Mountain Weather Forecast
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Saturday
A weak ridge of high pressure strengthens through Friday morning. A deeper low spinning off the Oregon coast ejects weak disturbances northward into the region as the low center drifts northeastward. The interplay between these two weather features brings a mix of sun, clouds, and light bands of showery precipitation. The timing of these bands and the associated cloud cover will be difficult to predict precisely. At this time, it appears that the first band moves north from a weak circulation center just off the Washington Coast on Thursday afternoon. This feature spreads up to 0.1" of water equivalent into the Washington Cascades Thursday night, with higher amounts possible for the southern Olympics. Snow levels fluctuate around 5000 ft. The weak precipitation band likely dissipates near the Canadian border Friday morning, giving areas further south some fair weather with filtered sunshine, high cloud cover and freezing levels peaking around 6500-7500 ft.
The more substantial frontal rain band pushes the region from south to N as the broad closed low approaches Friday afternoon. Rain and higher elevation snow levels start around 5500-6000 ft, but drop to around 4000 ft where they remain fairly steady on Saturday. Light to moderate rain and snow focus peak in the southern Cascades Friday evening, the central Cascades overnight, and the northern Cascades throughout the day on Saturday. Easterly low-level flow and SSE upper-level winds will favor the E slopes of the Cascades, so expect fairly comparable precipitation amounts on both sides of the Cascades. Most areas can expect 0.5-1.5" of snow water equivalent by the end of the day Saturday, translating to 6-18" of snow above the shifting rain-snow line.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Thursday Night | Cloudy with increasing chances of light rain or snow showers. |
| Friday | Mostly cloudy in the morning with a chance of rain or snow showers; becoming cloudy with light rain and snow showers increasing. |
West North
| Thursday Night | Partly cloudy in the evening, then cloudy with a chance of light rain and snow showers after midnight. |
| Friday | Cloudy with a few light rain and snow. |
West Central
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers at times. |
| Friday | Cloudy with a few light rain and snow showers at times. |
West South
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers at times. |
| Friday | Partly cloudy in the morning, then cloudy with increasing light rain and snow. |
Stevens Pass
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers at times. Light ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass shifts E in the early morning hours. |
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with increasing chances of light rain and snow showers. Increasing light ridgeline and light E wind at the Pass. |
Snoqualmie Pass
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers at times. Light ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass shifts E in the early morning hours. |
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with increasing chances of light rain and snow showers. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline and light to occasionally moderate E wind at the Pass. |
East North
| Thursday Night | Partly cloudy with clouds increasing in the early morning hours. |
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of light rain or snow showers in the afternoon. |
East Central
| Thursday Night | Partly cloudy, with clouds increasing in the early morning hours. |
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with increasing clouds and light rain or snow showers developing in the afternoon. |
East South
| Thursday Night | Partly cloudy with a chance of sprinkles or flurries near the Cascade Crest. |
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with increasing clouds and light rain or snow showers developing in the afternoon. |
Mt. Hood
| Thursday Night | High overcast. Mild. |
| Friday | A high overcast to start the day, then light rain and snow showers develop around the mid-day hours. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
Issued: 2:40 PM 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 Evening | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 5000' | 5000' | None' | 6500' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 5000' | 5000' | None' | 7000' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 6500' | 6500' | None' | 7500' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 5500' | 5500' | None' | 6000' |
| Friday Evening | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 5500' | 6000' | None' | 6000' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 5000' | 5000' | None' | 5000' |
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 4000' | 4000' | None' | 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 4000' | 4000' | None' | 4000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| 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 *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| 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 *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| 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 *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| 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 *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| 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 *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
* 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 Night | Friday | Friday Night | Saturday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 pm - 5 am | 5 am - 5 pm | 5 pm - 5 am | 5 am - 5 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 | 0.50 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 | 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | 0.50 | 0.25 |
| Paradise | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 | 0.25 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | 0 | LT 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.50 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Saturday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
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: 2:40 PM PST Thursday, March 21, 2024
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SSE None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SSE None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW None - None |
| Thursday Night | SSW None - None |
| Friday Morning | SSE None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | SSE None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW None - None |
| Thursday Night | SSW None - None |
| Friday Morning | SSE None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | SSE 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.
Free Winds at 9000' (mph)
| Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- 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.
Issued: 2:40 PM PST Thursday, March 21, 2024
Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Monday
The upper low morphs into a broad trough Saturday night as the surface feature shifts across the Cascades. Flow shifts NNWerly through Sunday with light rain and snow showers continuing for the central Washington Cascades south to Mt Hood. Snow levels drop to around 3000 ft by Sunday. Temperatures remain cool Sunday night with clearing skies as a subtle shortwave ridge moves over the region. A shortwave trough arrives with scattered showers and 3000-3500 ft snow levels on Monday.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | |
| Sunday | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | |
| Monday | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Monday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Monday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Monday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
* 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.
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Previous forecast from March 21, 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.