While the bulk of our recent winter storm has left the region, we're still experiencing lingering low-level moisture and a strong overhead jet stream. This should maintain snow showers and gusty winds for most locations Tuesday. With a bit of atmospheric instability and a strong April sun, some of this precipitation could become convective and produce brief periods of intense snowfall. As showers slowly start to taper from south to north, a pair of Puget Sounds Convergence Zones are expected to form over the Central Cascades. The northern feature appears to target areas near and north of Darrington, while the southern band should bring periods of heavier precipitation near and north of I90. By the evening hours, only a few isolated showers will remain as the mountains start to dry out. Strong and gusty winds should continue Tuesday, particularly for areas near and east of the Cascade Crest and Mt Hood. These too will slowly diminish, especially as we head into the overnight hours. Along with all these showers and gusty winds, the sun will make its presence known. Most locations should see significant sun breaks, especially in the afternoon. Areas further east and south in the forecast region should see the most clearing during the day.
Overnight a high-pressure ridge starts to build over the Pacific Northwest. This pushes much drier air into our region and should cause skies to clear significantly. Expect valley fog and low clouds as very weak temperatures inversions form overnight.
After a chilly start Wednesday, the growing ridge will flood our area with much warmer air. Mostly clear skies, a strong April sun, and warmer temperatures will send freezing levels skyrocketing by mid to late morning. While the day may begin like winter, it will certainly end feeling like late spring.
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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Tuesday
Scattered showers particularly in the morning with substantial sun break throughout the day. Light to moderate W winds decreasing.
Tuesday
Night
Mostly clear with low clouds and fog possible. Winds light and variable.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with snow showers, heavy at times. Sun breaks possible in the afternoon. Moderate W winds decreasing.
Tuesday
Night
Isolated showers in the evening, then clearing. Low clouds and valley fog possible. Light W winds.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with snow showers, heavy at times. A Puget Sound Convergence Zone expected. Sun breaks possible, particularly in the afternoon. Moderate to strong W winds decreasting.
Tuesday
Night
Isolated showers in the evening, then significant clearing. Low clouds and valley fog possible. Light NW winds.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers in the morning. Precipitation could be heavy at times. Significant sun breaks expected between showers. Moderat to strong and gusty W winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Tuesday
Night
A few stray flurries possible. Becoming mostly clear with low clouds and valley fog possible. Light to moderate NW winds decreasing.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers, heavy at times. A Puget Sound Convergence Zone could impact the Pass. Sun breaks possible, especially in the afternoon. Moderate but gusty W winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Tuesday
Night
Becoming mostly clear with a few isolated showers in the early evening. Low clouds and valley fog possible. Light NW winds decreasing.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers in the morning. A Puget Sound Convergence Zone should bring locally heavier precipitation in the afternoon. Significant sun breaks possible between showers. Moderate to strong and gusty W winds decreasing.
Tuesday
Night
Isolated showers in the evening, then becoming mostly clear. Low clouds and valley fog possible. Light to moderate NW winds decreasing.
Tuesday
Partly to mostly cloudy with showers particularly near the crest. Moderate to strong and gusty W winds decreasing.
Tuesday
Night
Mostly clear with patchy low clouds and valley fog. A few sprinkles possible near the Canadian border. Light to moderate W winds decreasing.
Tuesday
Partly to mostly cloudy with significant sunshine further east. Scattered showers near the crest could be heavy at times. Strong and gusty WNW winds decreasing slightly.
Tuesday
Night
Becoming mostly clear with patchy valley fog and low clouds possible. Moderate NW winds decreasing significantly.
Tuesday
Partly to mostly cloudy with a few showers near the crest. Significant sunshine further east. Strong and gusty WNW winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Tuesday
Night
Becoming mostly clear with patchy valley fog and low clouds. Light to moderate NW winds decreasing significantly.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with showers in the morning, could be heavy at times. Sun breaks increasing throughout the day. Very strong and gusty W winds slowly decreasing.
Tuesday
Night
Becoming mostly clear with low clouds and valley fog. Light to moderate NW winds decreasing significantly.
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).