The mountains will enjoy a dry break between storm systems today ahead of our next round of precipitation. General calm winds this morning in most locations will quickly increase as the next system begins to approach the Northwest. You may find gusty conditions and the strongest winds near the Passes, along the Cascade Crest, and in the Wenatchee Mountains. High thin clouds should continue to increase and thicken, especially in the afternoon, providing most locations with filtered sunshine. Low clouds and fog could persist in the mountain valleys east of the Cascades throughout the day and may creep into the Passes as easterly flow ramps up.
A weakening frontal system will move inland overnight bringing rain and snow showers to the mountains. Precipitation should begin first in the Olympics and at Mt Baker before spreading to other locations after midnight. This isn't a particularly impressive storm and what little precipitation there is focuses west of the Cascade Crest with only a few stray showers venturing further east. Expect windy conditions in all areas as the front moves through overnight. Showers should linger into Sunday morning before we begin to dry out. Locations further south and east could even see some sunshine by Sunday afternoon.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
West North
West Central
West South
Stevens Pass
Snoqualmie Pass
East North
East Central
East South
Mt. Hood
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Saturday
Clouds and winds increasing throughout the day. Strong S winds in the afternoon.
Saturday
Night
Rain and snow showers. Strong SW winds.
Saturday
Clouds and wind increasing throughout the day. Moderate to strong S winds in the afternoon.
Saturday
Night
Rain and snow with strong S winds.
Saturday
Clouds and winds increasing throughout the day. Moderate S winds in the afternoon.
Saturday
Night
Rain and snow. Moderate S winds.
Saturday
Mostly sunny. High clouds and wind increasing. Moderate to strong S winds in the afternoon.
Saturday
Night
Rain and snow showers. Moderate to strong S winds.
Saturday
Mostly sunny with high clouds and wind increasing. Moderate to strong easterly flow. Fog and low clouds possible in the Pass.
Saturday
Night
Rain and snow showers. Moderate east flow.
Saturday
Mostly sunny. High clouds and wind increasing. Strong easterly flow. Fog and low clouds possible in the Pass.
Saturday
Night
Rain and snow showers. Moderate east flow.
Saturday
Mostly sunny with increasing high thin clouds.
Saturday
Night
Cloudy with isolated snow showers. Moderate SW winds.
Saturday
Mostly sunny with increasing high thin clouds. Low clouds and fog in the mountain valleys possible.
Saturday
Night
Cloudy with isolated snow showers. Moderate to strong SW winds.
Saturday
Mostly sunny with increasing high thin clouds. Low clouds and fog in the mountain valleys possible.
Saturday
Night
Cloudy with isolated snow showers. Moderate SW winds.
Saturday
Mostly sunny with high thin clouds increasing. Winds increasing in the afternoon.
Saturday
Night
Cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers. Strong SW winds.
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.
The 5000’ temperature forecast does not imply a trend over the 12 hr period and only represents the max and min temperatures within a 12 hr period in the zone. The 6-hr snow level forecast, the forecast discussion, and weather forecast sections may add detail regarding temperature trends.
The snow level forecast represents the general snow level over a 6 hr time period. Freezing levels are forecast when precipitation is not expected.
*Easterly or offshore flow is highlighted with an asterisk when we expect relatively cool east winds in the major Cascade Passes. Easterly flow will often lead to temperature inversions and is a key variable for forecasting precipitation type in the Cascade Passes. Strong easterly flow events can affect terrain on a more regional scale.
Ridgeline winds are the average wind speed and direction over a 6 hr time period.
The wind forecast represents an elevation range instead of a single elevation slice. The elevation range overlaps with the near and above treeline elevation bands in the avalanche forecast and differs per zone.
Wind direction indicates the direction the wind originates or comes from on the 16-point compass rose.
Water Equivalent (WE) is the liquid water equivalent of all precipitation types; rain, snow, ice pellets, etc., forecast to the hundredth of an inch at specific locations. To use WE as a proxy for snowfall amounts, start with a snow to water ratio of 10:1 (10 inches of snow = 1 inch WE). Temperatures at or near freezing will generally have a lower ratio (heavy wet snow) and very cold temperatures can have a much higher ratio (dry fluffy snow).