Mountain Weather Forecast
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Wednesday
2:50 PM update relating to Mt Hood weather.
The cooldown associated with a broad upper trough dropping southward has been dramatic. Freezing levels at Quilliyute dropped from 9,300 to 3,300 from Sunday to Monday morning. Cooling continues as the trough settles into the region. The upper-level flow features WNW winds as the trough slides just to our north over central and southern British Columbia. As of Monday afternoon, these winds are enhanced by a 10 mb temperature gradient across the Cascades. These gradients and associated low-level winds likely peak Monday night, before gradually starting to subside on Tuesday. Before these gradients do subside, expect some continued strong to extreme winds for the west side of Mt Hood with much lighter winds further east. For Washington State, epect moderate ridgeline winds for areas near and east of the Cascade Crest, including the mountain gaps. This flow pattern has produced several weak convergence bands in the central and northern Puget Sound regions but most precipitation has been light. Rain/snow shower activity peaks Monday night for the central and northern Cascades. With continued cooling and snow levels dropping down to 2500 ft or lower, expect several inches of snow from Snoqualmie Pass to Mt Baker, with perhaps a few areas slightly west of the Cascade Crest getting a bit more.
Snow showers become more isolated on Tuesday as the upper trough shifts toward northern Idaho. Cold temperatures aloft could drive an isolated convective shower or two with a slight uptick in light to moderate ridgeline winds, clouds, and shower activity in the afternoon.
The Pacific Northwest lingers near the western edge of the exiting trough Tuesday night and Wednesday. Expect a cool start to Wednesday with freezing levels rebounding to around 5000 ft or slightly higher. More sunshine is in store with lighter winds shifting NWerly.
NWAC will issue daily Mountain Weather Forecasts through April 28th, with the exception of April 18th, when we will be closed for an end-of-season forecaster meeting.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Monday Night | A few snow showers, mainly in the western part. Mostly cloudy, then becoming partly cloudy in the early morning hours. |
| Tuesday | More sun than clouds in the morning, then more clouds than sun in the afternoon. |
West North
| Monday Night | Mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers. |
| Tuesday | Partly cloudy with a few snow showers. |
West Central
| Monday Night | Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers and weak convergence at times. Moderate ridgeline winds near the Cascade Crest. |
| Tuesday | Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds near the Cascade Crest. |
West South
| Monday Night | Mostly cloudy with a few light rain/snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds near the Cascade Crest. |
| Tuesday | Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds near the Cascade Crest. |
Stevens Pass
| Monday Night | Mostly cloudy with a few light rain/snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass. |
| Tuesday | Partly cloudy with a few light rain/snow showers, primarily in the afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass. |
Snoqualmie Pass
| Monday Night | Mostly cloudy with a few light rain/snow showers. Moderate ridgeline and light to moderate W wind at the Pass. |
| Tuesday | Partly to mostly cloudy with a few light rain/snow showers, primarily in the afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass. |
East North
| Monday Night | A few light snow showers near the Cascade Crest, otherwise partly cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Tuesday | Isolated light rain/snow showers mainly in the afternoon. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline winds. |
East Central
| Monday Night | A few light rain/snow showers and weak convergence spillover, decreasing overnight. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Tuesday | Isolated light rain/snow showers mainly in the afternoon and near the Cascade Crest. Otherwise, partly to mostly sunny skies. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline winds. |
East South
| Monday Night | Partly cloudy with a few sprinkles/flurries near the Cascade Crest/ |
| Tuesday | Partly to mostly sunny. |
Mt. Hood
| Monday Night | Mostly cloudy with a few light rain/snow showers on the west slopes of Mt Hood. Moderate ridgeline winds with locally strong to extreme winds. |
| Tuesday | Partly to mostly cloudy. Light to moderate ridgeline winds (locally strong). |
Issued: 2:52 PM PST Monday, April 15, 2024
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Evening | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3500' | 3500' | None' | 4000' |
| Monday Night | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 2500' | 2500' | None' | 2500' |
| Tuesday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 2000' | 2000' | None' | 3000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3500' | 3500' | None' | 5000' |
| Tuesday Evening | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3500' | 3500' | None' | 4000' |
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 2500' | 2500' | None' | 2500' |
| Wednesday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 3000' | None' | 3000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 5000' | 5000' | None' | 5000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
* 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
| Monday Night | Tuesday | Tuesday Night | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 pm - 5 am | 5 am - 5 pm | 5 pm - 5 am | 5 am - 5 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Paradise | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Washington Pass | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 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: 2:52 PM PST Monday, April 15, 2024
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Evening | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | W None - None |
| Monday Night | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | W None - None |
| Tuesday Morning | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | W None - None |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | W None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | --- None - None |
| Monday Night | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Morning | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | --- None - None |
| Monday Night | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Morning | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | --- None - None |
| Monday Night | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Morning | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | --- None - None |
| Monday Night | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Morning | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | W None - None |
| Monday Night | W None - None |
| Tuesday Morning | W None - None |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | --- None - None |
| Monday Night | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Morning | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | --- None - None |
| Monday Night | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Morning | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | --- None - None |
| Monday Night | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Morning | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | --- None - None |
| Monday Night | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Morning | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | W None - None |
| Monday Night | W None - None |
| Tuesday Morning | W None - None |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 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: 2:52 PM PST Monday, April 15, 2024
Extended Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Friday
The offshore ridge continues to edge towards the coastline but doesn't fully amplify. Expect temperatures near seasonal norms with 5000-6000 ft freezing levels in the afternoons and good overnight refreezes.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | * |
| Thursday | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | * |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | * |
| Friday | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | * |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
* 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 15, 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.