High clouds gradually increase overnight and thicken on Saturday as a closed upper low approaches the region Friday night. Very subtle ridging ahead of the low allows milder temperatures to work into the region through Saturday morning with SW winds creating the mildest conditions on the east slopes of the Cascades. Expect a poor refreeze at lower elevations given the cloud cover.
A band of light rain and snow moves into the Olympics in the morning hours, spreading to the West North Cascades and possibly adjacent zones in the afternoon. We expect up to 2" of snow by the end of the day above around 5000 ft at Mt. Baker.
The precipitation intensifies and peaks over the same areas Saturday night with cooling temperatures as the low and associated cold front approach. Winds should also peak, getting into the moderate range for exposed ridgeline locations.
The low arrives on Sunday, spreading post-frontal light rain and snow showers with snow levels dropping to 2500-3500 ft across the west slopes of the Washington Cascades where light to moderate winds focus the remaining 0-3" of snowfall. Snow showers should taper throughout the day.
All told, we expect the storm to deliver up to 6" of snow to the west slopes of the Washington Cascades with the most for Mt. Baker.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
West North
West Central
West South
Stevens Pass
Snoqualmie Pass
East North
East Central
East South
Mt. Hood
Use dropdown to select your zone
Friday
Night
Filtered clear sky with thickening clouds towards morning.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy to start with very light rain and snow developing by late morning and increasing throughout the day.
Friday
Night
Filtered clear sky with thickening clouds towards morning.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy to start with light rain and snow developing by early afternoon and increasing through the afternoon.
Friday
Night
Filtered clear sky with thickening clouds towards morning.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow developing during the afternoon.
Friday
Night
Filtered clear sky with thickening clouds towards morning.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with thickening clouds possibly producing a light rain or snow shower by the end of the day.
Friday
Night
Filtered clear sky with thickening clouds towards morning. Variable wind at the Pass.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with thickening clouds possibly producing a light rain or snow shower by the end of the day. Light W wind at the Pass.
Friday
Night
Filtered clear sky with thickening clouds towards morning. Variable wind at the Pass.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with thickening clouds possibly producing a light rain or snow shower by the end of the day. Light W wind at the Pass.
Friday
Night
Filtered clear sky with thickening clouds towards morning.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with thickening clouds likely producing light rain or snow by the end of the day.
Friday
Night
Filtered clear sky with thickening clouds towards morning.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with thickening clouds possibly producing light rain or snow by the end of the day.
Friday
Night
Filtered clear sky with thickening clouds towards morning.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy skies with thickening clouds.
Friday
Night
Filtered clear sky with thickening clouds towards morning.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy skies with thickening clouds.
Issued: 2:41 PM PDT Friday, April 2, 2021
Precipitation (in)
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
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area
0
0.25
0.50
LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
0
LT 0.10
0.25 - 0.50
LT 0.25
Stevens Pass
0
0
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass
0
0
LT 0.25
LT 0.25
Crystal Mt
0
0
LT 0.25
LT 0.25
Paradise
0
0
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
White Pass
0
0
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
Washington Pass
0
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
Mission Ridge
0
0
0
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
0
0
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
0
0
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows
0
0
0
LT 0.10
Timberline
0
0
0
LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.10
Saturday Night
LT 0.10
Sunday
LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0.25
Saturday Night
0.50
Sunday
LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.10
Saturday Night
0.25 - 0.50
Sunday
LT 0.25
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
LT 0.25
Sunday
LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
LT 0.25
Sunday
LT 0.25
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
LT 0.25
Sunday
LT 0.25
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
LT 0.10
Sunday
LT 0.25
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
LT 0.10
Sunday
LT 0.25
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.10
Saturday Night
LT 0.25
Sunday
LT 0.10
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
LT 0.10
Sunday
LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
LT 0.10
Sunday
LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
LT 0.10
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
LT 0.10
Issued: 2:41 PM PDT Friday, April 2, 2021
Snow Level (ft)
Friday
Evening
Friday
Night
Saturday
Morning
Saturday
Afternoon
Saturday
Evening
Saturday
Night
Sunday
Morning
Sunday
Afternoon
Olympics
4500'
5000'
5000'
5000'
4500'
3500'
2000'
2500'
West North
4500'
3500'
5000'
5000'
4500'
3500'
2500'
2500'
West Central
4500'
3500'
6000'
5500'
5000'
4500'
2500'
2500'
West South
5500'
5000'
7000'
7000'
6000'
5500'
3500'
3500'
Stevens Pass
5000'
3500'
6500'
6500'
5500'
4500'
3000'
3000'
Snoqualmie Pass
5000'
4500'
7000'
6500'
5500'
5000'
3000'
3000'
East North
5500'
4000'
6000'
7000'
6500'
4500'
3500'
4000'
East Central
6000'
5500'
6500'
7000'
6500'
5500'
4000'
4000'
East South
6500'
5500'
7500'
7500'
7000'
6000'
4500'
4000'
Mt. Hood
8500'
8500'
8500'
8000'
8000'
7500'
5000'
4500'
Olympics
Elevation
Friday
Evening
4500'
Friday
Night
5000'
Saturday
Morning
5000'
Saturday
Afternoon
5000'
Saturday
Evening
4500'
Saturday
Night
3500'
Sunday
Morning
2000'
Sunday
Afternoon
2500'
West North
Elevation
Friday
Evening
4500'
Friday
Night
3500'
Saturday
Morning
5000'
Saturday
Afternoon
5000'
Saturday
Evening
4500'
Saturday
Night
3500'
Sunday
Morning
2500'
Sunday
Afternoon
2500'
West Central
Elevation
Friday
Evening
4500'
Friday
Night
3500'
Saturday
Morning
6000'
Saturday
Afternoon
5500'
Saturday
Evening
5000'
Saturday
Night
4500'
Sunday
Morning
2500'
Sunday
Afternoon
2500'
West South
Elevation
Friday
Evening
5500'
Friday
Night
5000'
Saturday
Morning
7000'
Saturday
Afternoon
7000'
Saturday
Evening
6000'
Saturday
Night
5500'
Sunday
Morning
3500'
Sunday
Afternoon
3500'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Friday
Evening
5000'
Friday
Night
3500'
Saturday
Morning
6500'
Saturday
Afternoon
6500'
Saturday
Evening
5500'
Saturday
Night
4500'
Sunday
Morning
3000'
Sunday
Afternoon
3000'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Friday
Evening
5000'
Friday
Night
4500'
Saturday
Morning
7000'
Saturday
Afternoon
6500'
Saturday
Evening
5500'
Saturday
Night
5000'
Sunday
Morning
3000'
Sunday
Afternoon
3000'
East North
Elevation
Friday
Evening
5500'
Friday
Night
4000'
Saturday
Morning
6000'
Saturday
Afternoon
7000'
Saturday
Evening
6500'
Saturday
Night
4500'
Sunday
Morning
3500'
Sunday
Afternoon
4000'
East Central
Elevation
Friday
Evening
6000'
Friday
Night
5500'
Saturday
Morning
6500'
Saturday
Afternoon
7000'
Saturday
Evening
6500'
Saturday
Night
5500'
Sunday
Morning
4000'
Sunday
Afternoon
4000'
East South
Elevation
Friday
Evening
6500'
Friday
Night
5500'
Saturday
Morning
7500'
Saturday
Afternoon
7500'
Saturday
Evening
7000'
Saturday
Night
6000'
Sunday
Morning
4500'
Sunday
Afternoon
4000'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Friday
Evening
8500'
Friday
Night
8500'
Saturday
Morning
8500'
Saturday
Afternoon
8000'
Saturday
Evening
8000'
Saturday
Night
7500'
Sunday
Morning
5000'
Sunday
Afternoon
4500'
Issued: 2:41 PM PDT Friday, April 2, 2021
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Friday
Night
Saturday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
35 / 31
35 / 31
West North
34 / 28
35 / 30
West Central
34 / 29
39 / 32
West South
37 / 30
44 / 34
Stevens Pass
36 / 29
42 / 32
Snoqualmie Pass
35 / 29
42 / 33
East North
37 / 27
43 / 32
East Central
37 / 30
44 / 34
East South
40 / 34
48 / 35
Mt. Hood
42 / 36
49 / 37
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
35 / 31
Saturday
35 / 31
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
34 / 28
Saturday
35 / 30
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
34 / 29
Saturday
39 / 32
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
37 / 30
Saturday
44 / 34
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
36 / 29
Saturday
42 / 32
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
35 / 29
Saturday
42 / 33
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
37 / 27
Saturday
43 / 32
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
37 / 30
Saturday
44 / 34
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
40 / 34
Saturday
48 / 35
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
42 / 36
Saturday
49 / 37
Issued: 2:41 PM PDT Friday, April 2, 2021
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
Friday
Night
Saturday
Morning
Saturday
Afternoon
Olympics
SW 0-10
SW 5-15
SW 5-15
SW 10-20
West North
SW 5-15
SSW 5-15
SSW 5-15
SSW 5-15
West Central
WSW 5-15
WSW 0-10
SW 0-10
WSW 10-20
West South
W 0-10
NW 0-10
WNW 0-10
W 5-15
Stevens Pass
W 5-15
W 0-10
W 0-10
W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass
WNW 5-15
WNW 5-15
WNW 0-10
W 5-15
East North
W 5-15
WSW 0-10
WSW 5-15
WSW 10-20
East Central
W 10-20
W 5-15
W 0-10
W 10-20
East South
WNW 5-15
W 0-10
WSW 0-10
W 0-10
Mt. Hood
WSW 10-20
WSW 5-15
SW 0-10
WSW 5-15
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
SW
0-10
Friday
Night
SW
5-15
Saturday
Morning
SW
5-15
Saturday
Afternoon
SW
10-20
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
SW
5-15
Friday
Night
SSW
5-15
Saturday
Morning
SSW
5-15
Saturday
Afternoon
SSW
5-15
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
WSW
5-15
Friday
Night
WSW
0-10
Saturday
Morning
SW
0-10
Saturday
Afternoon
WSW
10-20
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
W
0-10
Friday
Night
NW
0-10
Saturday
Morning
WNW
0-10
Saturday
Afternoon
W
5-15
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
W
5-15
Friday
Night
W
0-10
Saturday
Morning
W
0-10
Saturday
Afternoon
W
5-15
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
WNW
5-15
Friday
Night
WNW
5-15
Saturday
Morning
WNW
0-10
Saturday
Afternoon
W
5-15
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
W
5-15
Friday
Night
WSW
0-10
Saturday
Morning
WSW
5-15
Saturday
Afternoon
WSW
10-20
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
W
10-20
Friday
Night
W
5-15
Saturday
Morning
W
0-10
Saturday
Afternoon
W
10-20
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
WNW
5-15
Friday
Night
W
0-10
Saturday
Morning
WSW
0-10
Saturday
Afternoon
W
0-10
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
WSW
10-20
Friday
Night
WSW
5-15
Saturday
Morning
SW
0-10
Saturday
Afternoon
WSW
5-15
Issued: 2:41 PM PDT Friday, April 2, 2021
Extended Weather Synopsis
The extended forecast keeps our region under a dry regime with strong diurnal temperature changes and cooler air to the west of the Cascade Crest. As the upper low exits Sunday night, evening flurries come to an end over the Cascades. Skies should experience significant clearing as the upper-level flow shifts northeasterly. Temperatures start cold on Monday morning but moderate rapidly under strong sunshine and subtle ridging working into the region. The subtle ridge axis shifts over the PNW on Monday night. Expect another beautiful spring day on Tuesday with a slightly milder start to the day.
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).