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.
Issued: 2:04 PM PST Thursday, January 16, 2025
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
Issued: 2:04 PM PST Thursday, January 16, 2025
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'
Issued: 2:04 PM PST Thursday, January 16, 2025
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
Issued: 2:04 PM PST Thursday, January 16, 2025
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
Issued: 2:04 PM PST Thursday, January 16, 2025
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.
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).