Issued: 2:04 PM PST Thursday, January 16, 2025
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

After a period of anomalously warm weather for mid-January, a sharp cold front returned temperatures to near seasonal norms on Thursday. Expect further cooling in the short term. We'll feel the peripheral impacts of an arctic outbreak targeting the middle of the continent as we move into a below-normal temperature regime over the weekend.

Thursday's sharp front arrived with moderate to strong W and WNW wind targeting areas near and east of the Cascade Crest, and most notably, Mt Hood. Those winds should ease significantly Thursday evening upper-level flow shifts NNWerly. However, strong winds will linger longest in upper-elevation areas such as the volcanoes. There's just enough low-level moisture for a few very light showers to linger around Crystal Mountain in the early evening hours. Expect clearing skies across the region overnight with 5000 ft temperatures dropping to approximately 20F in most areas.

Cool NNW flow dominates the weather pattern Friday through Saturday, ushering in gradually cooler temperatures, particularly at lower elevations thanks to the help of light to moderate Fraser Outflow winds bringing air from the British Columbia interior toward NW Washington. Friday and Saturday should be mostly sunny very chilly starts to the day and light ridgeline winds in most areas. However, don't be surprised to find some moderate wind gusts on the south sides of the volcanoes. Light E winds develop Friday night focusing the colder air near and east of the Cascade Crest.

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
Thursday Night Partly cloudy with clearing skies overnight.
Friday Mostly sunny and cool.
Thursday Night Partly cloudy with gradually clearing skies.
Friday Mostly sunny and cool.
Thursday Night Partly cloudy with gradually clearing skies.
Friday Mostly sunny and cool.
Thursday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening with very light snow tapering in the Crystal Mountain vicinity. Then clearing skies.
Friday Mostly sunny and cool.
Thursday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening, then gradual clearing. Decreasing light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds. Light W wind at the Pass.
Friday Mostly sunny and cool. Light ridgeline and W or variable wind at the Pass.
Thursday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening with a few very light snow showers early, then gradual clearing. Moderate ridgeline winds early become light. Decreasing mostly light W wind at the Pass.
Friday Mostly sunny and cool. Light ridgeline and W or variable wind at the Pass.
Thursday Night Mostly clear. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Mostly sunny and cool.
Thursday Night Mostly clear. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Mostly sunny and cool.
Thursday Night Mostly clear. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Mostly sunny and cool.
Thursday Night Partly cloudy with gradually clearing skies. Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts.
Friday Mostly sunny and cool.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Evening Thursday Night Friday Morning Friday Afternoon Friday Evening Friday Night* Saturday Morning* Saturday Afternoon*
Olympics 3000' 2000' 2000' 2500' 2500' 2000' 2000' 3500'
West North 2500' 1500' 1000' 2500' 1500' 1000' 1000' 2500'
West Central 2500' 1500' 1000' 2500' 2000' 1000' 1000' 2500'
West South 3000' 1500' 1500' 3000' 2000' 1500' 1500' 3000'
Stevens Pass 2500' 1500' 1000' 2500' 2000' 1000' 1000' 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass 2500' 1500' 1500' 2500' 2000' 1000' 1000' 2000'
East North 2500' 500' 500' 2000' 1000' 0 0 1500'
East Central 3000' 1000' 1000' 2500' 2000' 1000' 1000' 2000'
East South 3000' 1500' 1500' 3000' 2500' 1000' 1000' 2500'
Mt. Hood 4000' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 2000' 2000' 3500'
Olympics Elevation
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2000'
Friday Morning 2000'
Friday Afternoon 2500'
Friday Evening 2500'
Friday Night* 2000'
Saturday Morning* 2000'
Saturday Afternoon* 3500'
West North Elevation
Thursday Evening 2500'
Thursday Night 1500'
Friday Morning 1000'
Friday Afternoon 2500'
Friday Evening 1500'
Friday Night* 1000'
Saturday Morning* 1000'
Saturday Afternoon* 2500'
West Central Elevation
Thursday Evening 2500'
Thursday Night 1500'
Friday Morning 1000'
Friday Afternoon 2500'
Friday Evening 2000'
Friday Night* 1000'
Saturday Morning* 1000'
Saturday Afternoon* 2500'
West South Elevation
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 1500'
Friday Morning 1500'
Friday Afternoon 3000'
Friday Evening 2000'
Friday Night* 1500'
Saturday Morning* 1500'
Saturday Afternoon* 3000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening 2500'
Thursday Night 1500'
Friday Morning 1000'
Friday Afternoon 2500'
Friday Evening 2000'
Friday Night* 1000'
Saturday Morning* 1000'
Saturday Afternoon* 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening 2500'
Thursday Night 1500'
Friday Morning 1500'
Friday Afternoon 2500'
Friday Evening 2000'
Friday Night* 1000'
Saturday Morning* 1000'
Saturday Afternoon* 2000'
East North Elevation
Thursday Evening 2500'
Thursday Night 500'
Friday Morning 500'
Friday Afternoon 2000'
Friday Evening 1000'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 1500'
East Central Elevation
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 1000'
Friday Morning 1000'
Friday Afternoon 2500'
Friday Evening 2000'
Friday Night* 1000'
Saturday Morning* 1000'
Saturday Afternoon* 2000'
East South Elevation
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 1500'
Friday Morning 1500'
Friday Afternoon 3000'
Friday Evening 2500'
Friday Night* 1000'
Saturday Morning* 1000'
Saturday Afternoon* 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening 4000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 3000'
Friday Afternoon 3000'
Friday Evening 3000'
Friday Night* 2000'
Saturday Morning* 2000'
Saturday Afternoon* 3500'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Thursday Night Friday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 22 / 19 27 / 18
West North 22 / 19 25 / 17
West Central 25 / 19 26 / 19
West South 27 / 21 31 / 21
Stevens Pass 26 / 19 28 / 19
Snoqualmie Pass 26 / 19 28 / 19
East North 20 / 13 21 / 10
East Central 25 / 20 30 / 21
East South 27 / 21 32 / 20
Mt. Hood 33 / 21 31 / 21
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 22 / 19
Friday 27 / 18
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 22 / 19
Friday 25 / 17
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 25 / 19
Friday 26 / 19
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 27 / 21
Friday 31 / 21
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 26 / 19
Friday 28 / 19
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 26 / 19
Friday 28 / 19
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 20 / 13
Friday 21 / 10
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 25 / 20
Friday 30 / 21
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 27 / 21
Friday 32 / 20
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 33 / 21
Friday 31 / 21

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Thursday Evening Thursday Night Friday Morning Friday Afternoon
Olympics N 5-15 NNE 0-10 N 0-10 ENE 0-10
West North NNW 5-15 N 5-15 N 5-15 N 5-15
West Central NNW 10-20 NNW 5-15 NNW 5-15 NNW 5-15
West South NNW 10-20 NNW 5-15 NNW 0-10 NNW 0-10
Stevens Pass WNW 5-15 NW 0-10 NNW 0-10 WNW 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass NW 10-20 NNW 5-15 NNW 5-15 NW 5-15
East North NNW 10-20 NNW 10-20 NNW 10-20 NNW 5-15
East Central NNW 10-20 N 5-15 NNW 0-10 NW 5-15
East South NW 5-15 N 5-15 NNE 0-10 NNW 0-10
Mt. Hood WNW 25-35 NW 10-20 N 0-10 NNE 0-10
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening N 5-15
Thursday Night NNE 0-10
Friday Morning N 0-10
Friday Afternoon ENE 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening NNW 5-15
Thursday Night N 5-15
Friday Morning N 5-15
Friday Afternoon N 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening NNW 10-20
Thursday Night NNW 5-15
Friday Morning NNW 5-15
Friday Afternoon NNW 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening NNW 10-20
Thursday Night NNW 5-15
Friday Morning NNW 0-10
Friday Afternoon NNW 0-10
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening WNW 5-15
Thursday Night NW 0-10
Friday Morning NNW 0-10
Friday Afternoon WNW 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening NW 10-20
Thursday Night NNW 5-15
Friday Morning NNW 5-15
Friday Afternoon NW 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening NNW 10-20
Thursday Night NNW 10-20
Friday Morning NNW 10-20
Friday Afternoon NNW 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening NNW 10-20
Thursday Night N 5-15
Friday Morning NNW 0-10
Friday Afternoon NW 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening NW 5-15
Thursday Night N 5-15
Friday Morning NNE 0-10
Friday Afternoon NNW 0-10
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening WNW 25-35
Thursday Night NW 10-20
Friday Morning N 0-10
Friday Afternoon NNE 0-10

Extended Weather Synopsis

Cold, dry weather continues for the latter half of the weekend into early next week. On Saturday night, a disturbance brings an increase in upper-level NNW winds but lacks moisture.  Upper-level flow shifts Northerly on Sunday and WSW by late Monday, initiating the start of a warming trend as high pressure expands back into the region.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Night* Sunday * Sunday Night* Monday *
West North 1500' 2000' 1000' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1000' 2000' 1500' 1000'
Mt. Hood 2500' 2500' 2500' 1500'
West North Elevation
Saturday Night* 1500'
Sunday * 2000'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday * 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday * 2000'
Sunday Night* 1500'
Monday * 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Night* 2500'
Sunday * 2500'
Sunday Night* 2500'
Monday * 1500'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 16, 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’.