Mountain Weather Forecast
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I
Weather Synopsis for Saturday & Sunday
A closed low off the Oregon coast maintains unsettled and cooler weather over our region today. A deformation band becomes better organized early Saturday over the central and northern portions of the Washington Cascades. Expect relatively continuous light to moderate precipitation in these areas, decreasing by the mid-day hours in the central Washington Cascades as the deformation band lifts northward. Expect a break in the action and better chances for a period of sunshine to the south of the deformation band before instability showers closer to the low center move into the southern Washington Cascades during the afternoon hours. Snow levels hover around 4000 ft in most areas.
Models diverge regarding whether precipitation remains associated with a weakened deformation band that shifts SE overnight into Sunday or whether we end up seeing mountain-enhanced shower activity. Either way, expect some light rain and snow mainly for the west slopes of the Cascades and northern Olympics through Sunday. Snow levels generally drop to the 3500-4000 ft range by Sunday.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Saturday | Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow decreasing during the afternoon and focusing on the northern Olympics. |
| Saturday Night | Decreasing light rain and snow showers. |
West North
| Saturday | Light to moderate rain and snow. |
| Saturday Night | Decreasing light rain and snow showers, possibly ending after midnight. |
West Central
| Saturday | Light to moderate rain and snow decreases from south to north. |
| Saturday Night | Increasing light rain and snow showers. |
West South
| Saturday | Decreasing periods of light rain and snow. A period of full sunshine possible mid-morning, then light showers return in the afternoon. |
| Saturday Night | Light rain and snow showers. |
Stevens Pass
| Saturday | Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow tapers in the afternoon with significant sun breaks likely. Light ridgeline winds. E winds shift W at the Pass very early in the day. |
| Saturday Night | Increasing light rain and snow showers. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass. |
Snoqualmie Pass
| Saturday | Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow tapers in mid-day hours with significant sun breaks likely and scattered convective showers returning in the afternoon. E winds shift W at the Pass very early in the day. |
| Saturday Night | Increasing light rain and snow showers. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass. |
East North
| Saturday | Light to moderate rain and snow. |
| Saturday Night | Decreasing light rain and snow. |
East Central
| Saturday | Light to moderate rain and snow tapers in the afternoon, with significant sun breaks likely. |
| Saturday Night | A few light rain and snow showers. |
East South
| Saturday | Light rain and snow tapers early, with significant sun breaks likely before convective showers build up in the afternoon. |
| Saturday Night | A few light rain and snow showers. |
Mt. Hood
| Saturday | Light rain and snow tapers early, with significant sun breaks likely before convective showers build up in the afternoon. |
| Saturday Night | Decreasing light rain and snow showers. |
Issued: 7:07 AM PST Saturday, March 23, 2024
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 4000' | 4500' | None' | 4500' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 4000' | 4000' | None' | 4500' |
| Saturday Evening | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 4000' | 4000' | None' | 4500' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3500' | 3500' | None' | 3500' |
| Sunday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3500' | 3000' | None' | 4000' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 4000' | 4000' | None' | 4000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Sunday 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
| Saturday | Saturday Night | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 am - 5 pm | 5 pm - 5 am | 5 am - 5 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | 0.25 |
| White Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | 0.25 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Sunday | 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 Saturday, March 23, 2024
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SSW None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SSW None - None |
| Saturday Evening | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | WSW None - None |
| Saturday Night | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | W None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Saturday Evening | --- None - None |
| Saturday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Saturday Evening | --- None - None |
| Saturday Night | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Saturday Evening | --- None - None |
| Saturday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Saturday Evening | --- None - None |
| Saturday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SSW None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSW None - None |
| Saturday Evening | WSW None - None |
| Saturday Night | W None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Saturday Evening | --- None - None |
| Saturday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Saturday Evening | --- None - None |
| Saturday Night | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Saturday Evening | --- None - None |
| Saturday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Saturday Evening | --- None - None |
| Saturday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SSW None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSW None - None |
| Saturday Evening | WSW None - None |
| Saturday Night | W 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 22, 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.