Issued: 2:40 PM PST Tuesday, January 4, 2022
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

The cold snowy pattern continues through Wednesday. A trough over the region slides east Tuesday night as a weak low moves onshore over central Oregon, focusing moderate snowfall on the Oregon Cascades. This disturbance should touch off a band of snow shower activity across the Cascades Tuesday evening. Weak convergence within the westerly prevailing flow should enhance snowfall on the Central Washington Cascades. Snow showers should gradually decrease overnight as a strong warm front approaches the coastal waters.

The warm front will bring a dramatic finale to our snowy pattern as it lifts from south to north across the Cascades Wednesday through Wednesday night. The heaviest snow and strongest winds increase throughout the day in the Mt. Hood area. We expect 4-6" of snowfall during the day. Areas further north can expect a transition from cloudy weather to increasing snowfall during the afternoon from highway 2 southward.

Things get really messy Wednesday night as the warm front reaches the central Washington Cascades and stalls over the area into Thursday. Cold E flow will increasingly battle milder air moving into the area on strong WSW flow. We expect heavy snowfall through the passes throughout the region Wednesday night. Lower elevations from Snoqualmie southward can expect a changeover to sleet, then freezing rain, and finally rain by Thursday afternoon as low-level winds eventually turn westerly. Stevens Pass is likely to remain snow. Most areas above 4000-5000 ft should expect 1.5-2 ft or more of snow with this event with significant accumulations on both sides of the Cascade Crest.

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 Night Light snow showers end by midnight, then remaining cloudy.
Wednesday Cloudy in the morning with light snow increasing in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Decreasing light snow showers.
Wednesday Cloudy.
Tuesday Night Decreasing light snow showers, moderate in convergence bands (southern part).
Wednesday Cloudy with a light snow developing late in the day in the southern part.
Tuesday Night Decreasing light to occasionally moderate snow showers.
Wednesday Light snow increases during the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Decreasing light snow showers, potentially moderate at times during the evening in convergence bands. Light E wind switching W overnight at the Pass.
Wednesday Cloudy with light snow possible by the end of the day. Light W wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Night Decreasing light snow showers, potentially moderate at times during the evening in convergence bands. Light E wind switching W overnight at the Pass.
Wednesday Cloudy with light snow developing mid-afternoon. Light W wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Night Light snow showers.
Wednesday Cloudy.
Tuesday Night Decreasing light snow showers.
Wednesday Cloudy with light snow developing during the afternoon (southern part).
Tuesday Night Decreasing light snow showers.
Wednesday Light snow increasing throughout the day.
Tuesday Night Decreasing moderate snow. Strong ridgeline wind gusts.
Wednesday Light to moderate snow becoming moderate to heavy in the afternoon.

Issued: 2:40 PM PST Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Precipitation (in)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.75 -1.00 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 0 0.75 1.00
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.25 0 0.75 -1.00 2.00 - 2.50
Stevens Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 1.00 - 1.50 2.00 - 2.50
Snoqualmie Pass 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25 1.00 - 1.50 2.00 - 2.50
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0.75 -1.00 1.00 - 1.50
Paradise 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 2.00 2.50 - 3.50
White Pass 0.25 LT 0.25 1.00 - 1.50 2.00
Washington Pass LT 0.25 0 0.75 1.00 - 1.50
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0.75 0.75 -1.00
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 1.00 - 1.50 1.50
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.25 LT 0.25 1.00 - 1.50 1.50
Mt Hood Meadows 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 2.00 0.75 -1.00
Timberline 0.50 0.50 2.00 1.00
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night 0.75 -1.00
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0.75
Thursday 1.00
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0.75 -1.00
Thursday 2.00 - 2.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Thursday 2.00 - 2.50
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Thursday 2.00 - 2.50
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night 0.75 -1.00
Thursday 1.00 - 1.50
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday 0.25
Wednesday Night 2.00
Thursday 2.50 - 3.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Thursday 2.00
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0.75
Thursday 1.00 - 1.50
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night 0.75
Thursday 0.75 -1.00
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Thursday 1.50
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Thursday 1.50
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.50
Wednesday 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday Night 2.00
Thursday 0.75 -1.00
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.50
Wednesday 0.50
Wednesday Night 2.00
Thursday 1.00

Issued: 2:40 PM PST Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Evening* Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon Wednesday Evening* Wednesday Night* Thursday Morning* Thursday Afternoon
Olympics 1000' 500' 500' 500' 500' 2500' 4500' 5000'
West North 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2500'
West Central 500' 500' 0 500' 500' 0 500' 3500'
West South 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 2000' 4500' 5000'
Stevens Pass 0 500' 500' 1000' 500' 0 0 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 500' 0 1000' 4000'
East North 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2000'
East Central 500' 0 500' 1000' 500' 0 500' 2500'
East South 1500' 2000' 1500' 2000' 1500' 1000' 4500' 5000'
Mt. Hood 3000' 3500' 2500' 2500' 3500' 5000' 7000' 6000'
Olympics Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 1000'
Tuesday Night 500'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 500'
Wednesday Evening* 500'
Wednesday Night* 2500'
Thursday Morning* 4500'
Thursday Afternoon 5000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night 0'
Wednesday Morning 0'
Wednesday Afternoon 0'
Wednesday Evening* 0'
Wednesday Night* 0'
Thursday Morning* 0'
Thursday Afternoon 2500'
West Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 500'
Tuesday Night 500'
Wednesday Morning 0'
Wednesday Afternoon 500'
Wednesday Evening* 500'
Wednesday Night* 0'
Thursday Morning* 500'
Thursday Afternoon 3500'
West South Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 1500'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday Morning 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon 1500'
Wednesday Evening* 1500'
Wednesday Night* 2000'
Thursday Morning* 4500'
Thursday Afternoon 5000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night 500'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 1000'
Wednesday Evening* 500'
Wednesday Night* 0'
Thursday Morning* 0'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 1000'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 1000'
Wednesday Afternoon 1000'
Wednesday Evening* 500'
Wednesday Night* 0'
Thursday Morning* 1000'
Thursday Afternoon 4000'
East North Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night 0'
Wednesday Morning 0'
Wednesday Afternoon 0'
Wednesday Evening* 0'
Wednesday Night* 0'
Thursday Morning* 0'
Thursday Afternoon 2000'
East Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 500'
Tuesday Night 0'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 1000'
Wednesday Evening* 500'
Wednesday Night* 0'
Thursday Morning* 500'
Thursday Afternoon 2500'
East South Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 1500'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday Morning 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon 2000'
Wednesday Evening* 1500'
Wednesday Night* 1000'
Thursday Morning* 4500'
Thursday Afternoon 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 3000'
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday Morning 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon 2500'
Wednesday Evening* 3500'
Wednesday Night* 5000'
Thursday Morning* 7000'
Thursday Afternoon 6000'

Issued: 2:40 PM PST Tuesday, January 4, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Tuesday Night Wednesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 22 / 12 21 / 13
West North 19 / 11 15 / 6
West Central 22 / 17 18 / 12
West South 24 / 20 22 / 18
Stevens Pass 20 / 16 19 / 16
Snoqualmie Pass 22 / 18 20 / 17
East North 14 / 9 14 / 8
East Central 21 / 15 20 / 16
East South 26 / 21 24 / 19
Mt. Hood 30 / 26 30 / 25
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 22 / 12
Wednesday 21 / 13
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 19 / 11
Wednesday 15 / 6
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 22 / 17
Wednesday 18 / 12
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 24 / 20
Wednesday 22 / 18
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 20 / 16
Wednesday 19 / 16
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 22 / 18
Wednesday 20 / 17
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 14 / 9
Wednesday 14 / 8
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 21 / 15
Wednesday 20 / 16
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 26 / 21
Wednesday 24 / 19
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 30 / 26
Wednesday 30 / 25

Issued: 2:40 PM PST Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon
Olympics W 5-15 W 5-15 W 0-10 SSW 0-10
West North S 10-20 W 5-15 W 0-10 SSW 0-10
West Central SSW 5-15 W 10-20 WNW 5-15 W 0-10
West South WSW 10-20 W 15-25 W 10-20 SW 0-10
Stevens Pass SSW 0-10 WNW 10-20 WNW 10-20 W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass SSW 0-10 WNW 10-20 WNW 10-20 W 5-15
East North S 5-15 WSW 5-15 WNW 5-15 W 5-15
East Central SW 10-20 WNW 15-25 WNW 15-25 W 5-15
East South WSW 15-25 WNW 20-30 W 10-20 W 0-10
Mt. Hood WSW 25-35 W 30-40 WSW 25-35 WSW 20-30
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening W 5-15
Tuesday Night W 5-15
Wednesday Morning W 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon SSW 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening S 10-20
Tuesday Night W 5-15
Wednesday Morning W 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon SSW 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSW 5-15
Tuesday Night W 10-20
Wednesday Morning WNW 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon W 0-10
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening WSW 10-20
Tuesday Night W 15-25
Wednesday Morning W 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon SW 0-10
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSW 0-10
Tuesday Night WNW 10-20
Wednesday Morning WNW 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSW 0-10
Tuesday Night WNW 10-20
Wednesday Morning WNW 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon W 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening S 5-15
Tuesday Night WSW 5-15
Wednesday Morning WNW 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon W 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SW 10-20
Tuesday Night WNW 15-25
Wednesday Morning WNW 15-25
Wednesday Afternoon W 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening WSW 15-25
Tuesday Night WNW 20-30
Wednesday Morning W 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon W 0-10
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening WSW 25-35
Tuesday Night W 30-40
Wednesday Morning WSW 25-35
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 20-30

Issued: 2:40 PM PST Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

An open trough sliding toward Oregon keeps the heavy rain and snowfall going Thursday night. East flow could return through the passes, potentially bringing a return to some freezing rain. A drying cold front finally moves through the region on Friday with significant cooling and post-frontal snow shower activity in the afternoon and overnight. Very light snow showers may linger on Saturday.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Night* Friday Friday Night Saturday
West North 3500' 2500' 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 3000' 500' 500'
Mt. Hood 4500' 4000' 1000' 1500'
West North Elevation
Thursday Night* 3500'
Friday 2500'
Friday Night 0'
Saturday 0'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Night* 4000'
Friday 3000'
Friday Night 500'
Saturday 500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Night* 4500'
Friday 4000'
Friday Night 1000'
Saturday 1500'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 4, 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’.