Issued: 2:00 PM PST Wednesday, January 25, 2023
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

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.

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

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'

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

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

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. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Friday Night Saturday * Saturday Night* Sunday *
West North 1000' 1000' 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 2500' 2000' 0 0
Mt. Hood 3000' 2500' 0 0
West North Elevation
Friday Night 1000'
Saturday * 1000'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday * 0'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Night 2500'
Saturday * 2000'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday * 0'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday * 2500'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday * 0'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 25, 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’.