We're in a bit of a "rinse and repeat" pattern today as the prolonged Pacific high-pressure maintains control of our weather. A few isolated showers along the west slopes of the Cascades continue to linger this morning. Low-level clouds blanket much of the mountains near and west of the crest. As the day goes on, these clouds should thin and dissipate. They may be a bit more persistent in locations from the Mt Loop highway to I-90, but for other areas expect drying and clearing. Overnight low clouds will return to the mountains for another cloudy and cool evening.
On Thursday, we start to shake off this persistent weather pattern. A weak low-pressure embedded under the jet stream will approach the coast causing the Pacific ridge to falter. Expect clouds to spread across the mountains and light bands of precipitation to clip the northern half of the forecast area. While this won't be the storm many are hoping for, it will serve as the prelude to bigger weather changes.
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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Wednesday
Becoming mostly sunny with low clouds. Light N winds becoming calm.
Wednesday
Night
Mostly clear with low clouds. NW winds becoming light.
Wednesday
Becoming partly sunny with low clouds. Light N winds becoming calm.
Wednesday
Night
Clouds increasing overnight. W winds becoming light.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with low clouds and a few isolated showers. Sun breaks possible in the afternoon. Light to moderate NNW winds decreasing slightly.
Wednesday
Night
Mostly cloudy. Light WNW winds.
Wednesday
Low clouds in the morning with clearing and mostly sunny skies in the afternoon. Light to moderate NW winds decreasing.
Wednesday
Night
Increasing low clouds overnight. Light NW winds.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with low clouds and a few isolated showers in the morning. Sun breaks possible in the afternoon. Light to moderate WNW winds decreasing.
Wednesday
Night
Increasing low clouds. Light WNW winds increasing and becoming moderate.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with low clouds and a few isolated showers in the morning. Sun breaks possible in the afternoon. Light to moderate NW winds decreasing.
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).