Mountain Weather Forecast
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I
Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Friday
Westerly flow continues to bring a few light showers to the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood behind a passing disturbance. Moderate ridgeline winds linger along the east slopes of the Cascades and Mt Hood on Thursday but should decrease throughout the day after peaking in the early morning hours. A weak shortwave ridge brings a gradual drying and warming trend, with snow levels rising from 3500-4000 ft in the morning to 4000-5000 ft in the afternoon. Temperatures will increase with the down-slope drying air along the east slopes of the Cascades.
Thursday night, the weak ridge dries out southern parts of the forecast region with scattered to isolated showers continuing further north as light winds turn SSWerly and temperatures continue to rise gradually.
A broad closed low off the California/Oregon coast gradually drifts NE on Friday, extending a frontal band of light rain/snow into southwest parts of our forecast region on Friday. It's unclear how far this will progress during the day. Snow levels should be above seasonal norms in the 5000-6500 ft range.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Thursday | Partly cloudy with a chance of rain or snow showers in the afternoon. |
| Thursday Night | Cloudy. |
West North
| Thursday | Mostly cloudy with a few very light rain or snow showers. |
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy in the evening, then becoming cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers overnight. |
West Central
| Thursday | Mostly cloudy with decreasing light rain or snow showers. |
| Thursday Night | Cloudy with increasing light rain and snow showers. |
West South
| Thursday | Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain or snow showers. |
| Thursday Night | Cloudy with decreasing light rain and snow showers. |
Stevens Pass
| Thursday | Mostly cloudy with decreasing light rain or snow showers. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass. |
| Thursday Night | Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass becomes variable or E overnight. |
Snoqualmie Pass
| Thursday | Mostly cloudy with decreasing light rain or snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass. |
| Thursday Night | Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass becomes variable or E overnight. |
East North
| Thursday | Partly cloudy with a slight chance of a sprinkle or snow flurry near the Cascade Crest. |
| Thursday Night | Partly cloudy with a few light rain or snow showers overnight. |
East Central
| Thursday | Partly cloudy with a chance of light rain or snow showers near the Cascade Crest. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Thursday Night | Partly cloudy with a few light rain or snow showers. |
East South
| Thursday | Partly cloudy with a chance of light rain or snow showers near the Cascade Crest. |
| Thursday Night | Partly cloudy with a chance of snow flurries or sprinkles near the Cascade Crest. |
Mt. Hood
| Thursday | Mostly cloudy with a chance of light rain or snow showers. Moderate to occasionally strong ridgeline winds gradually decrease. |
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with a chance of light rain or snow showers in the evening. |
Issued: 7:06 AM PST Thursday, March 21, 2024
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3500' | 3500' | None' | 5000' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 4500' | 4500' | None' | 5500' |
| Thursday Evening | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 5000' | 5000' | None' | 5500' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 5000' | 5000' | None' | 6500' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 5000' | 5000' | None' | 6000' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 5500' | 6000' | None' | 6500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
* Easterly flow in the Cascade Passes can cause locally lower Snow or Freezing levels than areas further west.
Freezing Level is when no precipitation is forecast.
Precipitation Forecast
| Thursday | Thursday Night | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 am - 5 pm | 5 pm - 5 am | 5 am - 5 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0.25 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0.25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0.25 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0.25 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0.25 |
LT = less than; WE or Water equivalent is the liquid water equivalent of melted snow in hundredths of inches. As a rough approximation 1 inch of snow = about .10 inches WE, or 10 inches of snow = about 1 inch WE.
Issued: 7:06 AM PST Thursday, March 21, 2024
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | WSW None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | WSW None - None |
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SW None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SSW None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW None - None |
| Thursday Evening | SW None - None |
| Thursday Night | SSW None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW None - None |
| Thursday Evening | SW None - None |
| Thursday Night | SSW None - None |
Directions above indicate the direction the wind blows from on the 16-point cardinal scale. These winds indicate "free" winds, or those winds in the atmosphere not influenced by terrain. Topographical effects may produce greater or lower wind speeds in certain locations as well as significant variations in direction.
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I
Previous forecast from March 20, 2024
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.