menu

Mountain Weather Forecast

Issued: 2:35 PM PST Wednesday, April 3, 2024
by Dennis D'Amico

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Friday

We've left the dry and mild weather from the last few days in the rearview mirror and stepped into a cooler, more unsettled pattern for at least the next several days. Scattered showers will wane this evening with mostly dry conditions overnight.  An upper low will drop south along the coastline tonight and begin to spin up a shortwave trough in SSE flow on Thursday. A broad area of showers should impact the Mt Hood region early in the morning, with showers spreading northward along the east slopes of the Cascades during the day with showers drifting to E to W.  Most locations are looking between 0.10-0.30" of water Thursday, for 1-4" of snow, with the slightly higher amounts likely east of the Cascade crest. Snow levels will rise from about 2500' in the morning to around 3500' in the afternoon but look for freezing levels to pop to 4000-4500' during prolonged breaks between showers. 

Showers should once again continue into the evening and then taper down Thursday night. There's poor forecast model agreement for how Friday plays out. The closed upper low will drift into Califonia on Friday with a lingering upper trough over the PNW.  We may see general popcorn type PM showers associated with an upper trough in spring, or we may see another shortwave rotate up from the south and deliver another round of more concentrated and slightly heavier showers in SSE flow again.  

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy. Scattered light rain and snow showers in the evening.
Partly sunny with a chance of light rain or snow showers.
West North
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy. Scattered light rain and snow showers in the evening.
Partly to mostly cloudy with periods of filtered sunshine and a chance of afternoon light rain or snow showers.
West Central
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy. Scattered light rain and snow showers in the evening.
Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain or snow showers in the afternoon.
West South
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy. Scattered light rain and snow showers in the evening.
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers.
Stevens Pass
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy. Scattered light rain and snow showers in the evening. Light NW ridgeline and W Pass level winds.
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers.
Snoqualmie Pass
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy. Scattered light rain and snow showers in the evening. Light NW ridgeline and W Pass level winds.
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers.
East North
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy. Chance of an evening shower.
Mostly cloudy in the morning, then cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
East Central
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy. Chance of an evening shower.
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers.
East South
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy. Chance of an evening shower.
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers.
Mt. Hood
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy. Scattered light rain and snow showers in the evening. Moderate ridgeline winds early in the evening becoming light.
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Wednesday Evening Snow Level None' None' None' None' 3000' 3000' None' 3000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level None' None' None' None' 2000' 2000' None' 2500'
Thursday Morning Snow Level None' None' None' None' 3000' 3000' None' 3000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level None' None' None' None' 3500' 3500' None' 3500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level None' None' None' None' 3000' 3000' None' 3000'
Thursday Night Snow Level None' None' None' None' 2500' 2500' None' 2500'
Friday Morning Snow Level None' None' None' None' 3000' 3000' None' 3000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
None'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
None'
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
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
None'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
None'
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
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
None'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
None'
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
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
None'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
None'
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
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
2000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
2500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
2000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
2500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
None'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
None'
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
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
2500'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
2500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Friday 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

Wednesday Night Thursday Thursday Night Friday
5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm 5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge 0 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.25
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.25

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Wednesday Evening --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None W None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None N None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None NE None - None
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Evening W None - None
Wednesday Night N None - None
Thursday Morning NE None - None
Thursday Afternoon NW None - None
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening W None - None
Wednesday Night N None - None
Thursday Morning NE None - None
Thursday Afternoon NW 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
Wednesday Evening --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None

Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Sunday

On Saturday a weak Pacific frontal system approaches and we'll likely see an increase in afternoon showers, especially along the Olymipcs, Mt Hood and west slopes of the Cascades.  The trough axis shifts east of the Cascades Saturday night and Sunday, but we'll see a renewed chance of afternoon showers in the afternoon.  We'll continue to be on the cool side regarding snow/freezing levels with mountain temperatures comfortably sitting below freezing during the overnight and morning hours. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Friday Night Snow Level None' - None' None' - None' None' - None'
Saturday Snow Level None' - None' None' - None' None' - None'
Saturday Night Snow Level None' - None' None' - None' None' - None'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
Saturday Snow Level
None' - None'
Saturday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
Sunday Snow Level
None' - None'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
Saturday Snow Level
None' - None'
Saturday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
Sunday Snow Level
None' - None'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
Saturday Snow Level
None' - None'
Saturday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
Sunday 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 April 3, 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.