Issued: 6:55 AM PST Wednesday, January 22, 2025
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

We're in for another sunny day across the forecast regions as a high pressure ridge remains firmly in control of our weather. Temperature inversions this morning in many of the mountain valleys and passes should make it quite chilly at the trailheads. However, warmer air has already begun to push into the area causing temperatures higher up the mountain to climb. With plenty of sunshine, calm winds, and warming temperatures it may feel more like spring than mid-January. The exception could be some of the valleys east of the Cascade Crest, where cold air will do its best to persist throughout the day. While you could see passing bands of high clouds, particularly in the northern zones, it should be a beautiful day in the mountains. 

Mostly clear skies allow temperature inversions to reestablish overnight even as the upper air mass continues to warm. Freezing levels and 5000 ft temperatures don't paint a very clear picture of the reality on the ground. You could encounter multiple freezing levels, with cold air pooling into valleys, passes, and other low lying areas. 

On Thursday a short wave disturbance will approach from the north. Look for increasing clouds and ridgeline winds later in the day. Temperatures quickly fall as the system returns much colder air to the region. Precipitation should hold off until the evening for whatever is left of this weak storm. 

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
Wednesday Mostly sunny with passing high clouds.
Wednesday Night Mostly clear with temperature inversions forming in mountain valleys and passes.
Wednesday Mostly sunny with passing high clouds.
Wednesday Night Mostly clear with temperature inversions forming in mountain valleys and passes.
Wednesday Mostly sunny with passing high clouds.
Wednesday Night Mostly clear with temperature inversions forming in mountain valleys and passes.
Wednesday Mostly sunny with passing high clouds.
Wednesday Night Mostly clear with temperature inversions forming in mountain valleys and passes.
Wednesday Mostly sunny with passing high clouds. Very light easterly flow at pass level.
Wednesday Night Mostly clear with temperature inversions forming in mountain valleys and passes. Light E flow at pass level.
Wednesday Mostly sunny with passing high clouds. Very light easterly flow at pass level.
Wednesday Night Mostly clear with temperature inversions forming in mountain valleys and passes. Light E flow at pass level.
Wednesday Mostly sunny with passing high clouds.
Wednesday Night Mostly clear with temperature inversions forming in mountain valleys and passes. Winds becoming W light to moderate.
Wednesday Mostly sunny with passing high clouds.
Wednesday Night Mostly clear with temperature inversions forming in mountain valleys and passes. Winds becoming W light to moderate.
Wednesday Mostly sunny with passing high clouds.
Wednesday Night Mostly clear with temperature inversions forming in mountain valleys and passes. Winds becoming NW light to moderate.
Wednesday Mostly sunny with passing high clouds.
Wednesday Night Mostly clear with temperature inversions forming in mountain valleys and passes.

Precipitation (in)

Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 0 0
Stevens Pass 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0
Crystal Mt 0 0 0
Paradise 0 0 0
White Pass 0 0 0
Washington Pass 0 0 0
Mission Ridge 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 0 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 0
Timberline 0 0 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0

Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Morning* Wednesday Afternoon* Wednesday Evening* Wednesday Night* Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon
Olympics 4500' 6000' 7000' 7500' 7000' 6000'
West North 3000' 4500' 5000' 5500' 4500' 4000'
West Central 4000' 5500' 5000' 6000' 6500' 5000'
West South 5000' 6500' 7000' 7500' 8000' 7500'
Stevens Pass 3000' 5000' 6000' 7000' 7000' 5500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 5500' 6500' 7500' 7000' 5500'
East North 500' 4000' 4500' 5000' 5000' 4500'
East Central 1500' 5000' 6000' 7000' 7000' 6000'
East South 4000' 6000' 7000' 7500' 8000' 7500'
Mt. Hood 7000' 7500' 8500' 9000' 9500' 9500'
Olympics Elevation
Wednesday Morning* 4500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 6000'
Wednesday Evening* 7000'
Wednesday Night* 7500'
Thursday Morning 7000'
Thursday Afternoon 6000'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4500'
Wednesday Evening* 5000'
Wednesday Night* 5500'
Thursday Morning 4500'
Thursday Afternoon 4000'
West Central Elevation
Wednesday Morning* 4000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 5500'
Wednesday Evening* 5000'
Wednesday Night* 6000'
Thursday Morning 6500'
Thursday Afternoon 5000'
West South Elevation
Wednesday Morning* 5000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 6500'
Wednesday Evening* 7000'
Wednesday Night* 7500'
Thursday Morning 8000'
Thursday Afternoon 7500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 5000'
Wednesday Evening* 6000'
Wednesday Night* 7000'
Thursday Morning 7000'
Thursday Afternoon 5500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 5500'
Wednesday Evening* 6500'
Wednesday Night* 7500'
Thursday Morning 7000'
Thursday Afternoon 5500'
East North Elevation
Wednesday Morning* 500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
Wednesday Evening* 4500'
Wednesday Night* 5000'
Thursday Morning 5000'
Thursday Afternoon 4500'
East Central Elevation
Wednesday Morning* 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 5000'
Wednesday Evening* 6000'
Wednesday Night* 7000'
Thursday Morning 7000'
Thursday Afternoon 6000'
East South Elevation
Wednesday Morning* 4000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 6000'
Wednesday Evening* 7000'
Wednesday Night* 7500'
Thursday Morning 8000'
Thursday Afternoon 7500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Morning* 7000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 7500'
Wednesday Evening* 8500'
Wednesday Night* 9000'
Thursday Morning 9500'
Thursday Afternoon 9500'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Wednesday Wednesday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 38 / 28 35 / 28
West North 32 / 22 30 / 27
West Central 34 / 22 34 / 29
West South 38 / 27 37 / 30
Stevens Pass 34 / 24 32 / 27
Snoqualmie Pass 33 / 27 33 / 28
East North 30 / 20 30 / 25
East Central 33 / 24 32 / 28
East South 36 / 26 32 / 29
Mt. Hood 38 / 28 38 / 32
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday 38 / 28
Wednesday Night 35 / 28
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday 32 / 22
Wednesday Night 30 / 27
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday 34 / 22
Wednesday Night 34 / 29
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday 38 / 27
Wednesday Night 37 / 30
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday 34 / 24
Wednesday Night 32 / 27
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday 33 / 27
Wednesday Night 33 / 28
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday 30 / 20
Wednesday Night 30 / 25
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday 33 / 24
Wednesday Night 32 / 28
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday 36 / 26
Wednesday Night 32 / 29
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday 38 / 28
Wednesday Night 38 / 32

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

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

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’.