Issued: 2:07 PM PST Sunday, January 16, 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

Mild temperatures, low clouds/fog near and east of the Cascade Passes and periods of high clouds for all areas will continue overnight. An approaching Pacific frontal system will finally begin to break down the ridge on MLK Day, with light rain and snow beginning for the Olympics and northwest Cascades around late morning or mid-day. Freezing levels/temperatures will slowly lower as the front approaches for all areas. Low clouds will increase late in the day and evening for the west side of Cascades as the front takes its time to work inland.  Westerly ridgeline winds will increase tomorrow for all areas ahead of the front. 

The front will not pack much of a punch in terms of precipitation. While snow levels will lower to 4000-5000' behind the front on later Monday night through Tuesday, showers will only produce a few inches of snow through Tuesday afternoon. 

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
Sunday Night Partly cloudy in the evening, then cloudy after midnight.
Monday Mostly cloudy in the morning, then light rain and snow in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly cloudy after midnight.
Monday Mostly cloudy in the morning, then light to moderate rain and snow in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy with periods of high clouds in the morning, then mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy.
Monday Partly sunny with periods of high clouds increasing late in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy. Areas of low clouds especially east of the Pass. Light easterly flow at Pass level and moderate westerly ridgeline winds.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy. Increasing clouds in the afternoon. Moderate westerly winds at Pass level and ridgeline.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy. Areas of low clouds especially east of the Pass. Light easterly flow at Pass level and moderate westerly ridgeline winds.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy. Increasing clouds in the afternoon. Moderate westerly winds, becoming strong at ridgeline in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy. Areas of low clouds and valley fog.
Monday Partly sunny with periods of high clouds in the morning, then mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Areas of low clouds and valley fog. Strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy. Areas of low clouds and valley fog.
Monday Partly to mostly sunny with periods of high clouds in the morning, then mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Areas of low clouds and valley fog. Strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy. Areas of low clouds and valley fog.
Monday Partly to mostly sunny with periods of high clouds. Areas of low clouds and valley fog.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy.
Monday Partly to mostly sunny with periods of high clouds.

Issued: 2:07 PM PST Sunday, January 16, 2022

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 2:07 PM PST Sunday, January 16, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening* Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 8500' 8500' 7000' 9500' 6000' 4500' 4000' 4000'
West North 7000' 7000' 6500' 5000' 5000' 4500' 4000' 3500'
West Central 8000' 8000' 7000' 5500' 5500' 4500' 4000' 4000'
West South 9000' 9000' 8000' 7500' 6500' 5000' 4500' 4000'
Stevens Pass 8000' 8000' 6500' 5500' 5000' 4500' 4000' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 9000' 9000' 7500' 6500' 6000' 5000' 4500' 4000'
East North 7500' 7000' 6500' 5500' 5000' 4000' 4000' 4000'
East Central 8500' 8500' 8000' 6500' 6000' 5000' 4500' 4000'
East South 9000' 9000' 8500' 7500' 6500' 5500' 4500' 4500'
Mt. Hood 10000' 9500' 9000' 8500' 7500' 6000' 4500' 5000'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening* 8500'
Sunday Night 8500'
Monday Morning 7000'
Monday Afternoon 9500'
Monday Evening 6000'
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday Morning 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening* 7000'
Sunday Night 7000'
Monday Morning 6500'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday Morning 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening* 8000'
Sunday Night 8000'
Monday Morning 7000'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening 5500'
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday Morning 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening* 9000'
Sunday Night 9000'
Monday Morning 8000'
Monday Afternoon 7500'
Monday Evening 6500'
Monday Night 5000'
Tuesday Morning 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening* 8000'
Sunday Night 8000'
Monday Morning 6500'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday Morning 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening* 9000'
Sunday Night 9000'
Monday Morning 7500'
Monday Afternoon 6500'
Monday Evening 6000'
Monday Night 5000'
Tuesday Morning 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening* 7500'
Sunday Night 7000'
Monday Morning 6500'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday Morning 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening* 8500'
Sunday Night 8500'
Monday Morning 8000'
Monday Afternoon 6500'
Monday Evening 6000'
Monday Night 5000'
Tuesday Morning 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening* 9000'
Sunday Night 9000'
Monday Morning 8500'
Monday Afternoon 7500'
Monday Evening 6500'
Monday Night 5500'
Tuesday Morning 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening* 10000'
Sunday Night 9500'
Monday Morning 9000'
Monday Afternoon 8500'
Monday Evening 7500'
Monday Night 6000'
Tuesday Morning 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon 5000'

Issued: 2:07 PM PST Sunday, January 16, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 39 / 34 38 / 33
West North 38 / 33 36 / 32
West Central 37 / 34 37 / 34
West South 38 / 33 39 / 34
Stevens Pass 37 / 33 37 / 32
Snoqualmie Pass 37 / 33 38 / 34
East North 37 / 30 38 / 32
East Central 38 / 33 40 / 34
East South 40 / 34 41 / 35
Mt. Hood 42 / 37 43 / 37
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 39 / 34
Monday 38 / 33
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 38 / 33
Monday 36 / 32
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 37 / 34
Monday 37 / 34
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 38 / 33
Monday 39 / 34
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 37 / 33
Monday 37 / 32
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 37 / 33
Monday 38 / 34
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 37 / 30
Monday 38 / 32
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 38 / 33
Monday 40 / 34
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 40 / 34
Monday 41 / 35
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 42 / 37
Monday 43 / 37

Issued: 2:07 PM PST Sunday, January 16, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:07 PM PST Sunday, January 16, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

The midweek period will remain active.  Warm frontal precipitation will reach the area on Wednesday, aimed over the Washington Cascades but largely missing Mt. Hood.  The trailing cold front should bring a bout of moderate precipitation and strong westerly winds to most areas Wednesday night and Thursday. The long-range looks quite dry after the Wed/Thu system and it could be awhile to a favorable snow track returns to the PNW. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
West North 3000' 3000' 5000' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 3500' 5500' 5500'
Mt. Hood 4500' 6000' 7500' 6500'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 3000'
Wednesday 3000'
Wednesday Night 5000'
Thursday 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday 3500'
Wednesday Night 5500'
Thursday 5500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 4500'
Wednesday 6000'
Wednesday Night 7500'
Thursday 6500'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 16, 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’.