It looks like a beautiful afternoon across the forecast area with mostly sunny skies, warm temperatures, and light winds in the mountains. This is all thanks to a high pressure parked over the eastern Pacific. This ridge will keep us dry for the next 24 hrs or so. Overnight, clear skies and generally light winds should allow temperature inversions to form in the mountain valleys and passes. This could result in some patchy fog, especially near rivers and lakes. Higher up the hillsides, temperatures will stay quite mild as the warm air continues to push into the region.
Thursday will start mostly sunny and warm for all of our mountain locations. As the day progresses you'll notice two changes. Winds and clouds will start to increase, particularly in the afternoon, out ahead of our next storm. A few of the more wind-prone areas like Mission Ridge, Darland Mt, and Mt Hood could see strong winds by later in the day. While the precipitation doesn't appear to arrive until after sunset, you could encounter a few stray showers close to the Canadian border.
A weak short-wave system will approach the region from the north Thursday night and bring with it significantly colder air. While many areas may start as rain, plummeting temperatures should quickly transition precipitation to snow. This includes the Cascada Passes. The bulk of the precipitation should fall overnight and into the first half of Friday. While not a big snow producer, most sites near and west of the crest should pick up a quick 4-6in. As the system travels further south, expect conditions to dry out and showers to taper from north to south during the day.
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
Wednesday
Night
Clear and mild. Inversions and valley fog possible.
Thursday
Mostly sunny and warm. Increasing clouds in the afternoon. Light to moderate NW winds.
Wednesday
Night
Clear and mild with inversions and valley fog possible.
Thursday
Mostly sunny in the morning with clouds increasing and thickening in the afternoon. A few sprinkles possible before sunset. Winds increasing and becoming W moderate.
Wednesday
Night
Clear and mild with inversions and valley fog possible.
Thursday
Mostly sunny with high clouds increasing in the afternoon. Winds increasing and becoming W moderate.
Wednesday
Night
Clear and mild. Temperature inversions and fog possible in the mountain valleys and passes.
Thursday
Mostly sunny with high clouds in the afternoon. Light to moderate NW winds.
Wednesday
Night
Clear and mild. Temperature inversions and fog possible near the Pass. Light westerly flow.
Thursday
Mostly sunny. High clouds increasing in the afternoon. NW winds becoming light to moderate.
Wednesday
Night
Mostly clear and mild. Temperature inversions and fog possible near the Pass. Light westerly flow. Ridgetop winds becoming NW light to moderate.
Thursday
Mostly sunny in the morning. Increasing high clouds in the afternoon. NW winds becoming moderate.
Wednesday
Night
Mostly clear and mild, with temperature inversions and patchy fog in the mountain valleys.
Thursday
Mostly sunny in the morning. Clouds increasing and thickening throughout the day. WNW winds increasing and becoming moderate. A few stray sprinkles are possible near the crest late in the day.
Wednesday
Night
Mostly clear and mild. Temperature inversions and patch fog possible in the mountain valleys.
Thursday
Mostly sunny with increasing high clouds in the afternoon. Moderate NW winds becoming stronger later in the day.
Wednesday
Night
Mostly clear and mild. Temperature inversions and patchy fog possible in the mountain valleys.
Thursday
Mostly sunny with increasing high clouds. Moderate NW winds becoming stronger in the afternoon.
Wednesday
Night
Mostly clear and mild. Temperature inversions and patch fog possible in the mountain valleys.
Thursday
Mostly sunny and warm. High clouds increasing late in the day. Light to moderate NW winds becoming stronger in the afternoon.
Issued: 2:00 PM PST Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
Thursday
Thursday Night
Friday
4 pm - 4 am
4 am - 4 pm
4 pm - 4 am
4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge
0
0
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area
0
0
0.50
LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
0
0
0.50
LT 0.25
Stevens Pass
0
0
0.25
LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass
0
0
0.25 - 0.50
0.25
Crystal Mt
0
0
0.25
0.25
Paradise
0
0
0.25 - 0.50
0.25 - 0.50
White Pass
0
0
LT 0.25
LT 0.25
Washington Pass
0
0
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
Mission Ridge
0
0
0
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
0
0
LT 0.25
LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
0
0
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows
0
0
LT 0.10
0.50
Timberline
0
0
LT 0.10
0.50
Hurricane Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
LT 0.25
Friday
LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0.50
Friday
LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0.50
Friday
LT 0.25
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0.25
Friday
LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0.25 - 0.50
Friday
0.25
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0.25
Friday
0.25
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0.25 - 0.50
Friday
0.25 - 0.50
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
LT 0.25
Friday
LT 0.25
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
LT 0.25
Friday
LT 0.10
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
LT 0.25
Friday
LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0.50
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0.50
Issued: 2:00 PM PST Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Snow Level (ft)
Wednesday
Evening
Wednesday
Night
Thursday
Morning
Thursday
Afternoon
Thursday
Evening
Thursday
Night
Friday
Morning
Friday
Afternoon
Olympics
9000'
8500'
8000'
8000'
5000'
4000'
3500'
3500'
West North
8500'
8500'
7500'
5000'
4000'
3000'
3000'
3500'
West Central
8500'
8500'
7500'
5000'
4000'
3000'
3000'
3500'
West South
9000'
9500'
8500'
7500'
4500'
3500'
3500'
4000'
Stevens Pass
8500'
9000'
8000'
5500'
4000'
3000'
3000'
3500'
Snoqualmie Pass
9000'
9000'
8000'
6000'
4000'
3000'
3000'
3500'
East North
8500'
8500'
8500'
5500'
4000'
3000'
3000'
3500'
East Central
8500'
9000'
8500'
6500'
4000'
3000'
3000'
3500'
East South
9000'
9500'
8500'
8500'
4500'
4000'
3500'
4000'
Mt. Hood
9500'
9500'
9500'
9000'
6000'
4000'
4000'
4000'
Olympics
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening
9000'
Wednesday
Night
8500'
Thursday
Morning
8000'
Thursday
Afternoon
8000'
Thursday
Evening
5000'
Thursday
Night
4000'
Friday
Morning
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
3500'
West North
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening
8500'
Wednesday
Night
8500'
Thursday
Morning
7500'
Thursday
Afternoon
5000'
Thursday
Evening
4000'
Thursday
Night
3000'
Friday
Morning
3000'
Friday
Afternoon
3500'
West Central
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening
8500'
Wednesday
Night
8500'
Thursday
Morning
7500'
Thursday
Afternoon
5000'
Thursday
Evening
4000'
Thursday
Night
3000'
Friday
Morning
3000'
Friday
Afternoon
3500'
West South
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening
9000'
Wednesday
Night
9500'
Thursday
Morning
8500'
Thursday
Afternoon
7500'
Thursday
Evening
4500'
Thursday
Night
3500'
Friday
Morning
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
4000'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening
8500'
Wednesday
Night
9000'
Thursday
Morning
8000'
Thursday
Afternoon
5500'
Thursday
Evening
4000'
Thursday
Night
3000'
Friday
Morning
3000'
Friday
Afternoon
3500'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening
9000'
Wednesday
Night
9000'
Thursday
Morning
8000'
Thursday
Afternoon
6000'
Thursday
Evening
4000'
Thursday
Night
3000'
Friday
Morning
3000'
Friday
Afternoon
3500'
East North
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening
8500'
Wednesday
Night
8500'
Thursday
Morning
8500'
Thursday
Afternoon
5500'
Thursday
Evening
4000'
Thursday
Night
3000'
Friday
Morning
3000'
Friday
Afternoon
3500'
East Central
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening
8500'
Wednesday
Night
9000'
Thursday
Morning
8500'
Thursday
Afternoon
6500'
Thursday
Evening
4000'
Thursday
Night
3000'
Friday
Morning
3000'
Friday
Afternoon
3500'
East South
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening
9000'
Wednesday
Night
9500'
Thursday
Morning
8500'
Thursday
Afternoon
8500'
Thursday
Evening
4500'
Thursday
Night
4000'
Friday
Morning
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
4000'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening
9500'
Wednesday
Night
9500'
Thursday
Morning
9500'
Thursday
Afternoon
9000'
Thursday
Evening
6000'
Thursday
Night
4000'
Friday
Morning
4000'
Friday
Afternoon
4000'
Issued: 2:00 PM PST Wednesday, January 25, 2023
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Wednesday
Night
Thursday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
35 / 32
37 / 32
West North
37 / 30
35 / 32
West Central
37 / 30
37 / 32
West South
37 / 29
39 / 30
Stevens Pass
33 / 28
34 / 29
Snoqualmie Pass
34 / 28
35 / 28
East North
32 / 26
36 / 28
East Central
37 / 28
39 / 28
East South
37 / 30
39 / 30
Mt. Hood
38 / 32
41 / 30
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
35 / 32
Thursday
37 / 32
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
37 / 30
Thursday
35 / 32
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
37 / 30
Thursday
37 / 32
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
37 / 29
Thursday
39 / 30
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
33 / 28
Thursday
34 / 29
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
34 / 28
Thursday
35 / 28
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
32 / 26
Thursday
36 / 28
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
37 / 28
Thursday
39 / 28
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
37 / 30
Thursday
39 / 30
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
38 / 32
Thursday
41 / 30
Issued: 2:00 PM PST Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
Wednesday
Night
Thursday
Morning
Thursday
Afternoon
Olympics
N 5-15
NW 5-15
NW 10-20
NW 10-20
West North
VAR 0-10
W 5-15
W 10-20
W 15-25
West Central
NW 0-10
NW 5-15
NW 10-20
W 15-25
West South
NW 0-10
NW 5-15
NW 10-20
NW 10-20
Stevens Pass
NW 0-10
W 5-15
NW 5-15
NW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass
NW 5-15
NW 10-20
NW 10-20
NW 15-25
East North
NW 5-15
NW 5-15
WNW 10-20
WNW 15-25
East Central
NW 5-15
NW 5-15
NW 15-25
NW 20-30
East South
NW 0-10
NW 5-15
NW 10-20
NW 20-30
Mt. Hood
N 0-10
NW 5-15
NW 10-20
NW 20-30
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
N
5-15
Wednesday
Night
NW
5-15
Thursday
Morning
NW
10-20
Thursday
Afternoon
NW
10-20
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
VAR
0-10
Wednesday
Night
W
5-15
Thursday
Morning
W
10-20
Thursday
Afternoon
W
15-25
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
NW
0-10
Wednesday
Night
NW
5-15
Thursday
Morning
NW
10-20
Thursday
Afternoon
W
15-25
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
NW
0-10
Wednesday
Night
NW
5-15
Thursday
Morning
NW
10-20
Thursday
Afternoon
NW
10-20
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
NW
0-10
Wednesday
Night
W
5-15
Thursday
Morning
NW
5-15
Thursday
Afternoon
NW
10-20
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
NW
5-15
Wednesday
Night
NW
10-20
Thursday
Morning
NW
10-20
Thursday
Afternoon
NW
15-25
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
NW
5-15
Wednesday
Night
NW
5-15
Thursday
Morning
WNW
10-20
Thursday
Afternoon
WNW
15-25
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
NW
5-15
Wednesday
Night
NW
5-15
Thursday
Morning
NW
15-25
Thursday
Afternoon
NW
20-30
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
NW
0-10
Wednesday
Night
NW
5-15
Thursday
Morning
NW
10-20
Thursday
Afternoon
NW
20-30
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
N
0-10
Wednesday
Night
NW
5-15
Thursday
Morning
NW
10-20
Thursday
Afternoon
NW
20-30
Issued: 2:00 PM PST Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Extended Weather Synopsis
Showers will continue to taper Friday night as we get a short-lived break between two storms. A strengthening arctic front will swing over the Pacific Northwest on Saturday and bring with it another round of snow and falling temperatures. With very cold air pouring into the area from the north, we could see relatively high snow-to-water ratios (low-density snow). The question will be how much moisture this storm has to produce snow. A shift in the front east or west could make a big difference. So, for now, let's just keep an eye on this one. Either way, showers should decrease by Sunday morning leaving us with a dry and chilly day to wrap up the weekend.
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).