Issued: 2:08 PM PST Tuesday, January 23, 2024
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

Tuesday night provides some relative respite from the wet weather as a shortwave ridge transits the area. Lingering sprinkles or flurries taper in the evening hours; then mid and high clouds increase ahead of the next system with light rain and snow developing in the early morning hours for the Olympics, Mt Hood, and Southern Washington Cascades.

A frontal system moves into the region Wednesday morning, bringing moderate southerly winds out ahead of it, particularly for Mt Baker. Moderate precipitation spreads throughout the region Monday morning, but the southern Cascades and Mt Hood should be favored. A shortwave ahead of the offshore trough favors the northern Cascades for shower activity in the afternoon following a late morning frontal passage. Recent systems have scoured out most of the cold air east of the Cascades, so snow levels should be in the 2500-4000 ft range across the region, with E flow keeping the passes only very slightly cooler. The moderate E flow will also enable plenty of spillover onto the E slopes, particularly during the morning hours. Above 4000 ft, expect a 4-10" snowfall for the west slopes of the Cascades (with the most for the volcanoes), and a 2-6" event for the east slopes.

The offshore trough moves toward the coast Wednesday night keeping mostly light rain and snow showers in the forecast. As the trough moves onshore Thursday, moderate to locally heavy rain and snow showers become likely. Snow levels should be in the 2500-3500 ft range in most areas.

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 Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of a light rain or snow showers in the evening with steady light rain or snow developing by morning. Ridgeline winds increase into the moderate range overnight.
Wednesday Light rain and snow through mid-morning transitions to light snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds peak early in the day.
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of a light rain or snow showers in the evening. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Moderate rain and snow become showery by the afternoon. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds become light to moderate in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of a light rain or snow showers in the evening.
Wednesday Moderate rain and snow become showery late in the day. Light to moderate ridgeline winds peak in the late morning or mid-day hours.
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of a light rain or snow showers in the evening. Light rain or snow redevelops by morning.
Wednesday Light rain and snow become showery late in the day. Light to moderate ridgeline winds peak in the late morning hours.
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of a light rain or snow showers in the evening. Increasing light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Wednesday Light rain and snow become showery late in the day. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass. Mostly light ridgeline and E winds at the Pass peak during the mid-morning hours.
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of a light rain or snow showers in the evening. Increasing light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Wednesday Moderate rain and snow. Light to moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass peak during the mid-morning hours.
Tuesday Night Partly cloudy with an isolated flurry or sprinkle in the evening.
Wednesday Light rain and snow develop during the morning hours and become showery in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Partly cloudy with an isolated flurry or sprinkle in the evening.
Wednesday Light rain and snow develop during the morning hours and become showery in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Partly cloudy.
Wednesday Light rain and snow develop during the morning hours and become showery in the afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night A few sprinkles or flurries in the evening, then high clouds lower and thicken with light rain and snow re-developing during the early morning hours. Ridgeline winds become moderate by morning.
Wednesday Moderate rain and snow become showery by the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts.

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Tuesday, January 23, 2024

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

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Tuesday, January 23, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Tuesday Night Wednesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 32 / 27 33 / 30
West North 30 / 28 32 / 28
West Central 31 / 28 32 / 28
West South 31 / 27 32 / 29
Stevens Pass 31 / 26 31 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 31 / 26 31 / 26
East North 28 / 23 29 / 24
East Central 31 / 25 30 / 25
East South 29 / 26 33 / 27
Mt. Hood 33 / 29 35 / 31
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 32 / 27
Wednesday 33 / 30
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 30 / 28
Wednesday 32 / 28
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 31 / 28
Wednesday 32 / 28
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 31 / 27
Wednesday 32 / 29
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 31 / 26
Wednesday 31 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 31 / 26
Wednesday 31 / 26
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 28 / 23
Wednesday 29 / 24
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 31 / 25
Wednesday 30 / 25
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 29 / 26
Wednesday 33 / 27
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 33 / 29
Wednesday 35 / 31

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon
Olympics SSW 10-20 S 10-20 S 15-25 SW 15-25
West North S 10-20 S 15-25 SSE 20-30 S 10-20
West Central SSW 5-15 SSE 5-15 SE 10-20 S 10-20
West South SSW 0-10 SSW 5-15 S 10-20 SW 10-20
Stevens Pass SSW 0-10 SSE 5-15 SE 10-20 S 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass SSW 5-15 ESE 5-15 ESE 10-20 SSE 5-15
East North SW 5-15 S 5-15 SE 5-15 SSE 5-15
East Central SSW 5-15 S 10-20 S 10-20 SW 15-25
East South SSW 0-10 SSW 0-10 SSE 5-15 WSW 10-20
Mt. Hood SW 5-15 SSW 10-20 SW 20-30 WSW 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSW 10-20
Tuesday Night S 10-20
Wednesday Morning S 15-25
Wednesday Afternoon SW 15-25
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening S 10-20
Tuesday Night S 15-25
Wednesday Morning SSE 20-30
Wednesday Afternoon S 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSW 5-15
Tuesday Night SSE 5-15
Wednesday Morning SE 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon S 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSW 0-10
Tuesday Night SSW 5-15
Wednesday Morning S 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon SW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSW 0-10
Tuesday Night SSE 5-15
Wednesday Morning SE 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon S 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSW 5-15
Tuesday Night ESE 5-15
Wednesday Morning ESE 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon SSE 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SW 5-15
Tuesday Night S 5-15
Wednesday Morning SE 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon SSE 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSW 5-15
Tuesday Night S 10-20
Wednesday Morning S 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon SW 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSW 0-10
Tuesday Night SSW 0-10
Wednesday Morning SSE 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SW 5-15
Tuesday Night SSW 10-20
Wednesday Morning SW 20-30
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 15-25

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

An advancing ridge reaches the coast Friday morning, opening the door to more significant moisture on the back side, along with warming temperatures. The warming trend continues Friday night and Saturday, but the timing and amounts of precipitation remain uncertain.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Night* Friday * Friday Night* Saturday *
West North 3500' 3500' 5000' 6000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 3000' 3000' 5000'
Mt. Hood 4000' 5500' 7500' 7500'
West North Elevation
Thursday Night* 3500'
Friday * 3500'
Friday Night* 5000'
Saturday * 6000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Night* 3000'
Friday * 3000'
Friday Night* 3000'
Saturday * 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Night* 4000'
Friday * 5500'
Friday Night* 7500'
Saturday * 7500'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 23, 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’.