Issued: 7:11 AM PST Tuesday, January 4, 2022
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

A cool trough moves into Washington State on Tuesday, maintaining our snowy pattern as a band of moderate snow showers moves into the region on a WSW flow. Shower activity should peak mid-morning before flow turns more westerly in the afternoon. Ridgeline winds at Mt. Hood should be in the moderate to strong range most of the day. Most NWAC stations started the day in the teens and low twenties with highs likely in the mid-20s for many areas.

Tuesday night, a perturbation along a zone of N-S temperature gradient moves into Oregon. This should bring an increase in snow shower activity across the region as W flow continues.

On Wednesday, snow shower activity becomes light across the region as flow turns WNW. A warm front approaches the region from offshore, but any warming will be subtle late Wednesday, with more significant warming arriving overnight.

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
Tuesday Light snow showers.
Tuesday Night Decreasing light snow showers.
Tuesday Decreasing light to moderate snow showers.
Tuesday Night Decreasing light snow showers.
Tuesday Decreasing light to moderate snow showers.
Tuesday Night Decreasing light to moderate snow showers.
Tuesday Light to moderate snow showers at Paradise and White Pass; light at Crystal.
Tuesday Night Decreasing light to occasionally moderate snow showers.
Tuesday Decreasing light snow showers.
Tuesday Night Decreasing light snow showers.
Tuesday Light to moderate snow showers.
Tuesday Night Light to moderate snow showers.
Tuesday Decreasing light snow showers.
Tuesday Night Light snow showers.
Tuesday Decreasing light snow showers.
Tuesday Night Decreasing light snow showers.
Tuesday Decreasing light snow showers.
Tuesday Night Decreasing light snow showers.
Tuesday Light to moderate snow. Strong ridgeline wind gusts.
Tuesday Night Moderate snow decreasing. Strong ridgeline wind gusts.

Issued: 7:11 AM PST Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 7:11 AM PST Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon*
Olympics 500' 1000' 1000' 500' 0 500'
West North 0 500' 0 0 0 0
West Central 0 1000' 500' 500' 0 500'
West South 500' 1500' 1000' 1500' 1500' 1500'
Stevens Pass 0 1000' 500' 500' 0 500'
Snoqualmie Pass 0 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000'
East North 0 500' 0 0 0 0
East Central 0 1000' 500' 500' 500' 500'
East South 500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1000' 2000'
Mt. Hood 1500' 2000' 2500' 3000' 2500' 2500'
Olympics Elevation
Tuesday Morning* 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 1000'
Tuesday Evening 1000'
Tuesday Night 500'
Wednesday Morning 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 500'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Tuesday Evening 0'
Tuesday Night 0'
Wednesday Morning 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 0'
West Central Elevation
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 1000'
Tuesday Evening 500'
Tuesday Night 500'
Wednesday Morning 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 500'
West South Elevation
Tuesday Morning* 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 1500'
Tuesday Evening 1000'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday Morning 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 1000'
Tuesday Evening 500'
Tuesday Night 500'
Wednesday Morning 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 1000'
Tuesday Evening 1000'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 1000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1000'
East North Elevation
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Tuesday Evening 0'
Tuesday Night 0'
Wednesday Morning 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 0'
East Central Elevation
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 1000'
Tuesday Evening 500'
Tuesday Night 500'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 500'
East South Elevation
Tuesday Morning* 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 1500'
Tuesday Evening 1500'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday Morning 1000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Morning* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Tuesday Evening 2500'
Tuesday Night 3000'
Wednesday Morning 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2500'

Issued: 7:11 AM PST Tuesday, January 4, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Tuesday Tuesday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 21 / 17 23 / 15
West North 22 / 18 19 / 14
West Central 23 / 18 22 / 18
West South 24 / 20 24 / 20
Stevens Pass 23 / 18 22 / 15
Snoqualmie Pass 24 / 19 23 / 17
East North 20 / 11 15 / 9
East Central 23 / 17 21 / 14
East South 26 / 21 26 / 20
Mt. Hood 26 / 21 29 / 25
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 21 / 17
Tuesday Night 23 / 15
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 22 / 18
Tuesday Night 19 / 14
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 23 / 18
Tuesday Night 22 / 18
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 24 / 20
Tuesday Night 24 / 20
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 23 / 18
Tuesday Night 22 / 15
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 24 / 19
Tuesday Night 23 / 17
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 20 / 11
Tuesday Night 15 / 9
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 23 / 17
Tuesday Night 21 / 14
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 26 / 21
Tuesday Night 26 / 20
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 26 / 21
Tuesday Night 29 / 25

Issued: 7:11 AM PST Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

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

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’.