Mountain Weather Forecast
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Sunday
The last weekend of the 2023/2024 avalanche forecasting season features mostly dry conditions and light winds thanks to a “split flow” pattern. The split flow results from an upper-level low dropping south off the California Coastline while a weak northern branch of the jetstream resides to our north in British Columbia. Through Sunday morning, the broad region of clouds and unsettled weather extends northward to approximately Mt Hood and at times into the southernmost Washington Cascades. A weak disturbance wrapping around the low Saturday afternoon and evening may bring some scattered showers or even a few thunderstorms to these areas.
The major story will be the warmth. Significant warming occurred during the day on Friday with 5000 ft temperatures rising into the upper 30s and 40s in most areas. Freezing levels continue to rise rapidly Friday and remain steady in the 6,500-9,500 ft range overnight. Mostly clear skies should assist overnight refreezes in open areas thanks to radiational cooling. Freezing levels rise to 8,500-10,000 ft by Saturday afternoon, then to 9,000-10,500 ft Saturday night. A broad trough easing southward gradually increases W winds on Sunday, bringing temperatures down a few degrees west of the Cascade Crest. The cooling will be delayed further east.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Friday Night | Mild. A few high clouds early, then mostly clear. |
| Saturday | Very warm. Mostly sunny with a few wispy high clouds in the afternoon. |
West North
| Friday Night | Mild. Mostly clear. |
| Saturday | Very warm. Mostly sunny with a few wispy high clouds in the afternoon. |
West Central
| Friday Night | Mild. Mostly clear. |
| Saturday | Very warm. Mostly sunny to start, then filtered sunshine with increasing high clouds. |
West South
| Friday Night | Mild. Partly to mostly clear skies. |
| Saturday | Very warm. Filtered sunshine with high and mid-level clouds thickening in the afternoon. |
Stevens Pass
| Friday Night | Mild. A few clouds early, then becoming mostly clear. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass. |
| Saturday | Very warm. Filtered sunshine with high and mid-level clouds thickening slightly in the afternoon. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass. |
Snoqualmie Pass
| Friday Night | Mild. A few clouds early, then becoming mostly clear. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass. |
| Saturday | Very warm. Filtered sunshine with high and mid-level clouds thickening slightly in the afternoon. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass. |
East North
| Friday Night | Mild. Mostly clear. Shallow inversions in the valleys. |
| Saturday | Very warm. Mostly sunny in the morning with increasing high clouds in the afternoon. |
East Central
| Friday Night | Mild. A few thin clouds in the evening, then becoming mostly clear. |
| Saturday | Very warm. Sunny to start with filtered sunshine developing as high clouds thicken throughout the day. |
East South
| Friday Night | Mild. Mostly clear with a few high clouds. |
| Saturday | Very warm. Filtered sunshine in the morning with obscured skies in the afternoon. A slight chance of an afternoon shower in the southern part. |
Mt. Hood
| Friday Night | Mild. Decreasing high clouds. |
| Saturday | Very warm. Filtered sunshine in the morning with obscured skies and a chance of a shower or isolated thunderstorm in the afternoon. |
Issued: 2:41 PM PST Friday, April 12, 2024
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Evening | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 7500' | 7500' | None' | 8500' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 7000' | 8000' | None' | 9500' |
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 7500' | 8500' | None' | 9500' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 9000' | 9500' | None' | 9000' |
| Saturday Evening | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 9500' | 9500' | None' | 9000' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 10000' | 10500' | None' | 9000' |
| Sunday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 10500' | 10500' | None' | 10000' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 9500' | 9500' | None' | 10000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 7500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 7500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 9000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 9500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 10000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 10500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 9500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 7500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 8000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 8500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 9500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 9500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 10500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 10500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 9500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 8500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 9500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 9500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 9000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 9000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 9000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 10000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 10000' |
* 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
| Friday Night | Saturday | Saturday Night | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 pm - 5 am | 5 am - 5 pm | 5 pm - 5 am | 5 am - 5 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paradise | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| White Pass | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Washington Pass | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Timberline | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | 0 |
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: 2:41 PM PST Friday, April 12, 2024
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Evening | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SSW None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SSW None - None |
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | S None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | NE None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SSW None - None |
| Friday Night | SSW None - None |
| Saturday Morning | S None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | NE None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SSW None - None |
| Friday Night | SSW None - None |
| Saturday Morning | S None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | NE 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Evening | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None |
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- 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.
Issued: 2:41 PM PST Friday, April 12, 2024
Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Tuesday
More significant cooling arrives Sunday night as a broad closed low passes to our north and brings a trough into our region. Very light rain and snow showers starting up in the early morning hours on Monday for the west slopes of the Cascades. Rain and snow showers peak Monday and Monday night. Snow levels should be in the 3000-4000 ft range, a marked departure from the unseasonably warm weather over the weekend. Expect chances of moderate to occasionally strong ridgeline winds along the east slopes of the Cascades.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | |
| Monday | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | |
| Monday Night | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | |
| Tuesday | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Monday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Monday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Monday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Tuesday |
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 12, 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.