Issued: 2:13 PM PST Monday, January 16, 2023
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

An active southerly branch of the jetstream and split flow over our region keeps our weather reasonably quiet through Tuesday. A very subtle trough over our area with a weak circulation associated with a fizzled low pressure has instigated a region of generally light precipitation along the PNW coastline as of Monday afternoon. This moisture is expected to bring 1-2" of snow for the west slopes of the Cascades as it moves through during the evening (and perhaps overnight) hours. Most other areas will be partly to mostly cloudy with seasonable temperatures.

A ridge of high-pressure wedges into the region on Tuesday, with the warm air aloft trapping low-level moisture against the Cascades with some weak westerly flow forcing. This could produce increasing clouds and mostly very light snowfall during the afternoon for the west slopes of the Cascades.

A trough digs into our nearshore waters Tuesday night with a warm front spreading increasing moisture into our region, particularly the Olympics and the northern Cascades. The trailing cold front moves through before 10 AM with a brief uptick in snow levels to just below 3000 ft in the central Washington Cascades. Snow shower activity follows the front, but should be relatively light except in convergence. The system has become less impressive with successive weather model runs, so at this point, we expect 24-hour snow totals in the 8-12" range for Mt. Baker and Paradise, with only 2-5" for the major passes.

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 Mostly cloudy. Light rain and snow in the evening for the southern areas.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy in the morning with light rain and snow showers increasing late in the day.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy in the morning with light rain and snow showers increasing late in the day.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy in the morning with light rain and snow showers increasing late in the day.
Monday Night Light rain and snow possible in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy overnight.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with very light rain/snow showers possible in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of snow flurries. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with very light rain/snow showers possible in the afternoon. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of light rain/snow during the evening hours. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with very light rain/snow showers possible in the afternoon. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Monday Night Partly cloudy to mostly clear skies.
Tuesday Partly cloudy, then becoming mostly cloudy near the Cascade Crest late in the day.
Monday Night Mostly clear with some clouds lingering closer to the Cascade Crest.
Tuesday Partly cloudy, then becoming mostly cloudy near the Cascade Crest late in the day.
Monday Night Mostly clear.
Tuesday Partly cloudy.
Monday Night Periods of mostly light rain/snow in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy with low clouds banked against the west slopes of the Cascades.
Tuesday Partly cloudy in the morning, becoming mostly cloudy with very ligh rain/snow late in the day.

Issued: 2:13 PM PST Monday, January 16, 2023

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

Issued: 2:13 PM PST Monday, January 16, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon Tuesday Evening* Tuesday Night* Wednesday Morning* Wednesday Afternoon
Olympics 3500' 3500' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3000' 2500'
West North 3500' 3000' 2000' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 3000'
West Central 3500' 3000' 2000' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 3000'
West South 2500' 2500' 2000' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3000'
Stevens Pass 3500' 3000' 1500' 2500' 2500' 2000' 2000' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 2500' 3000' 2000' 2500' 2500' 2000' 2500' 3000'
East North 3500' 2500' 2000' 3500' 3000' 2000' 2000' 2500'
East Central 3500' 2500' 2000' 3500' 3000' 2000' 2000' 3000'
East South 3000' 2500' 2000' 4000' 3000' 2000' 2500' 3500'
Mt. Hood 2500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 2500' 2500' 3500' 3500'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening 3500'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3000'
Tuesday Evening* 3000'
Tuesday Night* 3500'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon 2500'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening 3500'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
Tuesday Evening* 2500'
Tuesday Night* 2500'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon 3000'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening 3500'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
Tuesday Evening* 2500'
Tuesday Night* 2500'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon 3000'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3000'
Tuesday Evening* 2500'
Tuesday Night* 2500'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon 3000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 3500'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
Tuesday Evening* 2500'
Tuesday Night* 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
Tuesday Evening* 2500'
Tuesday Night* 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon 3000'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening 3500'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
Tuesday Evening* 3000'
Tuesday Night* 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 2500'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening 3500'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
Tuesday Evening* 3000'
Tuesday Night* 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 3000'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening 3000'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Tuesday Evening* 3000'
Tuesday Night* 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
Tuesday Evening* 2500'
Tuesday Night* 2500'
Wednesday Morning* 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon 3500'

Issued: 2:13 PM PST Monday, January 16, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 27 / 24 29 / 25
West North 26 / 23 28 / 22
West Central 25 / 23 28 / 27
West South 27 / 25 28 / 27
Stevens Pass 27 / 22 28 / 27
Snoqualmie Pass 28 / 25 29 / 27
East North 24 / 19 29 / 19
East Central 25 / 23 29 / 24
East South 25 / 23 28 / 25
Mt. Hood 27 / 24 30 / 25
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 27 / 24
Tuesday 29 / 25
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 26 / 23
Tuesday 28 / 22
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 25 / 23
Tuesday 28 / 27
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 27 / 25
Tuesday 28 / 27
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 27 / 22
Tuesday 28 / 27
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 28 / 25
Tuesday 29 / 27
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 24 / 19
Tuesday 29 / 19
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 25 / 23
Tuesday 29 / 24
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 25 / 23
Tuesday 28 / 25
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 27 / 24
Tuesday 30 / 25

Issued: 2:13 PM PST Monday, January 16, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:13 PM PST Monday, January 16, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

The upper trough remains over the region with cooler temperatures, scattered snow showers, and weak convergence Wednesday night. Showers tail off Thursday morning with drying northerly flow over the region by the afternoon. A ridge should keep mostly clear/sunny conditions over the region Thursday night and Friday. Temperatures should be near seasonal norms.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night Thursday Thursday Night Friday
West North 1500' 2000' 1500' 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 2000' 1500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 2000' 2500' 2000' 3000'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night 1500'
Thursday 2000'
Thursday Night 1500'
Friday 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night 1500'
Thursday 2000'
Thursday Night 1500'
Friday 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night 2000'
Thursday 2500'
Thursday Night 2000'
Friday 3000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 16, 2023

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’.