Issued: 7:08 AM PST Monday, January 5, 2026
by Sam Clairmont

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I Ridgeline Winds I

Weather Synopsis

Snowfall continues this morning in most areas west of the Cascade crest and north of I-90. A brief convergence zone has set up over Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass, allowing for some locally heavier precipitation.

Today, a drying trend will begin, providing a short break in precipitation. The bulk of the precipitation is expected to taper off by mid-morning, with clouds gradually lightening—especially east of the crest, where it likely will be a sunny day. Low clouds will start to break up along the west slopes, but will linger through Monday. 

This break in precipitation will likely last through most of tonight before a new system arrives during the early morning hours on Tuesday. A strong frontal system will push into Western Washington, bringing significant mountain snowfall, with temperatures remaining well below pass level. There is a chance of a brief warm-up Tuesday afternoon, pushing snow levels close to pass level at Snoqualmie, but precipitation is still expected to fall primarily as snow. Besides snowfall, this system will features very strong westerly winds in all areas starting Monday night and really ramping up on Tuesday. Snowfall will continue through Tuesday night into Wednesday. 

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
Monday Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow this morning, broken skies and clearing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Light snowfall, with cooling temperatures overnight.
Monday Light snowfall, turning mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
Monday Night Light to moderate snowfall, with strengthening ridgeline wind.
Monday Light to moderate rain and mountain snow, turning mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
Monday Night Light to moderate snowfall, with strengthening ridgeline wind.
Monday Light to moderate rain and mountain snow, turning mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
Monday Night A chance of snowfall, with building clouds and cooling temperatures.
Monday Light to moderate rain and mountain snow. Light to moderate ridgeline wind, blowing west at the pass.
Monday Night A chance of snow, with temperatures dropping. Moderate ridgeline wind, blowing west at the Pass.
Monday Light to moderate rain and mountain snow. Light to moderate ridgeline wind, blowing west at the pass.
Monday Night A chance of snow, with temperatures dropping. Moderate ridgeline wind, blowing west at the Pass.
Monday Chance of lingering snowfall in the morning, clearing skies in the afternoon.
Monday Night A chance of snowfall, with building clouds and cooling temperatures.
Monday Chance of lingering snowfall in the morning, clearing skies in the afternoon.
Monday Night Building clouds, with cooling temperatures. Moderate to strong ridgeline wind.
Monday A chance of flurries in the morning, clearing skies in the afternoon.
Monday Night Building clouds, with moderate to strong ridgeline wind. Cooling temperatures overnight.
Monday Light rain and mountain snow. Light to moderate ridgeline wind.
Monday Night Building clouds, with moderate to strong ridgeline wind. Cooling temperatures overnight.

Precipitation (in)

Monday Monday Night Tuesday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 1.00
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.25 0.25 1.00 - 1.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.25 LT 0.25 1.00 - 1.50
Stevens Pass 0.25 LT 0.10 0.75 -1.00
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 LT 0.10 0.75 -1.00
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 0 0.25 - 0.50
Paradise LT 0.25 LT 0.10 1.00
White Pass LT 0.25 0 0.50 - 0.75
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.75
Mission Ridge 0 0 0.25 - 0.50
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 0 0.75
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 0 0.50 - 0.75
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 0 0.50
Timberline LT 0.10 0 0.50 - 0.75
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 1.00
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday 1.00 - 1.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday 1.00 - 1.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 1.00
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0.75
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0.75
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0.50
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Morning Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 2000' 2000' 1500' 1500' 3000' 3500'
West North 2000' 2000' 1500' 1500' 2000' 2000'
West Central 2500' 2500' 2000' 1500' 2000' 2500'
West South 2500' 2500' 2500' 2000' 1500' 2500'
Stevens Pass 2500' 2500' 2000' 1500' 1500' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 2500' 2500' 2000' 1500' 2000' 2500'
East North 2000' 3500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 2500'
East Central 2500' 3500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 2500'
East South 2500' 3500' 2500' 1500' 1500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 2500' 3000'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Morning 2000'
Monday Afternoon 2000'
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1500'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
West North Elevation
Monday Morning 2000'
Monday Afternoon 2000'
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1500'
Tuesday Morning 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
West Central Elevation
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 2500'
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 1500'
Tuesday Morning 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
West South Elevation
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 2500'
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night 2000'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 2500'
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 1500'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 2500'
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 1500'
Tuesday Morning 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
East North Elevation
Monday Morning 2000'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1500'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
East Central Elevation
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1500'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
East South Elevation
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night 1500'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
Monday Evening 3000'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3000'

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Monday Morning Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night
Olympics W 0-10 WSW 5-15 WSW 10-20 SW 20-30
West North WSW 0-10 SW 5-15 SW 5-15 SSW 10-20
West Central W 5-15 W 5-15 WSW 5-15 SW 5-15
West South WSW 10-20 WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15 SW 20-30
Stevens Pass WSW 5-15 W 5-15 W 5-15 W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass WSW 10-20 W 10-20 W 10-20 W 20-30
East North W 0-10 W 0-10 W 10-20 SW 10-20
East Central W 15-25 W 15-25 W 15-25 WSW 20-30
East South W 10-20 W 5-15 W 10-20 W 15-25
Mt. Hood W 15-25 W 5-15 W 15-25 W 25-35
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning W 0-10
Monday Afternoon WSW 5-15
Monday Evening WSW 10-20
Monday Night SW 20-30
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning WSW 0-10
Monday Afternoon SW 5-15
Monday Evening SW 5-15
Monday Night SSW 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning W 5-15
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
Monday Evening WSW 5-15
Monday Night SW 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning WSW 10-20
Monday Afternoon WSW 5-15
Monday Evening WSW 5-15
Monday Night SW 20-30
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning WSW 5-15
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
Monday Evening W 5-15
Monday Night W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning WSW 10-20
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
Monday Evening W 10-20
Monday Night W 20-30
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning W 0-10
Monday Afternoon W 0-10
Monday Evening W 10-20
Monday Night SW 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning W 15-25
Monday Afternoon W 15-25
Monday Evening W 15-25
Monday Night WSW 20-30
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning W 10-20
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
Monday Evening W 10-20
Monday Night W 15-25
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning W 15-25
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
Monday Evening W 15-25
Monday Night W 25-35

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I Ridgeline Winds I

Previous forecast from Jan 4, 2026

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’.

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