Issued: 2:44 PM PDT Saturday, April 3, 2021
by Robert Hahn

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis

A showery band of mostly light rain and snow confined to NW Washington state Friday afternoon increases over the Olympics and northwestern Washington Cascades, then weakens as it shifts slowly southward. WSW Ridgeline winds increase/peak in the moderate range with the strongest winds along the east slopes of the Cascades late Saturday night. eSnow levels start around 5000 ft, but drop to the 2500-4500 ft range by Sunday morning.

Cooler temperatures should be in place on Sunday. Mostly very light snow showers (and low elevation rain showers) generally decrease across the region on Sunday with the upper low drifting over the region. However, a switch from W to N winds could result in some local upslope precipitation in portions of the NE Olympic mountains.

We expect up to 5" of snow from this weak storm with the most near Mt. Baker.

Sunday evening, any lingering snow flurries taper off. Flow turns northeasterly, helping clear out the clouds. Temperatures should plummet overnight under clear skies and light winds. Monday starts chilly, but temperatures should rebound nicely with sunshine to seasonable 4500-6500 ft freezing levels.

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
Saturday Night Light rain and snow showers ending during the evening hours.
Sunday Partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of afternoon rain and snow showers.
Saturday Night Moderate rain and snow during the evening hours, becoming light thereafter.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow flurries early, then partly cloudy.
Saturday Night Increasing light rain and snow.
Sunday Decreasing light rain and snow showers. Becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Increasing very light rain and snow.
Sunday Decreasing light rain and snow showers; remaining mostly cloudy.
Saturday Night Increasing very light rain and snow.
Sunday Decreasing light rain and snow showers; remaining mostly cloudy.
Saturday Night Increasing very light rain and snow
Sunday Decreasing light rain and snow showers; remaining mostly cloudy.
Saturday Night Very light rain and snow showers.
Sunday Partly cloudy with a chance of snow flurries.
Saturday Night Very light rain and snow showers.
Sunday Partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of snow flurries.
Saturday Night Increasing very light rain and snow showers.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow flurries.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow flurries.

Precipitation (in)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
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 0.50 LT 0.10 0 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 0 0
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
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 0 0
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0
Washington Pass LT 0.10 0 0 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 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Timberline 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 5000' 4000' 2500' 2500' 2500' 1500' 2500' 4500'
West North 5000' 3500' 2500' 2500' 3000' 1000' 2000' 4500'
West Central 5500' 4500' 3000' 2500' 3000' 2000' 2500' 4000'
West South 6500' 5500' 4500' 3500' 3000' 2000' 3000' 5500'
Stevens Pass 6000' 5500' 3500' 3000' 3500' 1500' 2500' 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass 6000' 5500' 4000' 3000' 3000' 2000' 2500' 5000'
East North 6000' 5000' 4000' 3500' 4500' 2500' 3500' 6000'
East Central 6500' 5500' 4500' 3500' 4000' 2500' 3500' 6000'
East South 7000' 6000' 5500' 4500' 4500' 2000' 3500' 6500'
Mt. Hood 8500' 8500' 6000' 5500' 4000' 2000' 2500' 5000'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening 5000'
Saturday Night 4000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening 5000'
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 2000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 5500'
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday Morning 3000'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening 6500'
Saturday Night 5500'
Sunday Morning 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2000'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 6000'
Saturday Night 5500'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 6000'
Saturday Night 5500'
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening 6000'
Saturday Night 5000'
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 6000'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 6500'
Saturday Night 5500'
Sunday Morning 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 6000'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening 7000'
Saturday Night 6000'
Sunday Morning 5500'
Sunday Afternoon 4500'
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 2000'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 6500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening 8500'
Saturday Night 8500'
Sunday Morning 6000'
Sunday Afternoon 5500'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 2000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 5000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 33 / 24 30 / 22
West North 34 / 25 28 / 22
West Central 35 / 26 28 / 23
West South 40 / 31 34 / 27
Stevens Pass 38 / 28 31 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass 38 / 28 30 / 26
East North 37 / 28 33 / 25
East Central 40 / 30 34 / 27
East South 43 / 31 39 / 30
Mt. Hood 44 / 35 42 / 33
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 33 / 24
Sunday 30 / 22
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 34 / 25
Sunday 28 / 22
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 35 / 26
Sunday 28 / 23
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 40 / 31
Sunday 34 / 27
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 38 / 28
Sunday 31 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 38 / 28
Sunday 30 / 26
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 37 / 28
Sunday 33 / 25
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 40 / 30
Sunday 34 / 27
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 43 / 31
Sunday 39 / 30
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 44 / 35
Sunday 42 / 33

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics SW 5-15 WSW 0-10 W 0-10 NW 0-10
West North WSW 5-15 WSW 10-20 W 5-15 WNW 5-15
West Central SW 15-25 W 5-15 WNW 5-15 WNW 10-20
West South W 5-15 W 5-15 W 5-15 WNW 10-20
Stevens Pass WSW 5-15 W 10-20 W 10-20 WNW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass W 5-15 W 10-20 WNW 10-20 WNW 15-25
East North WSW 15-25 WSW 10-20 W 10-20 WNW 10-20
East Central WSW 15-25 W 20-30 W 15-25 WNW 15-25
East South W 0-10 W 10-20 W 5-15 W 10-20
Mt. Hood WSW 5-15 WSW 10-20 WSW 10-20 WSW 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 5-15
Saturday Night WSW 0-10
Sunday Morning W 0-10
Sunday Afternoon NW 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 5-15
Saturday Night WSW 10-20
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon WNW 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 15-25
Saturday Night W 5-15
Sunday Morning WNW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon WNW 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 5-15
Saturday Night W 5-15
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon WNW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 5-15
Saturday Night W 10-20
Sunday Morning W 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WNW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 5-15
Saturday Night W 10-20
Sunday Morning WNW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WNW 15-25
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 15-25
Saturday Night WSW 10-20
Sunday Morning W 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WNW 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 15-25
Saturday Night W 20-30
Sunday Morning W 15-25
Sunday Afternoon WNW 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 0-10
Saturday Night W 10-20
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 5-15
Saturday Night WSW 10-20
Sunday Morning WSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15-25

Extended Weather Synopsis

A shortwave ridge rests over the region Monday night and Tuesday bringing sunny and clear springtime weather. Westerly winds and clouds increase ahead of an approaching trough Tuesday night. Increasing rain and snow will spread from north to south across the Washington Cascades and Olympics on Wednesday. Temperatures should cool with the arriving moisture, resulting in snow levels lowering to near 3000 ft.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 3000' 4000' 3500' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 4500' 4500' 3500'
Mt. Hood 5000' 5500' 6000' 6000'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday 4000'
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday 4500'
Tuesday Night 4500'
Wednesday 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 5000'
Tuesday 5500'
Tuesday Night 6000'
Wednesday 6000'

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I Extended Weather

Previous forecast from Apr 3, 2021

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).

The label LT, is shorthand for ‘less than’.