Issued: 1:57 PM PST Tuesday, January 21, 2025
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

It's another cool and sunny day across most of the forecast area. Expected high clouds hung up in Oregon, but some low level stratus pushed into sections of the West North and Central zone. This evening the high pressure ridge over the eastern Pacific will rebound resulting in decreasing winds, clearing skies, and temperature inversions. You could see patchy low clouds or valley fog, but with such a dry airmass, this will be most common near creeks and lakes near and east of the Cascade Crest. 

As the high pressure ridge continues to build, temperatures at the lower levels of the atmosphere become a mess. Neither freezing level nor 5000 ft temperatures paint a clear picture of how warm or cold it may feel. Expect multiple freezing levels with the coldest temperatures often settling into the deep mountain valleys and other cold air sinks in the terrain. Above, the upper atmosphere should continue to steadily warm. Low level offshore (easterly) flow, will only add to this complexity as it tries to draw cold air in from Central Washington keeping much of the lower elevation terrain east of the Crest and in the Passes very chilly. 

The pattern repeats itself Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Temperature inversion cool the valleys and passes, while higher in the terrain, milder temperatures prevail. An approaching short-wave disturbance turns the winds more westerly during the day, allowing warmer air to mix down to lower elevations. Ridgeline winds and clouds should increase in the afternoon, but any precipitation appears to hold off until the evening hours. 

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 Partly to mostly clear. Temperature inversions forming.
Wednesday Mostly sunny with passing high clouds.
Tuesday Night Partly to mostly clear. Temperature inversions forming.
Wednesday Mostly sunny with passing high clouds.
Tuesday Night Partly to mostly clear. Temperature inversions forming.
Wednesday Mostly sunny with passing high clouds.
Tuesday Night Partly to mostly clear. Temperature inversions forming. Light to moderate NW winds quickly decreasing.
Wednesday Mostly sunny with passing high clouds.
Tuesday Night Partly to mostly clear. Temperature inversions forming with fog and low clouds possible. East flow developing at Pass level overnight.
Wednesday Mostly sunny with passing high clouds. Light East flow at pass level.
Tuesday Night Partly to mostly clear. Temperature inversions forming with fog and low clouds possible. Light to moderate NW winds quickly decreasing in the evening. Then Easterly flow developing at Pass level overnight.
Wednesday Mostly sunny with passing high clouds. Light east flow at pass level.
Tuesday Night Partly to mostly clear. Temperature inversions forming with patchy valley fog possible. Light to moderate NNW winds decreasing in the evening.
Wednesday Mostly sunny with passing high clouds.
Tuesday Night Partly to mostly clear. Temperature inversions forming with patchy valley fog. Light to moderate NNW winds decreasing.
Wednesday Mostly sunny with passing high clouds.
Tuesday Night Partly to mostly clear. Temperature inversions forming with patchy valley fog possible. Moderate NNW winds decerasing.
Wednesday Mostly sunny with passing high clouds.
Tuesday Night Partly to mostly clear. Temperature inversions forming. Moderate NNW winds decreasing.
Wednesday Mostly sunny with passing high clouds.

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

Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night* Wednesday Morning* Wednesday Afternoon* Wednesday Evening* Wednesday Night* Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon
Olympics 2500' 3000' 4500' 5500' 6000' 6500' 7500' 7000'
West North 1500' 1500' 2500' 3000' 4500' 5000' 4000' 4000'
West Central 1500' 2000' 3500' 4500' 5000' 5500' 6000' 5000'
West South 3000' 4500' 5000' 6500' 6500' 7000' 7000' 7500'
Stevens Pass 1000' 1500' 2000' 4500' 5000' 5500' 6000' 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 1500' 2500' 5000' 5500' 6500' 6500' 6000'
East North 1000' 500' 1500' 3500' 4000' 5000' 4500' 4500'
East Central 2000' 2000' 2000' 4500' 4500' 5500' 6000' 6000'
East South 3000' 3500' 4000' 5500' 6000' 6500' 7000' 7000'
Mt. Hood 6000' 6500' 7000' 7500' 7500' 8500' 9000' 9500'
Olympics Elevation
Tuesday Evening 2500'
Tuesday Night* 3000'
Wednesday Morning* 4500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 5500'
Wednesday Evening* 6000'
Wednesday Night* 6500'
Thursday Morning 7500'
Thursday Afternoon 7000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Evening 1500'
Tuesday Night* 1500'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3000'
Wednesday Evening* 4500'
Wednesday Night* 5000'
Thursday Morning 4000'
Thursday Afternoon 4000'
West Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening 1500'
Tuesday Night* 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4500'
Wednesday Evening* 5000'
Wednesday Night* 5500'
Thursday Morning 6000'
Thursday Afternoon 5000'
West South Elevation
Tuesday Evening 3000'
Tuesday Night* 4500'
Wednesday Morning* 5000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 6500'
Wednesday Evening* 6500'
Wednesday Night* 7000'
Thursday Morning 7000'
Thursday Afternoon 7500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening 1000'
Tuesday Night* 1500'
Wednesday Morning* 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4500'
Wednesday Evening* 5000'
Wednesday Night* 5500'
Thursday Morning 6000'
Thursday Afternoon 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening 1500'
Tuesday Night* 1500'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 5000'
Wednesday Evening* 5500'
Wednesday Night* 6500'
Thursday Morning 6500'
Thursday Afternoon 6000'
East North Elevation
Tuesday Evening 1000'
Tuesday Night* 500'
Wednesday Morning* 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3500'
Wednesday Evening* 4000'
Wednesday Night* 5000'
Thursday Morning 4500'
Thursday Afternoon 4500'
East Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night* 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4500'
Wednesday Evening* 4500'
Wednesday Night* 5500'
Thursday Morning 6000'
Thursday Afternoon 6000'
East South Elevation
Tuesday Evening 3000'
Tuesday Night* 3500'
Wednesday Morning* 4000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 5500'
Wednesday Evening* 6000'
Wednesday Night* 6500'
Thursday Morning 7000'
Thursday Afternoon 7000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Evening 6000'
Tuesday Night* 6500'
Wednesday Morning* 7000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 7500'
Wednesday Evening* 7500'
Wednesday Night* 8500'
Thursday Morning 9000'
Thursday Afternoon 9500'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Tuesday Night Wednesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 28 / 24 33 / 24
West North 28 / 20 32 / 22
West Central 27 / 20 33 / 21
West South 29 / 19 36 / 20
Stevens Pass 24 / 19 31 / 19
Snoqualmie Pass 25 / 20 32 / 20
East North 21 / 14 28 / 13
East Central 26 / 20 34 / 20
East South 29 / 21 34 / 20
Mt. Hood 33 / 25 38 / 26
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 28 / 24
Wednesday 33 / 24
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 28 / 20
Wednesday 32 / 22
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 27 / 20
Wednesday 33 / 21
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 29 / 19
Wednesday 36 / 20
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 24 / 19
Wednesday 31 / 19
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 25 / 20
Wednesday 32 / 20
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 21 / 14
Wednesday 28 / 13
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 26 / 20
Wednesday 34 / 20
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 29 / 21
Wednesday 34 / 20
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 33 / 25
Wednesday 38 / 26

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon
Olympics NW 5-15 NNW 5-15 N 0-10 NW 5-15
West North VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10 W 0-10
West Central NW 5-15 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10 W 0-10
West South NW 10-20 NW 5-15 VAR 0-10 WNW 0-10
Stevens Pass NW 5-15 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10 W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass NW 10-20 NNW 5-15 VAR 0-10 W 5-15
East North NNW 10-20 NNW 5-15 VAR 0-10 W 5-15
East Central NNW 10-20 NNW 5-15 VAR 0-10 WNW 5-15
East South NNW 15-25 NNW 5-15 VAR 0-10 WNW 5-15
Mt. Hood NNW 15-25 NNW 10-20 NNW 5-15 NNW 0-10
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening NW 5-15
Tuesday Night NNW 5-15
Wednesday Morning N 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon NW 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening VAR 0-10
Tuesday Night VAR 0-10
Wednesday Morning VAR 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon W 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening NW 5-15
Tuesday Night VAR 0-10
Wednesday Morning VAR 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon W 0-10
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening NW 10-20
Tuesday Night NW 5-15
Wednesday Morning VAR 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon WNW 0-10
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening NW 5-15
Tuesday Night VAR 0-10
Wednesday Morning VAR 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening NW 10-20
Tuesday Night NNW 5-15
Wednesday Morning VAR 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon W 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening NNW 10-20
Tuesday Night NNW 5-15
Wednesday Morning VAR 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon W 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening NNW 10-20
Tuesday Night NNW 5-15
Wednesday Morning VAR 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon WNW 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening NNW 15-25
Tuesday Night NNW 5-15
Wednesday Morning VAR 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon WNW 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening NNW 15-25
Tuesday Night NNW 10-20
Wednesday Morning NNW 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon NNW 0-10

Extended Weather Synopsis

A weak short-wave system swings through the region Thursday night bringing us our first chance at measurable snowfall in about a week. Weather models disagree about how much moisture will be left by the time the "storm" arrives. However, ensembles aren't painting a very snowy picture. At the moment, it appears that most areas could receive a few inches of snow, particularly in the northern half of the forecast region. The little system doesn't hang around for very long. By Friday morning, the high pressure ridge starts to rebound once again. Cold and dry northerly flow should make for a sunny, all-be-it, chilly weekend. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Night Friday Friday Night* Saturday *
West North 2500' 2500' 1500' 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass 2500' 2500' 1500' 2000'
Mt. Hood 7500' 3000' 2000' 2500'
West North Elevation
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday 2500'
Friday Night* 1500'
Saturday * 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday 2500'
Friday Night* 1500'
Saturday * 2000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Night 7500'
Friday 3000'
Friday Night* 2000'
Saturday * 2500'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 21, 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’.