Mountain Weather Forecast
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I
Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Friday
A broad, closed upper low extends from Vancouver Island to northern California. A shortwave trough rotating around the low will pass through the Cascades this morning, bringing a steadier band of N-S-oriented rain and snow to the Cascades as the day progresses. Rain and snow started during the early morning hours around Mt Hood and should spread to the east slopes of the Cascades during the morning hours eventually to most of the Cascades by the afternoon hours. Most of the precipitation should be light, but periods of moderate intensity are possible, particularly around the Wenatchee Mountains, East South Cascades, and Mt Hood. Winds should be light and out of the N or NE at upper elevations, while middle and lower elevations have an increasing westerly component. Snow levels will be on the cool side, hovering around 2000 ft in the morning and rising to around 3000 ft in the afternoon.
Precipitation tapers across the region Thursday night as the low center shifts south and slightly eastward. Through Friday, there should be enough instability to touch off isolated showers, particularly in the southern half of the forecast region. Expect more sunshine and freezing levels rising to 4500-5000 ft for the Olympics and Mt Baker areas, while areas further south get isolated snow showers down to around 2500-4000 ft.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Thursday | Mostly cloudy with some filtered sunshine at times and a few periods of light rain and snow. |
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. |
West North
| Thursday | Cloudy with a few periods of light rain and snow, mainly during the afternoon hours. |
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with a few periods of light rain and snow decreasing overnight. |
West Central
| Thursday | Cloudy with a few periods of light rain and snow, mainly during the afternoon hours. |
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with a few periods of light rain and snow decreasing overnight. |
West South
| Thursday | Cloudy with increasing periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. |
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with decreasing periods of light rain and snow. |
Stevens Pass
| Thursday | Cloudy with increasing periods of light rain and snow, mainly during the afternoon hours. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass. |
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with a few periods of light rain and snow decreasing overnight. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass. |
Snoqualmie Pass
| Thursday | Cloudy with increasing periods of light rain and snow, mainly during the afternoon hours. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass. |
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with a few periods of light rain and snow decreasing overnight. Light to moderate ridgeline and W wind at the Pass. |
East North
| Thursday | Cloudy with a few periods of light rain and snow, mainly during the afternoon hours. |
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with a few periods of light rain and snow decreasing overnight. |
East Central
| Thursday | Cloudy with increasing periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow, mainly during the afternoon hours. |
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with periods of light rain and snow decreasing overnight. |
East South
| Thursday | Cloudy with increasing periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow, mainly during the afternoon hours. |
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with periods of light rain and snow decreasing or ending overnight. |
Mt. Hood
| Thursday | Cloudy with increasing periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow, mainly during the afternoon hours. |
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with periods of light rain and snow decreasing overnight. |
Issued: 7:08 AM PST Thursday, April 4, 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' | 1500' | 2000' | None' | 2500' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 3000' | None' | 3000' |
| Thursday Evening | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 3000' | None' | 2500' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 2500' | 2500' | None' | 2000' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 2500' | 2500' | None' | 2000' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3500' | 3000' | None' | 3000' |
| 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 1500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| 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 2500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
* 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 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Timberline | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | 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: 7:08 AM PST Thursday, April 4, 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 | N None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | NW None - None |
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | WNW None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | WNW 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 | N None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW None - None |
| Thursday Evening | WNW None - None |
| Thursday Night | WNW 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 | N None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW None - None |
| Thursday Evening | WNW None - None |
| Thursday Night | WNW 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 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.