Mountain Weather Forecast
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I
Weather Synopsis for Friday & Saturday
A low-pressure system off the Oregon coast will keep mostly cloudy skies over our region with an increasing chance of showers as it lifts northeast. A lingering disturbance maintains a chance of very light snowers near the Washington / British Columbia border early Friday. These showers should dissipate, leaving fair weather for much of central and northern Washington through the mid-day hours. A cold-frontal feature increases more widespread shower activity from south to north during the afternoon. Temperatures started the day mild with only upper elevations (above around 6000 ft) below freezing. Temperatures should stay fairly steady throughout the day with only weak inversions and lower elevations showering much in the way of diurnal warming.
The main event arrives Friday night as the NNW-SSE oriented lifts northward. Light to moderate SE winds aloft, combined with low-level E flow should favor the E slopes of the Cascades for a period of moderate precipitation, but the west slopes of the Cascades should still do fairly well. Expect some cooling as snow levels lower to and remain around 4000 ft on Saturday. The frontal band lingers over northern Washington. Weather models diverge regarding how far north this frontal band lifts and how much shower activity continues for the central Washington Cascades. It could be the difference between a fairly dry day vs a fairly wet/snowy one.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with an increasing chance of light rain or snow showers. Mild. |
| Friday Night | Periods of light rain and snow (moderate in southern and eastern Olympics). |
West North
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with a chance of light rain or snow showers. Mild. |
| Friday Night | Periods of light rain and snow. |
West Central
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with a chance of light rain or snow showers. Mild. |
| Friday Night | Periods of light rain and snow becoming moderate at times after midnight. |
West South
| Friday | Mostly cloudy in the morning. Light rain or snow showers increase from mid-morning onward. Mild. |
| Friday Night | Light rain and snow. Light to moderate rain and snow with the peak precipitation shifting from south to north. |
Stevens Pass
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with a chance of light rain or snow showers, mainly during the afternoon hours. Light ridgeline and light E wind at the Pass. Mild. |
| Friday Night | Light rain and snow become moderate overnight. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass shift W overnight. |
Snoqualmie Pass
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with a chance of light rain or snow showers, mainly during the afternoon hours. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline and light to occasionally moderate E wind at the Pass. Mild. |
| Friday Night | Light rain and snow become moderate overnight. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass shift W overnight. |
East North
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with some filtered sunshine at times; a slight chance of light rain or snow showers. Mild. |
| Friday Night | Increasing light rain and snow. |
East Central
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with some filtered sunshine at times; a chance of light rain or snow showers in the afternoon. Mild. |
| Friday Night | Increasing light rain and snow become moderate overnight. |
East South
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with some filtered sunshine at times; a chance of light rain or snow showers in the afternoon. Mild. |
| Friday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow. |
Mt. Hood
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with increasing chances of light rain or snow showers. Mild. Light to moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Friday Night | Moderate rain and snow decrease into the light range overnight. Light to moderate ridgeline winds. |
Issued: 7:07 AM PST Friday, March 22, 2024
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 5000' | 5500' | None' | 6000' |
| 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' | 4500' |
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 4000' | 4000' | None' | 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 4000' | 4000' | None' | 400' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' (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 |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' (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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 400' |
* 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
| Friday | Friday Night | Saturday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 am - 5 pm | 5 pm - 5 am | 5 am - 5 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | 0.25 | 0.50 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | LT 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | LT 0.10 | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | LT 0.10 | 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.50 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 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: 7:07 AM PST Friday, March 22, 2024
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | S None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SSE None - None |
| Friday Evening | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SW None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SSW None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | S None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | SSE None - None |
| Friday Evening | SW None - None |
| Friday Night | SSW None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | S None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | SSE None - None |
| Friday Evening | SW None - None |
| Friday 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 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.