 3000'
Thursday * 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night* 3500'
Wednesday * 2500'
Wednesday Night* 3000'
Thursday * 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night* 3500'
Wednesday * 3500'
Wednesday Night* 4000'
Thursday * 3500'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 21, 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’.