Mountain Weather Forecast
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Monday
A tongue of high pressure sits over the Pacific Northwest on Saturday afternoon, bringing very warm conditions across the region. A cutoff low continues to spin off the California coastline. A disturbance rotating around the low pushed some moisture into central Oregon, with some weak bands of showers potentially reaching Mt Hood through the evening hours. Washington State sits between the counterclockwise rotation of flow around the cutoff low and light W flow for northernmost Washington and into British Columbia. At ridgelines, the winds remain light and westerly in northern areas but have a northerly component toward the cutoff low further south. At times winds are calm.
Freezing levels rise to around 8500-10500 ft, even as radiational cooling brings cooler temperatures overnight. A few isolated deep, higher-elevation valleys may see surface temperatures dip below freezing overnight, but most areas remain above freezing.
Low-level westerly flow increases on Sunday as a broad trough begins to approach. High clouds increase across the region, with a few low clouds possibly banking up against the west slopes of the Olympics and the central-north Cascades. West of the Cascades should cool 3-8F at middle elevations even though freezing levels only take a slight dip. East of the Cascade Crest, moderate winds through the gaps and exposed ridgelines will be more noticeable than any cooling.
The trough brings an abrupt pattern shift and becomes more impactful on Sunday night. Moderate winds with strong gusts continue for the east slopes of the Cascades as clouds lower and thicken across the west slopes. Freezing levels drop to slightly 6000-8000 ft overnight.
By Monday, the west slopes of the Cascades can expect some very light rain and snow (perhaps some weak convergence as well) with snow levels in the 3000-4000 ft range. The east slopes remain mostly dry and windy.
7am Mountain Weather Forecasts will continue through Sunday, April 14th. Beginning Monday, April 15th, we will issue 230pm Mountain Weather Forecasts every day through Sunday, April 28th.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Saturday Night | Mild. Mostly clear with very thin high clouds at times. |
| Sunday | Warm. Filtered sunshine with increasing high clouds. Some low clouds are possible late in the day. |
West North
| Saturday Night | Mild. Mostly clear with very thin high clouds at times. |
| Sunday | Warm. Filtered sunshine with increasing high clouds. |
West Central
| Saturday Night | Mild. Mostly clear with very thin high clouds at times. |
| Sunday | Warm. Filtered sunshine with increasing high clouds. Some low clouds are possible late in the day. |
West South
| Saturday Night | Mild. Gradually clearing high clouds. |
| Sunday | Very warm. Mostly sunny to start, then filtered sunshine with increasing high clouds. |
Stevens Pass
| Saturday Night | Mild. Mostly clear with very thin high clouds at times. Increasing light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass. |
| Sunday | Very warm. Filtered sunshine with increasing high clouds. Increasing light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass. |
Snoqualmie Pass
| Saturday Night | Mild. Mostly clear with very thin high clouds at times. Increasing light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass. |
| Sunday | Very warm. Filtered sunshine with increasing high clouds. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline and W wind at the Pass. |
East North
| Saturday Night | Mild with a very shallow inversion. Mostly clear with very thin high clouds at times. |
| Sunday | Very warm. Filtered sunshine with increasing high clouds. |
East Central
| Saturday Night | Mild. Mostly clear with very thin high clouds at times. |
| Sunday | Very warm. Filtered sunshine with increasing high clouds. |
East South
| Saturday Night | Mild. Mostly clear with very thin high clouds at times. |
| Sunday | Very warm. Filtered sunshine with increasing high clouds. |
Mt. Hood
| Saturday Night | Mild. Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of precipitation in the evening. |
| Sunday | Very warm. Filtered sunshine with increasing high clouds. Moderate ridgeline winds develop by the end of the day. |
Issued: 2:41 PM PST Saturday, April 13, 2024
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 10000' | 10000' | None' | 9500' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 10500' | 10500' | None' | 10000' |
| Sunday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 10500' | 10500' | None' | 10000' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 10000' | 10000' | None' | 10000' |
| Sunday Evening | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 8500' | 8000' | None' | 9500' |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 6000' | 5500' | None' | 7500' |
| Monday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3500' | 3000' | None' | 3500' |
| Monday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3500' | 3500' | None' | 4000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 10000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 10500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 10500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 10000' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 8500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 10000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 10500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 10500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 10000' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 8000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 9500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 10000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 10000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 10000' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 9500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 7500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Monday 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
| Saturday Night | Sunday | Sunday Night | Monday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 pm - 5 am | 5 am - 5 pm | 5 pm - 5 am | 5 am - 5 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | 0 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paradise | 0 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| 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 | 0 | 0 |
| Timberline | 0 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Monday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Monday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Monday | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Monday | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Monday | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Monday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Monday | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Monday | 0 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Monday | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Monday | 0 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Monday | 0 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Monday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Monday | 0 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Monday | 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: 2:41 PM PST Saturday, April 13, 2024
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | NNW None - None |
| Saturday Night | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | NNE None - None |
| Sunday Morning | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | N None - None |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | WNW None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | --- None - None |
| Saturday Night | --- None - None |
| Sunday Morning | --- None - None |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | --- None - None |
| Saturday Night | --- None - None |
| Sunday Morning | --- None - None |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | --- None - None |
| Saturday Night | --- None - None |
| Sunday Morning | --- None - None |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | --- None - None |
| Saturday Night | --- None - None |
| Sunday Morning | --- None - None |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | NNW None - None |
| Saturday Night | NNE None - None |
| Sunday Morning | N None - None |
| Sunday Afternoon | WNW None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | --- None - None |
| Saturday Night | --- None - None |
| Sunday Morning | --- None - None |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | --- None - None |
| Saturday Night | --- None - None |
| Sunday Morning | --- None - None |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | --- None - None |
| Saturday Night | --- None - None |
| Sunday Morning | --- None - None |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | --- None - None |
| Saturday Night | --- None - None |
| Sunday Morning | --- None - None |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | NNW None - None |
| Saturday Night | NNE None - None |
| Sunday Morning | N None - None |
| Sunday Afternoon | 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.
Issued: 2:41 PM PST Saturday, April 13, 2024
Extended Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Wednesday
The Pacific Northwest remains near the southern boundary of a broad trough Monday night and Tuesday, continue the same pattern with a few very light rain/snow showers and temperatures below seasonal norms. The trough shifts eastward Tuesday night and Wednesday as a ridge of high pressure builds into the region for mostly dry and sunnier weather.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Night | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | |
| Tuesday | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | |
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | |
| Wednesday | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Wednesday |
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 I Extended Weather
Previous forecast from April 13, 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.