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Mountain Weather Forecast

Issued: 2:37 PM PST Thursday, April 11, 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 Thursday night through Saturday

A Pacific frontal system positioned offshore continues to slow and weaken as it attempts to move inland. The front is standing up (becoming more N-S oriented) as the parent low positioned offshore drops south and away from the PNW.  The front has been slow to arrive today, resulting in more filtered sunshine, milder temperatures and less precipitation making its way inland than previously forecast. This slower and less wet trend will likely continue overnight with only light precipitation expected over the area as the frontal boundary washes out. It will be another mild night as well with freezing levels in the 3500-6500' range, with the coolest temperatures closer to the low over the Olympic peninsula. 

The upper low will drift towards northern CA on Friday and turn the flow aloft over the PNW to southerly. We should see plenty of cloud cover to start the day but the clouds should start to thin with more sunshine pouring through in the afternoon, especially near and west of the Cascade crest with more filtered sunshine along the east slopes of the Cascades. We may see a few isolated showers, especially near the Mt Hood area. Ridgeline winds will be light to moderate out of the SE-S and high temperatures should warm a few degrees over Thursday.  

We'll be between the upper low's waning influence and westerly zonal flow to the north on Saturday.  This should set the stage for a warm day with freezing levels popping up to 8000-10000' and 5000' temperatures in the 40s and 50s. While mostly sunny skies are expected there may be some surprise additional cloud cover if the upper low continues to send moisture northward on Saturday and perhaps even scattered showers for southern areas like Mt Hood. 

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Thursday Night Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Cloudy in the morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
West North
Thursday Night Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Cloudy in the morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
West Central
Thursday Night Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Cloudy in the morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
West South
Thursday Night Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Cloudy in the morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Stevens Pass
Thursday Night Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Moderate SW-W ridgeline and Pass level winds easing after midnight.
Cloudy in the morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Snoqualmie Pass
Thursday Night Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Moderate SW-W ridgeline and Pass level winds easing after midnight.
Cloudy in the morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
East North
Thursday Night Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers.
Cloudy in the morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
East Central
Thursday Night Cloudy with a chance of light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Cloudy in the morning, becoming partly sunny in the afternoon with filtered sunshine. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
East South
Thursday Night Cloudy with a chance of light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Cloudy in the morning, becoming partly sunny in the afternoon with filtered sunshine. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Mt. Hood
Thursday Night Cloudy with a chance of light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Cloudy in the morning, becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon with sunbreaks. Chance of light rain or snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Thursday Evening Snow Level None' None' None' None' 5000' 5000' None' 6500'
Thursday Night Snow Level None' None' None' None' 4500' 4500' None' 6000'
Friday Morning Snow Level None' None' None' None' 5000' 5000' None' 6500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level None' None' None' None' 6500' 6500' None' 7000'
Friday Evening Snow Level None' None' None' None' 6500' 6500' None' 7500'
Friday Night Snow Level None' None' None' None' 6500' 7000' None' 8500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level None' None' None' None' 8000' 8000' None' 8500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
None'
Thursday Night Snow Level
None'
Friday Morning Snow Level
None'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
Friday Evening Snow Level
None'
Friday Night Snow Level
None'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
None'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
None'
Thursday Night Snow Level
None'
Friday Morning Snow Level
None'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
Friday Evening Snow Level
None'
Friday Night Snow Level
None'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
None'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
Washington Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
None'
Thursday Night Snow Level
None'
Friday Morning Snow Level
None'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
Friday Evening Snow Level
None'
Friday Night Snow Level
None'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
None'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
Leavenworth Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
None'
Thursday Night Snow Level
None'
Friday Morning Snow Level
None'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
Friday Evening Snow Level
None'
Friday Night Snow Level
None'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
None'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
4500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
6500'
Friday Night Snow Level
6500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
8000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
9000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
4500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
6500'
Friday Night Snow Level
7000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
8000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
9000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
None'
Thursday Night Snow Level
None'
Friday Morning Snow Level
None'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
Friday Evening Snow Level
None'
Friday Night Snow Level
None'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
None'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
6500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
6000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
6500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
7000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
7500'
Friday Night Snow Level
8500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
8500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
9000'

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
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
Friday Morning --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None S None - None
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Evening --- None - None
Thursday Night --- None - None
Friday Morning --- None - None
Friday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Evening --- None - None
Thursday Night --- None - None
Friday Morning --- None - None
Friday Afternoon --- None - None
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening --- None - None
Thursday Night --- None - None
Friday Morning --- None - None
Friday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Thursday Evening --- None - None
Thursday Night --- None - None
Friday Morning --- None - None
Friday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening SW None - None
Thursday Night SW None - None
Friday Morning S None - None
Friday Afternoon ESE None - None
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening --- None - None
Thursday Night --- None - None
Friday Morning --- None - None
Friday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening --- None - None
Thursday Night --- None - None
Friday Morning --- None - None
Friday Afternoon --- None - None
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening --- None - None
Thursday Night --- None - None
Friday Morning --- None - None
Friday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening --- None - None
Thursday Night --- None - None
Friday Morning --- None - None
Friday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SW None - None
Thursday Night SW None - None
Friday Morning S None - None
Friday Afternoon ESE 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
Thursday Evening --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None
Thursday Night --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None
Friday Morning --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening --- None - None
Thursday Night --- None - None
Friday Morning --- None - None
Friday Afternoon --- None - None
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening --- None - None
Thursday Night --- None - None
Friday Morning --- None - None
Friday Afternoon --- None - None
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening --- None - None
Thursday Night --- None - None
Friday Morning --- None - None
Friday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening --- None - None
Thursday Night --- None - None
Friday Morning --- None - None
Friday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening --- None - None
Thursday Night --- None - None
Friday Morning --- None - None
Friday Afternoon --- None - None

Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Monday

We'll see upper level troughing begin to setup over the region on Sunday.  While Sunday will still be quite warm, we see falling temperatures/freezing levels in the afternoon. The bigger story will likely be the increasing westerly ridgeline winds associated with a strong onshore push. Look for strong westerly winds to develop later Sunday afternoon through Monday.  A cold low will bring showers and along with some new snow above 4000' on Monday, mainly along the west slopes of the Cascades. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Saturday Night Snow Level None' - None' None' - None' None' - None'
Sunday Snow Level None' - None' None' - None' None' - None'
Sunday Night Snow Level None' - None' None' - None' None' - None'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
Sunday Snow Level
None' - None'
Sunday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
Monday Snow Level
None' - None'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
Sunday Snow Level
None' - None'
Sunday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
Monday Snow Level
None' - None'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
Sunday Snow Level
None' - None'
Sunday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
Monday 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 11, 2024

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