Mountain Weather Forecast
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I
Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Friday
A deep area of low pressure will sit off the Washington coast today and spin showers over the area in SSW flow aloft. Showers will be the heaviest and most persistent over the Olympic peninsula (especially the southern slopes of the Olympics) today and tonight closer to the low. Showers will be lighter this morning over the Mt Hood area and Cascades but become more widespread and heavier in the afternoon and evening hours. We have a cool unstable air mass overhead and convective showers may be heavy at times, contain graupel, and there's a chance of thunderstorms over the foothills. Freezing levels will rise to 4000-5000' today, but snow levels will plummet to around 3500' during showers. We can expect generally moderate S-SW ridgeline winds over the area, and strong winds for the Olympics and Mt Hood.
Shower activity will taper down after midnight. The low pressure system will pull away from the Pacific Northwest along the coast-line Thursday night and Friday. Weak upper level troughing over the region will renew the threat of afternoon mountain showers. With the flow aloft becoming light out of the north, showers are more likely to fire up over the north Cascades and along the east slopes of the Cascades and slowly drift south. Shower coverage and intensity will be less compared to Thursday. Freezing/snow levels will be a bit warmer on Friday as well.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Thursday | Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow showers, heaviest southern slopes of the Olympics. Sunbreaks possible today. Moderate ridgeline winds becoming strong in the afternoon. |
| Thursday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
West North
| Thursday | Cloudy with light scattered rain and snow showers in the morning, becoming light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon. Sunbreaks possible today. Moderate ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon. |
| Thursday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
West Central
| Thursday | Cloudy with light scattered rain and snow showers in the morning, becoming light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon. Sunbreaks possible today. Moderate ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon. |
| Thursday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
West South
| Thursday | Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate scattered rain and snow showers in the morning, increasing and becoming light to moderate showers in the afternoon. Sunbreaks possible today. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Thursday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
Stevens Pass
| Thursday | Cloudy with light scattered rain and snow showers in the morning, becoming light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon. Sunbreaks possible today. Light to moderate S ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon. Light east winds at Pass level. |
| Thursday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate SW ridgeline winds. Light west winds at Pass level. |
Snoqualmie Pass
| Thursday | Cloudy with light scattered rain and snow showers in the morning, becoming light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon. Sunbreaks possible today. Light to moderate S ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon. Light east winds at Pass level. |
| Thursday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate SW ridgeline winds. Light west winds at Pass level. |
East North
| Thursday | Mostly cloudy with light scattered rain and snow showers in the morning, becoming cloudy with light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Thursday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
East Central
| Thursday | Mostly cloudy with light scattered rain and snow showers in the morning, becoming cloudy with light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Thursday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
East South
| Thursday | Mostly cloudy with light scattered rain and snow showers in the morning, becoming cloudy with light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Thursday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
Mt. Hood
| Thursday | Mostly cloudy with light scattered rain and snow showers in the morning, becoming cloudy with light to moderate showers in the afternoon. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds. |
| Thursday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
Issued: 7:06 AM PST Thursday, March 28, 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' | 3000' | 3000' | None' | 3000' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 4500' | 4000' | None' | 4000' |
| Thursday Evening | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3500' | 3500' | None' | 3500' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 3000' | None' | 3000' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3500' | 3500' | None' | 3500' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 4500' | 4500' | None' | 5500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' |
* 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 | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.25 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Thursday Night | 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | 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: 7:06 AM PST Thursday, March 28, 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 | SW None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SW 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 | SW 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 | SW None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW None - None |
| Thursday Evening | SW None - None |
| Thursday Night | SW 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 | SW None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW None - None |
| Thursday Evening | SW None - None |
| Thursday Night | SW 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 27, 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.