Issued: 2:05 PM PST Sunday, January 5, 2025
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

This week won't feel very much like January. A few very light lingering rain and snow showers are the remnants of dissipating post-frontal flow Sunday evening. Expect a dusting of snow in some areas above the 4000-5000 ft rain/snow line. Meanwhile, a compact surface low associated with a weak open trough fends off the amplifying ridge for the next 24 hours as it reaches the coast during the evening hours. Most models show a compact shield of precipitation impacting areas primarily south of the OR/WA border, but cloud cover will extend north as far as the central Washington Cascades. Since Mt Hood is on the edge of the precipitation shield, it could get anywhere from around 0-.25" of precipitation with a 5000 ft snow line. As the low passes, generally light E or SE ridgeline winds should continue through Monday for Mt Hood.

Skies clear Sunday night through Monday morning from north to south. After a cool start in some valleys east of the Cascade Crest, expect temperatures to rise rapidly as the pronounced ridge moves into our nearshore waters. By Monday night the ridge moves onshore and gradually flattens ahead of a weakening system approaching from the NW Tuesday afternoon. By Monday, freezing levels near and west of the Cascade Crest rise to 6000-8000 ft, and by Tuesday afternoon they rise to 10,000 ft in most areas. Expect low-level inversions to bring below-freezing temperatures and fog to valley locations, particularly east of the Cascade Crest and through the mountain gaps, Monday night and Tuesday morning.

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 Mostly cloudy to start, transitioning to mostly clear skies after midnight.
Monday Mostly sunny skies. Very light ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy to start, transitioning to mostly clear skies after midnight.
Monday Mostly sunny skies. Very light ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Cloudy with a few sprinkles or snow flurries in the early evening, transitioning to mostly clear skies in the early morning hours.
Monday Mostly sunny skies. Very light ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Cloudy with a few sprinkles or snow flurries in the early evening, then mostly cloudy skies.
Monday Partly cloudy to start, quickly transitioning to mostly sunny skies.
Sunday Night Cloudy with a few sprinkles or snow flurries in the early evening, transitioning to partly cloudy skies in the early morning hours. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Monday Mostly sunny. Light ridgeline and light E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Night Cloudy with a few sprinkles or snow flurries in the early evening, transitioning to partly cloudy skies in the early morning hours. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Monday Mostly sunny. Light ridgeline and light E wind at the Pass. The E flow could result in shallow low clouds and inversions much of the day.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy with clearing skies overnight. Inversions forming by morning.
Monday Mostly sunny. Inversions in the morning hours.
Sunday Night Cloudy with a few sprinkles or snow flurries in the early evening near the Cascade Crest. Otherwise, partly cloudy skies.
Monday Mostly sunny skies. Shallow inversions to start the day.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy skies.
Monday Partly cloudy to start, transitioning to mostly sunny skies by mid-morning.
Sunday Night Periods of light rain or snow.
Monday Cloudy with a few flurries or sprinkles early, then transitioning to mostly sunny skies in the afteroon. Moderate ridgeline wind gusts.

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Sunday, January 5, 2025

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

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Sunday, January 5, 2025

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon* Monday Evening* Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon*
Olympics 5000' 5000' 7500' 8000' 9500' 9500' 10500' 10000'
West North 4500' 3500' 6000' 6500' 8000' 10000' 10000' 9500'
West Central 4500' 4500' 6000' 6500' 8000' 10000' 10000' 10000'
West South 4500' 5000' 6000' 6500' 8000' 10000' 10000' 11000'
Stevens Pass 4500' 4500' 3000' 6500' 7500' 9500' 10000' 10000'
Snoqualmie Pass 4500' 5000' 3500' 6500' 7500' 9500' 10000' 10000'
East North 3500' 1500' 1500' 2000' 2000' 9000' 10500' 10000'
East Central 4500' 4500' 2500' 3000' 2000' 9000' 10000' 10000'
East South 5000' 5000' 4500' 5000' 2500' 9000' 10000' 10500'
Mt. Hood 5000' 5000' 5000' 6000' 4000' 9500' 10000' 10500'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening* 5000'
Sunday Night* 5000'
Monday Morning* 7500'
Monday Afternoon* 8000'
Monday Evening* 9500'
Monday Night* 9500'
Tuesday Morning* 10500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 10000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning* 6000'
Monday Afternoon* 6500'
Monday Evening* 8000'
Monday Night* 10000'
Tuesday Morning* 10000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 9500'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 4500'
Monday Morning* 6000'
Monday Afternoon* 6500'
Monday Evening* 8000'
Monday Night* 10000'
Tuesday Morning* 10000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 10000'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 5000'
Monday Morning* 6000'
Monday Afternoon* 6500'
Monday Evening* 8000'
Monday Night* 10000'
Tuesday Morning* 10000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 11000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 4500'
Monday Morning* 3000'
Monday Afternoon* 6500'
Monday Evening* 7500'
Monday Night* 9500'
Tuesday Morning* 10000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 10000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 5000'
Monday Morning* 3500'
Monday Afternoon* 6500'
Monday Evening* 7500'
Monday Night* 9500'
Tuesday Morning* 10000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 10000'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening* 3500'
Sunday Night* 1500'
Monday Morning* 1500'
Monday Afternoon* 2000'
Monday Evening* 2000'
Monday Night* 9000'
Tuesday Morning* 10500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 10000'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 4500'
Monday Morning* 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 3000'
Monday Evening* 2000'
Monday Night* 9000'
Tuesday Morning* 10000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 10000'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening* 5000'
Sunday Night* 5000'
Monday Morning* 4500'
Monday Afternoon* 5000'
Monday Evening* 2500'
Monday Night* 9000'
Tuesday Morning* 10000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 10500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening* 5000'
Sunday Night* 5000'
Monday Morning* 5000'
Monday Afternoon* 6000'
Monday Evening* 4000'
Monday Night* 9500'
Tuesday Morning* 10000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 10500'

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Sunday, January 5, 2025

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 32 / 29 39 / 29
West North 31 / 29 37 / 29
West Central 32 / 29 36 / 29
West South 33 / 28 37 / 28
Stevens Pass 32 / 26 32 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 32 / 27 30 / 26
East North 29 / 23 33 / 23
East Central 32 / 26 32 / 26
East South 33 / 29 33 / 28
Mt. Hood 34 / 32 32 / 29
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 29
Monday 39 / 29
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 29
Monday 37 / 29
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 29
Monday 36 / 29
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 33 / 28
Monday 37 / 28
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 26
Monday 32 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 27
Monday 30 / 26
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 23
Monday 33 / 23
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 26
Monday 32 / 26
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 33 / 29
Monday 33 / 28
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 34 / 32
Monday 32 / 29

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Sunday, January 5, 2025

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics ENE 0-10 E 0-10 E 5-15 E 0-10
West North NW 0-10 NE 0-10 ENE 5-15 NE 0-10
West Central NW 0-10 NNE 0-10 E 0-10 NE 0-10
West South NNW 0-10 E 0-10 E 0-10 E 0-10
Stevens Pass WNW 0-10 E 0-10 E 5-15 E 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass NW 5-15 ENE 0-10 ESE 5-15 ESE 0-10
East North NNW 0-10 NNE 0-10 NNE 0-10 NNW 0-10
East Central WNW 0-10 NE 0-10 ENE 5-15 NE 0-10
East South NW 0-10 ENE 0-10 ENE 0-10 ESE 0-10
Mt. Hood W 0-10 E 0-10 E 10-20 ENE 10-20
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening ENE 0-10
Sunday Night E 0-10
Monday Morning E 5-15
Monday Afternoon E 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening NW 0-10
Sunday Night NE 0-10
Monday Morning ENE 5-15
Monday Afternoon NE 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening NW 0-10
Sunday Night NNE 0-10
Monday Morning E 0-10
Monday Afternoon NE 0-10
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening NNW 0-10
Sunday Night E 0-10
Monday Morning E 0-10
Monday Afternoon E 0-10
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 0-10
Sunday Night E 0-10
Monday Morning E 5-15
Monday Afternoon E 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening NW 5-15
Sunday Night ENE 0-10
Monday Morning ESE 5-15
Monday Afternoon ESE 0-10
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening NNW 0-10
Sunday Night NNE 0-10
Monday Morning NNE 0-10
Monday Afternoon NNW 0-10
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 0-10
Sunday Night NE 0-10
Monday Morning ENE 5-15
Monday Afternoon NE 0-10
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening NW 0-10
Sunday Night ENE 0-10
Monday Morning ENE 0-10
Monday Afternoon ESE 0-10
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 0-10
Sunday Night E 0-10
Monday Morning E 10-20
Monday Afternoon ENE 10-20

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Sunday, January 5, 2025

Extended Weather Synopsis

The weak trough glancing northern Washington Tuesday night lowers snow/freezing levels to 5000 ft or so in the north Cascades as some very light rain or snow arrives late Tuesday night into early Wednesday. Most other areas just receive some mixing of the atmosphere (less valley fog). The ridge rebounds strongly Wednesday night and Thursday for more anomalously high freezing levels and valley inversions.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night* Wednesday Wednesday Night* Thursday *
West North 5000' 4500' 5500' 8000'
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' 6000' 6000' 8000'
Mt. Hood 6000' 10000' 10000' 10000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night* 5000'
Wednesday 4500'
Wednesday Night* 5500'
Thursday * 8000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night* 5000'
Wednesday 6000'
Wednesday Night* 6000'
Thursday * 8000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night* 6000'
Wednesday 10000'
Wednesday Night* 10000'
Thursday * 10000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 5, 2025

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’.