Issued: 2:42 PM PDT Wednesday, April 20, 2022
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

A broad and slow-moving closed low off the Washington Coastline lifts a light to moderate rain/snow northward across the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday afternoon. That band should continue to impact the region during the evening hours, particularly along the east slopes of the Cascades where low-level easterly flow should continue to enhance rain and snowfall. With 3000-4000 ft snow levels, accumulations should be limited to mid and upper elevation areas. As the band of precipitation band lifts northward, parts of the central and southern Washington Cascades should see a relative break in the action, but a secondary wave of organized moisture will begin to impact southern parts of the region in the early morning hours on Thursday. As this feature lifts northward on Thursday, low-level winds should shift from E to W as this band passes through, limiting upslope enhancement east of the Cascades to the morning hours. Slight cooling aloft will keep instability showers going after the organized band of moisture moves through.

Thursday night features some light shower activity along the west slopes of the Cascades in the morning with drying overnight as the closed low drops south of the region and forms a trough over California late Thursday night.

Expect light W or NW winds aloft on Friday with partly cloudy skies and isolated showers across the west slopes of the Cascades Friday afternoon. East of the Cascades can expect mostly sunny skies.

Snow levels don't change much during the latter part of the week, remaining cool with the upper-level trough in place. However, snow/freezing levels rise slightly on Friday afternoon.

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
Wednesday Night Light rain and snow in the evening, decreasing and becoming showery overnight.
Thursday Periods of light rain and snow.
Wednesday Night Decreasing light rain and snow.
Thursday Periods of increasing light rain and snow during the morning, becoming showery in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Light rain and snow in the evening, decreasing and becoming showery overnight.
Thursday Periods of light rain and snow during the morning, becoming showery in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Light rain and snow in the evening with a break overnight and light rain/snow re-developing in the early morning hours.
Thursday Periods of light rain and snow during the morning, becoming showery from mid-morning onwards.
Wednesday Night Light rain and snow in the evening, becoming cloudy with a slight chance of rain overnight. Light to moderate E winds becoming light overnight at the Pass.
Thursday Periods of light rain and snow during the morning, becoming showery from late morning onwards. Light E winds shifting W by the afternoon at the Pass.
Wednesday Night Light rain and snow in the evening with a break overnight and light rain/snow re-developing in the early morning hours. Moderate E winds becoming light overnight at the Pass.
Thursday Periods of light rain and snow during the morning, becoming showery from late morning onwards. Light E winds shifting W by the afternoon at the Pass.
Wednesday Night Light to moderate rain and snow, tapering or ending overnight.
Thursday A period of light rain/snow in the morning, then scattered rain/snow showers from late morning onwards.
Wednesday Night Light rain and snow in the evening with a break overnight and light rain/snow re-developing in the early morning hours.
Thursday A period of light to occasionally moderate rain/snow, becoming scattered rain/snow showers in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Light rain and snow decreasing or ending during the late evening and overnight hours with light rain/snow re-developing in the early morning hours.
Thursday Light to occasionally moderate rain/snow early, then becoming showery by mid-morning.
Wednesday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain/snow.
Thursday Decreasing light rain/snow during the early morning, becoming showery from mid-morning onwards.

Issued: 2:42 PM PDT Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Precipitation (in)

Wednesday Night Thursday Thursday Night Friday
5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm 5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Paradise 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
White Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Washington Pass 0.25 LT 0.25 0 0
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 0.25 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Timberline 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday 0.25
Thursday Night 0.25
Friday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0.25
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday 0.25
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday 0

Issued: 2:42 PM PDT Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Evening* Wednesday Night* Thursday Morning* Thursday Afternoon Thursday Evening Thursday Night Friday Morning Friday Afternoon
Olympics 3500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3000' 3500' 3500'
West North 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 3500' 4000'
West Central 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 3500' 4000'
West South 4000' 3000' 3000' 4000' 4000' 3000' 3500' 4000'
Stevens Pass 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 3500' 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 3500' 4000'
East North 3500' 3000' 3000' 4000' 4000' 3000' 3500' 5500'
East Central 3500' 3000' 3000' 4000' 4000' 3000' 3500' 5500'
East South 4000' 3000' 3500' 4000' 4500' 3000' 4000' 5500'
Mt. Hood 4000' 3000' 3000' 4000' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4500'
Olympics Elevation
Wednesday Evening* 3500'
Wednesday Night* 3000'
Thursday Morning* 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 3500'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Evening* 3500'
Wednesday Night* 3000'
Thursday Morning* 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 3500'
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 4000'
West Central Elevation
Wednesday Evening* 3500'
Wednesday Night* 3000'
Thursday Morning* 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 3500'
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 4000'
West South Elevation
Wednesday Evening* 4000'
Wednesday Night* 3000'
Thursday Morning* 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 4000'
Thursday Evening 4000'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening* 3500'
Wednesday Night* 3000'
Thursday Morning* 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 3500'
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening* 3500'
Wednesday Night* 3000'
Thursday Morning* 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 3500'
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 4000'
East North Elevation
Wednesday Evening* 3500'
Wednesday Night* 3000'
Thursday Morning* 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 4000'
Thursday Evening 4000'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 5500'
East Central Elevation
Wednesday Evening* 3500'
Wednesday Night* 3000'
Thursday Morning* 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 4000'
Thursday Evening 4000'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 5500'
East South Elevation
Wednesday Evening* 4000'
Wednesday Night* 3000'
Thursday Morning* 3500'
Thursday Afternoon 4000'
Thursday Evening 4500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 4000'
Friday Afternoon 5500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Evening* 4000'
Wednesday Night* 3000'
Thursday Morning* 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 4000'
Thursday Evening 4500'
Thursday Night 4000'
Friday Morning 4000'
Friday Afternoon 4500'

Issued: 2:42 PM PDT Wednesday, April 20, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Wednesday Night Thursday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 31 / 27 32 / 27
West North 30 / 26 34 / 26
West Central 32 / 27 32 / 27
West South 31 / 27 33 / 28
Stevens Pass 33 / 27 34 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass 31 / 27 31 / 28
East North 31 / 24 36 / 25
East Central 32 / 25 34 / 26
East South 31 / 26 34 / 27
Mt. Hood 31 / 29 34 / 29
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 31 / 27
Thursday 32 / 27
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 30 / 26
Thursday 34 / 26
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 32 / 27
Thursday 32 / 27
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 31 / 27
Thursday 33 / 28
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 33 / 27
Thursday 34 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 31 / 27
Thursday 31 / 28
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 31 / 24
Thursday 36 / 25
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 32 / 25
Thursday 34 / 26
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 31 / 26
Thursday 34 / 27
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 31 / 29
Thursday 34 / 29

Issued: 2:42 PM PDT Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Wednesday Evening Wednesday Night Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon
Olympics SSW 10-20 S 0-10 NE 0-10 NW 0-10
West North SSE 10-20 S 5-15 E 0-10 SSW 5-15
West Central SE 10-20 S 0-10 SSE 5-15 WSW 10-20
West South SW 10-20 S 0-10 SSW 5-15 SW 10-20
Stevens Pass SE 5-15 SSE 0-10 SSE 5-15 W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass SSE 5-15 SE 0-10 SE 5-15 W 10-20
East North SE 10-20 SSE 0-10 SSE 0-10 WSW 5-15
East Central SSE 5-15 SSW 5-15 SSE 10-20 W 5-15
East South WSW 5-15 SSE 5-15 SSW 10-20 WSW 10-20
Mt. Hood WSW 20-30 SSW 15-25 SW 20-30 WSW 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SSW 10-20
Wednesday Night S 0-10
Thursday Morning NE 0-10
Thursday Afternoon NW 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SSE 10-20
Wednesday Night S 5-15
Thursday Morning E 0-10
Thursday Afternoon SSW 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SE 10-20
Wednesday Night S 0-10
Thursday Morning SSE 5-15
Thursday Afternoon WSW 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SW 10-20
Wednesday Night S 0-10
Thursday Morning SSW 5-15
Thursday Afternoon SW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SE 5-15
Wednesday Night SSE 0-10
Thursday Morning SSE 5-15
Thursday Afternoon W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SSE 5-15
Wednesday Night SE 0-10
Thursday Morning SE 5-15
Thursday Afternoon W 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SE 10-20
Wednesday Night SSE 0-10
Thursday Morning SSE 0-10
Thursday Afternoon WSW 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SSE 5-15
Wednesday Night SSW 5-15
Thursday Morning SSE 10-20
Thursday Afternoon W 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening WSW 5-15
Wednesday Night SSE 5-15
Thursday Morning SSW 10-20
Thursday Afternoon WSW 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening WSW 20-30
Wednesday Night SSW 15-25
Thursday Morning SW 20-30
Thursday Afternoon WSW 15-25

Issued: 2:42 PM PDT Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

Low clouds and a few stray showers linger Friday evening as a trough exits the region. Models indicate that some low cloud cover is likely to be trapped under a shortwave ridge transiting the area, so expect partial cloud cover near and west of the Cascade Crest Saturday morning with mainly thin high clouds by the afternoon. The ridge axis moves east of the Cascades overnight. Clouds lower Sunday morning ahead of a closed low dropping southward off the coast of British Columbia. Light rain and higher elevation snow should move into western Washington from mid-morning onward.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Friday Night Saturday Saturday Night Sunday
West North 3500' 3500' 4500' 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 4000' 4000' 5000'
Mt. Hood 4000' 4500' 6000' 6000'
West North Elevation
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday 3500'
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday 4000'
Saturday Night 4000'
Sunday 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Night 4000'
Saturday 4500'
Saturday Night 6000'
Sunday 6000'

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

Previous forecast from Apr 19, 2022

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’.