Post-frontal snow showers linger behind a departed cold front early Saturday. Convergence light snowfall continues for the I-90 to highway 2 regions. Snow shower activity should decrease through late morning and shift mainly north of I-90 by the afternoon as a weak ridge moves over the region. Temperatures rebound slightly in the afternoon, but don't expect a spring-like day in most areas. Moderate W downslope ridgeline winds (and strong gusts) continue behind the front and ease during the afternoon.
Some periods of very light rain/snow continue Saturday night over northern Washington as moisture spills over the weak ridge Monday night, but don't expect any appreciable accumulation.
A stronger frontal system moves into the region from the WNW on Sunday with SSW winds ramping up quickly as the cold front approaches. Rain/snow should be heaviest in the Olympics and Mt. Baker area, particularly during the afternoon. The forecast looks on track for 6-12" of snow for Mt. Baker on Sunday with 4-8" likely for Hurricane Ridge. The southerly wind component also favors Paradise with 4-6" while the Cascades passes can expect 1-3" of snow above the 3500 ft rain/snow line.
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
Partly to mostly sunny in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy.
Saturday
Night
Mostly cloudy with a chance of very light rain/snow developing in the early morning hours.
Saturday
Decreasing light rain/snow showers. Better chances for sun breaks in the afternoon.
Saturday
Night
Periods of very light rain/snow
Saturday
Decreasing light rain/snow showers in convergence south of the mountain loop during the morning with even lighter shower activity shifting northward in the afternoon as the chance for sun breaks in increases.
Saturday
Night
A slight chance of light rain/snow in the evening, then mostly cloudy.
Saturday
Partly to mostly cloudy with a decreasing chance of rain/snow showers.
Saturday
Night
A slight chance of light rain/snow in the evening, then mostly cloudy. Light W wind possibly switching E at the Pass.
Saturday
Decreasing light convergence rain/snow during the morning with showers possibly ending in the afternoon. Decreasing light W wind at the Pass.
Saturday
Night
A slight chance of light rain/snow in the evening, then mostly cloudy. Light W wind possibly switching E at the Pass.
Saturday
Decreasing light convergence rain/snow during the morning with showers possibly ending in the afternoon. Decreasing light W wind at the Pass.
Saturday
Night
Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy.
Saturday
I few light snow showers with mostly cloudy skies early, then becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon.
Saturday
Night
Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy.
Saturday
I few light rain/snow showers near the Cascade Crest with mostly cloudy skies early, then becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon. Strong ridgeline wind gusts early particularly early in the day.
Saturday
Night
Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy near the Cascade Crest in the morning, then becoming mostly sunny.
Saturday
Night
Mostly clear in the evening with clouds increasing overnight.
Saturday
Light snow early, then tapering. Partly cloudy in the afternoon. Strong ridgeline wind gusts.
Saturday
Night
Mostly clear in the evening with clouds increasing overnight.
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).