Issued: 6:53 AM PST Thursday, January 23, 2025
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

The high pressure ridge responsible for this extended streak of dry weather will bend but not break today as a short-wave disturbance approaches from the north. Most locations should start the morning with mostly sunny skies. Eventually, high clouds move into the region and should thicken and lower in the afternoon. Temperature inversions are well established in many of the mountain valleys, passes, and cold air sinks. As W-NW winds increase today ahead of the "storm", this should help mix out temperatures at lower elevations and usher in warmer air. 

While areas close to Mt Baker could see a few flurries just before sunset, most precipitation holds off until the evening. Unfortunately, there's not much left of this weak system by the time it arrives. Most sites won't see more than a healthy dusting of snow. What it lacks in moisture, the system makes up for in cold air. Look for temperatures to quickly fall this evening, rapidly bringing snow levels to below most trailheads. This should keep what little precipitation that falls as all snow except at the lowest elevations. 

By sunrise, the storm is finished and the high-pressure ridge rapidly rebounds. Initially, the Pacific Northwest will sit under the far eastern extent of the ridge. Cold, dry, northerly flow aloft draws chilly air in from Canada. Mostly sunny skies and decreasing winds will allow for a bit of daytime warming as we return to a prolonged dry weather pattern. 

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 Mostly sunny in the morning with increasing clouds.
Thursday Night Cloudy with very light snow showers and cooling temperatures.
Thursday Mostly sunny in the morning with increasing clouds. A few flurries possible late in the day. W winds becoming light to moderate
Thursday Night Cloudy with very light snow showers and cooling temperatures. NW winds turning NE and becoming light to moderate.
Thursday Mostly sunny in the morning with increasing clouds. W winds becoming light to moderate.
Thursday Night Cloudy with very light snow showers and cooling temperatures. Light to moderate WNW winds decreasing and turning N.
Thursday Mostly sunny in the morning with increasing clouds. WNW winds becoming light to moderate
Thursday Night Cloudy with very light snow showers in the northern portion of the zone and cooling temperatures. Moderate NW winds decreasing and turning northerly.
Thursday Mostly sunny in the morning with increasing clouds. Light E flow at pass level turning W in the morning. W ridgeline winds becoming light to moderate
Thursday Night Cloudy with very light snow showers and cooling temperatures. Light to moderate WNW ridgeline winds decreasing and turning northerly. W flow at pass level.
Thursday Mostly sunny in the morning with increasing clouds. East flow weakening and turning west in the morning. WNW ridgeline winds becoming moderate and gusty.
Thursday Night Cloudy with very light snow showers and cooling temperatures. Moderate NW ridgeline winds decreasing slightly and turning NNW. West flow at pass level.
Thursday Mostly sunny in the morning with increasing clouds. Light to moderate W winds increasing in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Cloudy with very light snow showers and cooling temperatures. Light to moderate NW winds turning N.
Thursday Mostly sunny in the morning with increasing clouds. Moderate WNW winds becoming stronger in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Cloudy with snow flurries possible. Temperatures cooling. Moderate NW winds decreasing and becoming NNW.
Thursday Mostly sunny in the morning with increasing clouds. Light to moderate WNW winds increasing in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Cloudy with snow flurries possible. Temperatures cooling. Moderate NW winds decreasing slightly and turning NNW.
Thursday Mostly sunny in the morning with increasing clouds. NW winds becoming light to moderate in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Cloudy with snow flurries possible. Temperatures cooling. Moderate to strong W winds decreasing slightly and becoming NW.

Precipitation (in)

Thursday Thursday Night Friday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 LT 0.10 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 LT 0.10 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 LT 0.10 0
Stevens Pass 0 LT 0.10 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0 LT 0.10 0
Crystal Mt 0 LT 0.10 0
Paradise 0 LT 0.10 0
White Pass 0 0 0
Washington Pass 0 LT 0.10 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)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday 0
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0

Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon Thursday Evening Thursday Night Friday Morning Friday Afternoon*
Olympics 7500' 4500' 3500' 2000' 1500' 2000'
West North 5000' 4000' 2500' 1500' 1000' 2500'
West Central 6500' 4500' 2500' 2000' 1000' 3000'
West South 8000' 7000' 3500' 2000' 1000' 3000'
Stevens Pass 7000' 4500' 2500' 2000' 1000' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 7000' 5000' 2500' 2000' 1000' 3000'
East North 4500' 4000' 2000' 500' 500' 2000'
East Central 6000' 5000' 3500' 2000' 1000' 2500'
East South 7500' 7000' 4500' 2500' 2000' 2500'
Mt. Hood 10000' 10000' 8000' 4500' 3000' 2000'
Olympics Elevation
Thursday Morning 7500'
Thursday Afternoon 4500'
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 2000'
Friday Morning 1500'
Friday Afternoon* 2000'
West North Elevation
Thursday Morning 5000'
Thursday Afternoon 4000'
Thursday Evening 2500'
Thursday Night 1500'
Friday Morning 1000'
Friday Afternoon* 2500'
West Central Elevation
Thursday Morning 6500'
Thursday Afternoon 4500'
Thursday Evening 2500'
Thursday Night 2000'
Friday Morning 1000'
Friday Afternoon* 3000'
West South Elevation
Thursday Morning 8000'
Thursday Afternoon 7000'
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 2000'
Friday Morning 1000'
Friday Afternoon* 3000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning 7000'
Thursday Afternoon 4500'
Thursday Evening 2500'
Thursday Night 2000'
Friday Morning 1000'
Friday Afternoon* 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning 7000'
Thursday Afternoon 5000'
Thursday Evening 2500'
Thursday Night 2000'
Friday Morning 1000'
Friday Afternoon* 3000'
East North Elevation
Thursday Morning 4500'
Thursday Afternoon 4000'
Thursday Evening 2000'
Thursday Night 500'
Friday Morning 500'
Friday Afternoon* 2000'
East Central Elevation
Thursday Morning 6000'
Thursday Afternoon 5000'
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 2000'
Friday Morning 1000'
Friday Afternoon* 2500'
East South Elevation
Thursday Morning 7500'
Thursday Afternoon 7000'
Thursday Evening 4500'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 2000'
Friday Afternoon* 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Morning 10000'
Thursday Afternoon 10000'
Thursday Evening 8000'
Thursday Night 4500'
Friday Morning 3000'
Friday Afternoon* 2000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Thursday Thursday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 36 / 32 32 / 25
West North 36 / 30 31 / 23
West Central 37 / 30 31 / 25
West South 40 / 28 32 / 22
Stevens Pass 36 / 27 30 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 38 / 30 31 / 24
East North 32 / 22 26 / 16
East Central 38 / 28 32 / 22
East South 45 / 28 32 / 22
Mt. Hood 46 / 31 35 / 25
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 36 / 32
Thursday Night 32 / 25
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 36 / 30
Thursday Night 31 / 23
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 37 / 30
Thursday Night 31 / 25
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 40 / 28
Thursday Night 32 / 22
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 36 / 27
Thursday Night 30 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 38 / 30
Thursday Night 31 / 24
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 32 / 22
Thursday Night 26 / 16
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 38 / 28
Thursday Night 32 / 22
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 45 / 28
Thursday Night 32 / 22
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 46 / 31
Thursday Night 35 / 25

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon Thursday Evening Thursday Night
Olympics W 5-15 W 5-15 NW 5-15 NNE 5-15
West North W 5-15 W 10-20 NW 5-15 NE 10-20
West Central W 5-15 W 10-20 WNW 10-20 N 5-15
West South WNW 5-15 WNW 10-20 NW 10-20 NNW 5-15
Stevens Pass W 5-15 W 10-20 W 10-20 NNW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass WNW 10-20 WNW 15-25 NW 15-25 NNW 10-20
East North W 10-20 W 15-25 NW 10-20 N 10-20
East Central WNW 15-25 WNW 20-30 NW 15-25 NNW 5-15
East South WNW 10-20 WNW 15-25 NW 15-25 NNW 10-20
Mt. Hood NW 5-15 NW 10-20 W 20-30 NW 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning W 5-15
Thursday Afternoon W 5-15
Thursday Evening NW 5-15
Thursday Night NNE 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning W 5-15
Thursday Afternoon W 10-20
Thursday Evening NW 5-15
Thursday Night NE 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning W 5-15
Thursday Afternoon W 10-20
Thursday Evening WNW 10-20
Thursday Night N 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning WNW 5-15
Thursday Afternoon WNW 10-20
Thursday Evening NW 10-20
Thursday Night NNW 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning W 5-15
Thursday Afternoon W 10-20
Thursday Evening W 10-20
Thursday Night NNW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning WNW 10-20
Thursday Afternoon WNW 15-25
Thursday Evening NW 15-25
Thursday Night NNW 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning W 10-20
Thursday Afternoon W 15-25
Thursday Evening NW 10-20
Thursday Night N 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning WNW 15-25
Thursday Afternoon WNW 20-30
Thursday Evening NW 15-25
Thursday Night NNW 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning WNW 10-20
Thursday Afternoon WNW 15-25
Thursday Evening NW 15-25
Thursday Night NNW 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning NW 5-15
Thursday Afternoon NW 10-20
Thursday Evening W 20-30
Thursday Night NW 15-25

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

Previous forecast from Jan 22, 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’.