A weak shortwave disturbance swings through the region overnight mainly bringing colder air, along with clouds and a period of slightly stronger winds. Temperatures cool quickly this evening. By the time any precipitation arrives, snow levels should be below most trailhead elevations. Unfortunately, the system won't have much moisture left. Areas along the west slopes of the Cascades from about Mt Rainier north could see a healthy dusting of snow. High-end "storm" totals of an inch or two are possible for the Mt Baker and Mt Loop Highway areas. Even if your locale isn't expecting measurable precipitation, don't be surprised by a few flurries.
The whole event should be over by Friday morning. As the high pressure ridge quickly rebounds, cold and dry northerly flow aloft sets up over the region. This should help any lingering clouds or flurries quickly clear out of the area. With much colder air in place, we'll see weak daytime warming, as temperatures stay on the chillier side despite the sun.
A cold clear night on Friday will allow weak temperature inversions to form in the mountain valleys, passes, and other low-lying areas. With plenty of sunshine, temperatures warm slightly again on Saturday. However, NE winds bring a steady stream of cold air into the mountains from Canada. With the high pressure ridge back in place, this marks the start of yet another prolonged dry period.
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
Cloudy with a few light snow showers and falling temperatures.
Friday
Lingering clouds in the morning, then clearing.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with light snow showers and falling temperatures.
Friday
Becoming mostly sunny. Light to moderate NE winds decreasing.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with light snow showers and falling temperatures. Light to moderate WNW winds decreasing and turning northerly.
Friday
Becoming mostly sunny.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with light snow showers mainly in the northern half of the zone. Flurries elsewhere. Temperatures falling. Light to moderate WNW winds turning NNW.
Friday
Lingering clouds and flurries in the morning, then clearing
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with light snow showers and falling temperatures. Light to moderate WNW winds decreasing and turning NNW. W flow at pass level.
Friday
Lingering clouds in the morning, then clearing. Light and variable winds at pass level.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with light snow showers and falling temperatures. Moderate WNW winds turning NNW and decreasing slightly. W flow at pass level.
Friday
Lingering clouds in the morning, then clearing. Light and variable winds at pass level.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with light snow showers and falling temperatures. Light to moderate NW winds turning N.
Friday
Mostly sunny and cool.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with light snow showers mainly in the northern half of the zone. Flurries elsewhere. Temperatures falling. Moderate NW winds turning N and decreasing slightly.
Friday
Lingering clouds in the morning, then clearing.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with flurries possible. Moderate NW winds turning NNW and decreasing slightly.
Friday
Lingering clouds and snow flurries in the morning, then clearing.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with flurries possible Moderate to strong WNW winds decreasing slightly and shifting NW.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with a few flurries in the morning, then clearing. Winds becoming E light to moderate.
Issued: 1:51 PM PST Thursday, January 23, 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
LT 0.10
0
0
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
LT 0.10
0
0
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
LT 0.10
0
0
0
Stevens Pass
LT 0.10
0
0
0
Snoqualmie Pass
LT 0.10
0
0
0
Crystal Mt
LT 0.10
0
0
0
Paradise
LT 0.10
0
0
0
White Pass
0
0
0
0
Washington Pass
LT 0.10
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
LT 0.10
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
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
LT 0.10
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
LT 0.10
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: 1:51 PM PST Thursday, January 23, 2025
Snow Level (ft)
Thursday
Evening
Thursday
Night
Friday
Morning
Friday
Afternoon
Friday
Evening*
Friday
Night*
Saturday
Morning*
Saturday
Afternoon*
Olympics
3500'
2000'
2000'
2500'
2000'
2000'
2000'
3500'
West North
2500'
1500'
1000'
3000'
1500'
1500'
1500'
3500'
West Central
2500'
1500'
1500'
3000'
2000'
1500'
2000'
3500'
West South
3500'
2000'
2000'
3000'
2000'
1500'
2000'
3000'
Stevens Pass
2500'
1500'
1500'
3000'
1500'
1000'
1000'
3000'
Snoqualmie Pass
2500'
1500'
2000'
3000'
2000'
1000'
1500'
3000'
East North
2500'
1000'
1000'
2000'
1500'
1000'
1000'
2000'
East Central
2500'
1500'
2000'
2500'
1500'
1000'
1000'
2000'
East South
3000'
2000'
2000'
2500'
1500'
1500'
1500'
2500'
Mt. Hood
4500'
3500'
3000'
2500'
1000'
1000'
1500'
2000'
Olympics
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
3500'
Thursday
Night
2000'
Friday
Morning
2000'
Friday
Afternoon
2500'
Friday
Evening*
2000'
Friday
Night*
2000'
Saturday
Morning*
2000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
3500'
West North
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
2500'
Thursday
Night
1500'
Friday
Morning
1000'
Friday
Afternoon
3000'
Friday
Evening*
1500'
Friday
Night*
1500'
Saturday
Morning*
1500'
Saturday
Afternoon*
3500'
West Central
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
2500'
Thursday
Night
1500'
Friday
Morning
1500'
Friday
Afternoon
3000'
Friday
Evening*
2000'
Friday
Night*
1500'
Saturday
Morning*
2000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
3500'
West South
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
3500'
Thursday
Night
2000'
Friday
Morning
2000'
Friday
Afternoon
3000'
Friday
Evening*
2000'
Friday
Night*
1500'
Saturday
Morning*
2000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
3000'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
2500'
Thursday
Night
1500'
Friday
Morning
1500'
Friday
Afternoon
3000'
Friday
Evening*
1500'
Friday
Night*
1000'
Saturday
Morning*
1000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
3000'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
2500'
Thursday
Night
1500'
Friday
Morning
2000'
Friday
Afternoon
3000'
Friday
Evening*
2000'
Friday
Night*
1000'
Saturday
Morning*
1500'
Saturday
Afternoon*
3000'
East North
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
2500'
Thursday
Night
1000'
Friday
Morning
1000'
Friday
Afternoon
2000'
Friday
Evening*
1500'
Friday
Night*
1000'
Saturday
Morning*
1000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
2000'
East Central
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
2500'
Thursday
Night
1500'
Friday
Morning
2000'
Friday
Afternoon
2500'
Friday
Evening*
1500'
Friday
Night*
1000'
Saturday
Morning*
1000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
2000'
East South
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
3000'
Thursday
Night
2000'
Friday
Morning
2000'
Friday
Afternoon
2500'
Friday
Evening*
1500'
Friday
Night*
1500'
Saturday
Morning*
1500'
Saturday
Afternoon*
2500'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
4500'
Thursday
Night
3500'
Friday
Morning
3000'
Friday
Afternoon
2500'
Friday
Evening*
1000'
Friday
Night*
1000'
Saturday
Morning*
1500'
Saturday
Afternoon*
2000'
Issued: 1:51 PM PST Thursday, January 23, 2025
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Thursday
Night
Friday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
32 / 25
28 / 20
West North
32 / 24
28 / 22
West Central
32 / 25
28 / 22
West South
32 / 23
27 / 21
Stevens Pass
29 / 24
27 / 20
Snoqualmie Pass
30 / 25
28 / 24
East North
26 / 15
22 / 13
East Central
30 / 20
28 / 20
East South
33 / 21
27 / 20
Mt. Hood
36 / 24
27 / 23
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
32 / 25
Friday
28 / 20
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
32 / 24
Friday
28 / 22
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
32 / 25
Friday
28 / 22
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
32 / 23
Friday
27 / 21
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
29 / 24
Friday
27 / 20
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
30 / 25
Friday
28 / 24
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
26 / 15
Friday
22 / 13
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
30 / 20
Friday
28 / 20
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
33 / 21
Friday
27 / 20
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
36 / 24
Friday
27 / 23
Issued: 1:51 PM PST Thursday, January 23, 2025
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
Thursday
Night
Friday
Morning
Friday
Afternoon
Olympics
NW 5-15
NNE 5-15
NE 5-15
NE 5-15
West North
NW 5-15
NNE 5-15
NE 10-20
NE 5-15
West Central
WNW 10-20
NNE 5-15
NNE 5-15
NNE 5-15
West South
WNW 10-20
NNW 10-20
NE 5-15
NE 5-15
Stevens Pass
WNW 10-20
NNW 5-15
NE 5-15
NE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass
NW 15-25
NNW 10-20
NE 5-15
NE 5-15
East North
NW 10-20
N 10-20
NNE 5-15
NNE 5-15
East Central
NW 15-25
N 10-20
NNE 5-15
NNE 5-15
East South
NW 15-25
NNW 10-20
NE 5-15
NE 5-15
Mt. Hood
WNW 20-30
NW 15-25
NE 5-15
E 10-20
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
NW
5-15
Thursday
Night
NNE
5-15
Friday
Morning
NE
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
NE
5-15
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
NW
5-15
Thursday
Night
NNE
5-15
Friday
Morning
NE
10-20
Friday
Afternoon
NE
5-15
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
WNW
10-20
Thursday
Night
NNE
5-15
Friday
Morning
NNE
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
NNE
5-15
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
WNW
10-20
Thursday
Night
NNW
10-20
Friday
Morning
NE
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
NE
5-15
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
WNW
10-20
Thursday
Night
NNW
5-15
Friday
Morning
NE
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
NE
5-15
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
NW
15-25
Thursday
Night
NNW
10-20
Friday
Morning
NE
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
NE
5-15
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
NW
10-20
Thursday
Night
N
10-20
Friday
Morning
NNE
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
NNE
5-15
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
NW
15-25
Thursday
Night
N
10-20
Friday
Morning
NNE
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
NNE
5-15
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
NW
15-25
Thursday
Night
NNW
10-20
Friday
Morning
NE
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
NE
5-15
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
WNW
20-30
Thursday
Night
NW
15-25
Friday
Morning
NE
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
E
10-20
Issued: 1:51 PM PST Thursday, January 23, 2025
Extended Weather Synopsis
An entrenched high pressure ridge keeps us dry through the extended forecast period. After a cold and clear night Saturday, the ridge will slowly drift eastward towards the coast. This will have a few impacts on the weather. Low level easterly flow will increase and help draw colder air from Central Washinton into the valleys and passes near and east of the Cascade Crest. Warm air aloft will push into the region at middle and upper elevations from the west causing freezing levels to climb. Combine these two variables, and you get strong temperature inversions and multiple freezing levels. It could be quite chilly down in the valleys, even while it's much warmer higher up the mountainside. This pattern should carry us well into the work week.
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).