Issued: 3:13 PM PDT Sunday, April 24, 2022
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

A few thin clouds this afternoon hint at the changes to come in the weather. The high-pressure ridge responsible for our beautiful weekend will do its best to hold off an advancing low-pressure system until Sunday night. Eventually, the ridge will slide further east opening the door for the first in a series of weak storms to impact the mountains. Most locations will remain dry Sunday night. However, strong and gusty winds will develop ahead of the storm, especially near Hurricane Ridge, Mt Baker, and Mt Hood.  Precipitation should finally arrive in the North Cascades around midnight, before slowly spreading south during the morning hours. This first round of moisture looks rather unimpressive, and will only bring a few light showers mainly to locations near and west of the Cascade Crest. With more precipitation heading into Canada, Mt Baker could see the greatest accumulations. Snow levels will begin relatively high, but colder air should gradually cause temperatures to fall and eventually bring snow back to near or just above Pass levels by Monday night. 

The low-pressure stalls just off the coast of British Columbia on Monday. Instead of pushing inland, it seems to meander and continues to send additional weak short-wave storms into our region. One of these small disturbances appears to arrive on Tuesday, causing precipitation to intensify. This time, colder air and much lower snow levels will help this storm produce mostly snow in the mountains, with rain mainly near or below the passes. 

 

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
Sunday Night Cloudy with light rain and snow developing. Moderate SSW winds decreasing slightly.
Monday Cloudy with sun breaks possible in the afternoon. Isolated showers.
Sunday Night Becoming cloudy with light rain and snow developing. Strong S winds decreasing.
Monday Cloudy with showers throughout the day. Moderate to strong S winds decreasing slightly.
Sunday Night Becoming cloudy with light rain and snow developing after midnight. Moderate S winds.
Monday Cloudy with scattered showers. Light to moderate SW winds decreasing.
Sunday Night Becoming cloudy. A few stray showers possible. Light to moderate SW winds increasing.
Monday Cloudy with some sun breaks in the afternoon. Isolated showers. Moderate SW winds decreasing slightly.
Sunday Night Becoming cloudy. Light SW winds increasing overnight.
Monday Cloudy with a few sun breaks possible. Scattered rain and snow showers. Light to moderate SW winds decreasing.
Sunday Night Becoming cloudy. Light SW winds increasing.
Monday Cloudy with scattered rain and snow showers. A few sun breaks possible in the afternoon. Light to moderate SW winds becoming W.
Sunday Night Becoming cloudy with a few stray sprinkles possible. Light to moderate S winds.
Monday Cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers. A few sun breaks possible. Light to moderate SW winds decreasing.
Sunday Night Becoming cloudy overnight. Light to moderate S winds increasing and shifting SW.
Monday Moslty cloudy with sun breaks, especially in the Wenatchees. Isolated rain and snow showers, heaviest near the crest. Moderate SW winds decreasing.
Sunday Night Becoming cloudy overnight. Light to moderate SW winds increasing.
Monday Mostly cloudy with sun breaks. Becoming Partly cloudy further east. Isolated rain and snow showers near the crest. Moderate SW winds decreasing.
Sunday Night Becoming cloudy. Light to moderate SW winds increasing to moderate to strong.
Monday Cloudy with isolated showers. A few sun breaks possible. Moderate to strong SW winds decreasing.

Issued: 3:13 PM PDT Sunday, April 24, 2022

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 3:13 PM PDT Sunday, April 24, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 5500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
West North 6500' 5000' 4500' 4500' 4000' 3500' 3000' 3500'
West Central 7000' 5500' 5000' 5000' 4500' 3500' 3000' 3500'
West South 7000' 6000' 5500' 5500' 5000' 3500' 3000' 3500'
Stevens Pass 7500' 6500' 5500' 5500' 5000' 3500' 3000' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 7500' 6500' 5500' 5500' 5000' 3500' 3000' 3500'
East North 7500' 6500' 5500' 5500' 5000' 3500' 3000' 3500'
East Central 7500' 6500' 5500' 5500' 5000' 3500' 3000' 3500'
East South 7500' 6500' 6000' 6000' 5500' 4000' 3500' 4000'
Mt. Hood 8000' 7000' 6000' 6000' 5500' 4000' 3500' 4000'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening 5500'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening 6500'
Sunday Night 5000'
Monday Morning 4500'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 7000'
Sunday Night 5500'
Monday Morning 5000'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
Monday Evening 4500'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening 7000'
Sunday Night 6000'
Monday Morning 5500'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 7500'
Sunday Night 6500'
Monday Morning 5500'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 7500'
Sunday Night 6500'
Monday Morning 5500'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening 7500'
Sunday Night 6500'
Monday Morning 5500'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 7500'
Sunday Night 6500'
Monday Morning 5500'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening 7500'
Sunday Night 6500'
Monday Morning 6000'
Monday Afternoon 6000'
Monday Evening 5500'
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday Morning 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening 8000'
Sunday Night 7000'
Monday Morning 6000'
Monday Afternoon 6000'
Monday Evening 5500'
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday Morning 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'

Issued: 3:13 PM PDT Sunday, April 24, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 37 / 28 33 / 26
West North 41 / 32 34 / 31
West Central 40 / 31 35 / 31
West South 45 / 33 37 / 34
Stevens Pass 45 / 32 37 / 32
Snoqualmie Pass 42 / 31 36 / 32
East North 44 / 32 41 / 32
East Central 45 / 32 38 / 32
East South 46 / 33 39 / 34
Mt. Hood 46 / 34 41 / 34
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 37 / 28
Monday 33 / 26
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 41 / 32
Monday 34 / 31
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 40 / 31
Monday 35 / 31
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 45 / 33
Monday 37 / 34
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 45 / 32
Monday 37 / 32
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 42 / 31
Monday 36 / 32
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 44 / 32
Monday 41 / 32
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 45 / 32
Monday 38 / 32
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 46 / 33
Monday 39 / 34
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 46 / 34
Monday 41 / 34

Issued: 3:13 PM PDT Sunday, April 24, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics SSW 15-25 SW 10-20 SW 5-15 SW 5-15
West North S 25-35 S 20-30 S 20-30 S 15-25
West Central S 15-25 SSW 15-25 SW 10-20 SW 5-15
West South SW 10-20 SW 15-25 SW 15-25 SW 10-20
Stevens Pass SW 5-15 SW 10-20 SW 10-20 W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass SW 5-15 SW 10-20 SW 10-20 W 10-20
East North S 10-20 SSW 10-20 SW 10-20 SW 5-15
East Central S 10-20 SW 15-25 SW 15-25 SW 10-20
East South SW 10-20 SW 15-25 SW 15-25 WSW 10-20
Mt. Hood SW 10-20 SW 20-30 SW 20-30 SW 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SSW 15-25
Sunday Night SW 10-20
Monday Morning SW 5-15
Monday Afternoon SW 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening S 25-35
Sunday Night S 20-30
Monday Morning S 20-30
Monday Afternoon S 15-25
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening S 15-25
Sunday Night SSW 15-25
Monday Morning SW 10-20
Monday Afternoon SW 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 10-20
Sunday Night SW 15-25
Monday Morning SW 15-25
Monday Afternoon SW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 5-15
Sunday Night SW 10-20
Monday Morning SW 10-20
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 5-15
Sunday Night SW 10-20
Monday Morning SW 10-20
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening S 10-20
Sunday Night SSW 10-20
Monday Morning SW 10-20
Monday Afternoon SW 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening S 10-20
Sunday Night SW 15-25
Monday Morning SW 15-25
Monday Afternoon SW 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 10-20
Sunday Night SW 15-25
Monday Morning SW 15-25
Monday Afternoon WSW 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 10-20
Sunday Night SW 20-30
Monday Morning SW 20-30
Monday Afternoon SW 15-25

Issued: 3:13 PM PDT Sunday, April 24, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

Additional weak short-wave storms continue to swing across the regions in the extended forecast period, keeping the Olympics and Cascades in a cool and showery weather pattern all week. While the timing and strength of each of these smaller systems can be hard to pin down this far out, at the moment, periods of heavier precipitation seem to arrive both Wednesday and Thursday. With longer spring-time days, we will see a diurnal shift in temperatures. However, generally, snow levels should remain fairly low throughout the week. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
West North 2000' 3000' 2000' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 2500' 3500' 2500' 3500'
Mt. Hood 3000' 4000' 3000' 4000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday 3000'
Wednesday Night 2000'
Thursday 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday 3500'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 3000'
Wednesday 4000'
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday 4000'

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

Previous forecast from Apr 23, 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’.