Issued: 2:12 PM PST Monday, January 3, 2022
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

The remnants of the strong frontal system that sagged south across the area last night are currently over Mt. Hood this afternoon. Showers rotating inland have become more scattered over the Olympics and Cascades, but are heavier along the southwest Cascades and in the norhtwest Cascades. Showers will become lighter for all areas overnight. The parent upper low associated with this system will slowly drop south along the B.C. coastline tonight, rotating additional weather disturbances inland. Showers and winds should pick up in the morning for the Cascades and Olympics as a disturbance passes through.   

A developing low pressure system will approach the central Oregon coast Tuesday afternoon.  This should renew steady snow over Mt Hood and the southern Washington Cascades during the afternoon hours where moderate snowfall totals are expected before sunset. Snow levels will remain low over Washington state but should start to moderate slightly over northern Oregon during the day. Showers will continue in cool NW flow aloft on Tuesday night. 

Wednesday is a bit of a question mark with a strong warm frontal system beginning to take aim at the PNW. Most forecast models hold back the heavier precipitation until Wednesday evening, but be on the look out for snow developing during the day if it arrives earlier. Cool easterly flow will increase on Wednesday as we set the stage for a battle between entrenched cold air inland and a milder Pacific frontal system. 

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 Night Light and scattered snow showers.
Tuesday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the morning becoming scattered light snow showers in the afternoon. Strong winds in the morning decreasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Moderate snow showers becoming light scattered showers late in the evening.
Tuesday Light to moderate snow showers in the morning becoming light snow showers in the afternoon. Strong winds in the morning decreasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow showers becoming light scattered showers late in the evening.
Tuesday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the morning becoming scattered light snow showers in the afternoon. Strong winds in the morning decreasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow showers becoming light late in the evening.
Tuesday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the morning becoming scattered showers mid-day. Light snow developing in the afternoon. Strong winds in the morning decreasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow showers becoming light late in the evening. Variable winds at Pass level.
Tuesday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the morning becoming scattered light snow showers in the afternoon. Light east winds in the morning becoming light west winds at Pass level in the afternoon.
Monday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow showers becoming light late in the evening. Variable winds at Pass level.
Tuesday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the morning becoming scattered light snow showers in the afternoon. Light east winds in the morning becoming moderate west winds at Pass level in the afternoon.
Monday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow showers becoming scattered light showers late in the evening.
Tuesday Light snow showers becoming light to occasionally moderate showers late morning, and then scattered later in the afternoon.
Monday Night Light snow showers becoming scattered light showers late in the evening.
Tuesday Light snow showers becoming light to occasionally moderate showers late morning, and then scattered later in the afternoon.
Monday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow showers becoming scattered light showers late in the evening.
Tuesday Light snow showers becoming light to occasionally moderate showers late morning, and then becoming steadier late in the afternoon.
Monday Night Light to moderate snow showers. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers becoming steady light to moderate light snow in the afternoon. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:12 PM PST Monday, January 3, 2022

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 2:12 PM PST Monday, January 3, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon*
Olympics 0 0 0 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500'
West North 500' 500' 500' 0 0 0 0 0
West Central 0 0 0 500' 500' 1000' 1000' 1000'
West South 0 0 0 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500'
Stevens Pass 0 0 0 0 0 500' 500' 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0 500' 500' 1000' 1000' 1000'
East North 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
East Central 0 0 0 500' 0 0 0 500'
East South 0 0 0 500' 500' 500' 500' 1000'
Mt. Hood 1500' 1500' 1500' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3500' 4500'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 1000'
Tuesday Evening 1000'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 1000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1500'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 0'
Tuesday Evening 0'
Tuesday Night 0'
Wednesday Morning 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 0'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Tuesday Evening 500'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 1000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1000'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 1500'
Tuesday Evening 1500'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday Morning 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 0'
Tuesday Evening 0'
Tuesday Night 500'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Tuesday Evening 500'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 1000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1000'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 0'
Tuesday Evening 0'
Tuesday Night 0'
Wednesday Morning 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 0'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Tuesday Evening 0'
Tuesday Night 0'
Wednesday Morning 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 500'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Tuesday Evening 500'
Tuesday Night 500'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1500'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
Tuesday Evening 2500'
Tuesday Night 3000'
Wednesday Morning 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4500'

Issued: 2:12 PM PST Monday, January 3, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 19 / 15 25 / 19
West North 17 / 11 23 / 17
West Central 18 / 14 24 / 18
West South 18 / 10 26 / 18
Stevens Pass 17 / 14 24 / 17
Snoqualmie Pass 17 / 15 25 / 19
East North 16 / 9 24 / 13
East Central 17 / 12 25 / 14
East South 18 / 13 25 / 16
Mt. Hood 23 / 19 28 / 21
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 19 / 15
Tuesday 25 / 19
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 17 / 11
Tuesday 23 / 17
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 18 / 14
Tuesday 24 / 18
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 18 / 10
Tuesday 26 / 18
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 17 / 14
Tuesday 24 / 17
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 17 / 15
Tuesday 25 / 19
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 16 / 9
Tuesday 24 / 13
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 17 / 12
Tuesday 25 / 14
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 18 / 13
Tuesday 25 / 16
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 23 / 19
Tuesday 28 / 21

Issued: 2:12 PM PST Monday, January 3, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics SW 5-15 SW 10-20 SW 20-30 SW 10-20
West North WSW 10-20 S 15-25 S 20-30 SW 10-20
West Central SW 10-20 SW 15-25 SW 20-30 WSW 5-15
West South W 10-20 SW 15-25 SW 20-30 WSW 15-25
Stevens Pass WSW 10-20 WSW 5-15 SSW 15-25 WSW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass W 10-20 WSW 10-20 SSW 20-30 WSW 15-25
East North WSW 10-20 WSW 5-15 SW 10-20 WSW 10-20
East Central W 15-25 W 15-25 SW 15-25 W 15-25
East South W 10-20 WSW 10-20 SW 15-25 WSW 15-25
Mt. Hood WSW 15-25 W 25-35 WSW 30-40 WSW 30-40
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SW 5-15
Monday Night SW 10-20
Tuesday Morning SW 20-30
Tuesday Afternoon SW 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WSW 10-20
Monday Night S 15-25
Tuesday Morning S 20-30
Tuesday Afternoon SW 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SW 10-20
Monday Night SW 15-25
Tuesday Morning SW 20-30
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 10-20
Monday Night SW 15-25
Tuesday Morning SW 20-30
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 15-25
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WSW 10-20
Monday Night WSW 5-15
Tuesday Morning SSW 15-25
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 10-20
Monday Night WSW 10-20
Tuesday Morning SSW 20-30
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 15-25
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WSW 10-20
Monday Night WSW 5-15
Tuesday Morning SW 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 15-25
Monday Night W 15-25
Tuesday Morning SW 15-25
Tuesday Afternoon W 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 10-20
Monday Night WSW 10-20
Tuesday Morning SW 15-25
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 15-25
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WSW 15-25
Monday Night W 25-35
Tuesday Morning WSW 30-40
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 30-40

Issued: 2:12 PM PST Monday, January 3, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

The exact track and timing of weather systems Wednesday night through Friday is unknown, but there will be stormy conditions and heavy precipitation. It seems increasingly likely we'll see a significant warming trend with the first half of this storm cycle, with milder air first impacting the west side of the Cascades and Olympics and then the east side of the Cascades a day or so later. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night* Thursday * Thursday Night Friday
West North 500' 5000' 3500' 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 6000' 4000' 3000'
Mt. Hood 7000' 6500' 4500' 4000'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night* 500'
Thursday * 5000'
Thursday Night 3500'
Friday 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night* 3000'
Thursday * 6000'
Thursday Night 4000'
Friday 3000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night* 7000'
Thursday * 6500'
Thursday Night 4500'
Friday 4000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 3, 2022

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’.