Issued: 1:59 PM PST Monday, January 17, 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

A slow west-to-east oriented front is hung over the Strait of Juan de Fuca through the Fraser Valley this afternoon. Cloudy conditions over the Olympics and northern Cascades transition to filtered sunshine further south. Temperatures are in the 40s in many mountain locations this afternoon but have begun a slow cooling trend as the front approaches. A trailing upper level shortwave feature upstream will swing through tonight will push the precipitation further inland. Snow levels will fall into the 4000-5500' range through Tuesday morning with 1-5 inches of snow possible along the west slopes of the central/northern Cascades and Passes and lower amounts elsewhere. Westerly ridgeline winds will pick up this evening through tomorrow morning for many locations.  

Steadier precipitation will quickly turn to scattered showers later Tuesday morning and decrease both in coverage and intensity further in the afternoon. Upper level ridging quickly building offshore will trap moisture below 8,000-10,000' Tuesday afternoon, making for a cloudy afternoon except for the highest peaks. Westerly ridgeline winds will also decrease tomorrow across the region. 

Stray showers will hang around Tuesday night but the next main event will arrive in the form of a warm front Wednesday afternoon. Snow levels will remain steady from Tuesday through Wednesday morning but begin to rise sharply for Mt Hood and the Olympics as milder air works into the region.  

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 Cloudy with light rain and snow showers.
Tuesday Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers in the morning becoming isolated light showers in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers.
Tuesday Cloudy with light rain and snow showers in the morning becoming isolated light showers in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers.
Tuesday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the morning becoming isolated light showers in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy. Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers developing late in the evening.
Tuesday Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers in the morning becoming isolated light showers in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with light rain and snow showers developing in the evening. Light west winds in the Passes, moderate at ridgeline.
Tuesday Cloudy with light rain and snow showers in the morning becoming isolated light showers in the afternoon. Moderate west winds at Pass and ridgeline decreasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers developing in the evening. Light west winds in the Passes, moderate to strong at ridgeline.
Tuesday Cloudy with light rain and snow showers in the morning becoming isolated light showers in the afternoon. Moderate west winds at Pass and ridgeline decreasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with light rain and snow showers developing near the Cascade crest in the evening.
Tuesday Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers in the morning becoming isolated light showers in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with light rain and snow showers developing late in the evening near the Cascade crest. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers in the morning becoming isolated light showers in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with light rain and snow showers developing after midnight near the Cascade crest. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers in the morning becoming isolated light showers in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening then cloudy after midnight. Chance of light rain and snow showers late.
Tuesday Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers in the morning becoming isolated light showers in the afternoon.

Issued: 1:59 PM PST Monday, January 17, 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 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0 LT 0.10 0 0
Timberline LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10

Issued: 1:59 PM PST Monday, January 17, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon
Olympics 6000' 5500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 5500'
West North 5000' 4500' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500'
West Central 5500' 4500' 4500' 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000'
West South 6000' 5500' 4500' 4500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000'
Stevens Pass 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 5500' 5000' 5000' 4500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500'
East North 4500' 4500' 4000' 4500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 4000'
East Central 6000' 5000' 5000' 4500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000'
East South 7000' 5500' 5000' 4500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 4500'
Mt. Hood 8000' 6000' 5500' 5000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 5500'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening 6000'
Monday Night 5500'
Tuesday Morning 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Tuesday Evening 4000'
Tuesday Night 4000'
Wednesday Morning 4000'
Wednesday Afternoon 5500'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday Morning 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday Morning 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon 3500'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening 5500'
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday Morning 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday Morning 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon 4000'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening 6000'
Monday Night 5500'
Tuesday Morning 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday Morning 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon 4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 4500'
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday Morning 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday Morning 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 5500'
Monday Night 5000'
Tuesday Morning 5000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday Morning 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon 3500'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening 4500'
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday Morning 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Tuesday Evening 3000'
Tuesday Night 3000'
Wednesday Morning 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon 4000'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening 6000'
Monday Night 5000'
Tuesday Morning 5000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday Morning 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon 4000'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening 7000'
Monday Night 5500'
Tuesday Morning 5000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday Morning 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening 8000'
Monday Night 6000'
Tuesday Morning 5500'
Tuesday Afternoon 5000'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday Morning 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon 5500'

Issued: 1:59 PM PST Monday, January 17, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 35 / 30 31 / 28
West North 34 / 31 31 / 29
West Central 35 / 31 31 / 30
West South 37 / 32 32 / 30
Stevens Pass 35 / 31 32 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass 35 / 31 32 / 30
East North 34 / 30 32 / 27
East Central 36 / 32 33 / 30
East South 36 / 32 33 / 30
Mt. Hood 38 / 34 33 / 30
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 35 / 30
Tuesday 31 / 28
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 34 / 31
Tuesday 31 / 29
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 35 / 31
Tuesday 31 / 30
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 37 / 32
Tuesday 32 / 30
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 35 / 31
Tuesday 32 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 35 / 31
Tuesday 32 / 30
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 34 / 30
Tuesday 32 / 27
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 36 / 32
Tuesday 33 / 30
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 36 / 32
Tuesday 33 / 30
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 38 / 34
Tuesday 33 / 30

Issued: 1:59 PM PST Monday, January 17, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 1:59 PM PST Monday, January 17, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

Precipitation will increase quickly Wednesday night with the incoming storm as snow levels continue to rise. However, this will be a short lived event as the trailing cold front comes crashing through Thursday morning with a period of strong westerly winds. There won't be much cooling or an extended period of post-frontal shower activity behind this front thanks to a strong upper level ridge and surface high pressure already building offshore.  Dry weather and a gradual but significant warming trend will start on Friday and likely continue over next weekend.  

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night Thursday Thursday Night Friday
West North 4500' 4500' 3000' 7000'
Snoqualmie Pass 6500' 5000' 3500' 5500'
Mt. Hood 8000' 6000' 5000' 8000'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night 4500'
Thursday 4500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday 7000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night 6500'
Thursday 5000'
Thursday Night 3500'
Friday 5500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night 8000'
Thursday 6000'
Thursday Night 5000'
Friday 8000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 17, 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’.