Issued: 3:07 PM PDT Monday, April 25, 2022
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

An upper low centered over Heida Gwaii continues to eject disturbances wrapping around the low into our region. The first passed through the area on Monday, bringing some light rain and snow, with light postfrontal rain/snow showers continuing with weak instability aloft as SW winds turn WSW and bring cooler air into the region. The flow pattern and light precipitation should favor the west slopes of the Cascades, especially the Mt. Baker area as these isolated showers wane overnight. As snow levels drop from 3500-4500 ft during the evening hours to around 3000 ft by morning, mid and upper elevations could pick up a dusting to an inch of snow. Late Monday night into Tuesday morning represents a relative lull between systems. The atmosphere remains moist in the morning with clouds and drizzle or snow flurries.

A second trough rotates over the region late Tuesday bringing increasing light rain/snow showers through the afternoon with a slight chance of thunderstorms. After a cool start to the day, with below-freezing temperatures in most areas, snow levels should rise back up to 3000-3500 ft along the west slopes of the Cascades and 4000 ft in areas receiving spillover onto the east slopes late in the day. This precipitation may peak in the early evening hours before focusing on a convergence zone centered on the mountain loop region which could linger into the overnight hours. Favored areas above the rain/snow line might pick up 3-6" of snow Tuesday through Tuesday night, while most areas can expect less than 3".

On Wednesday, the parent low dissipates and becomes a broad trough with weak westerly flow over our region keeping some clouds and a chance of isolated very light rain or snow showers in the picture for western Washington. Snow levels remain similar to Tuesday.

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
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with partial clearing overnight.
Tuesday Increasing light rain and snow showers.
Monday Night Light rain and snow showers.
Tuesday Increasing light rain and snow showers.
Monday Night Decreasing isolated light rain and snow showers.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers developing during the morning hours and increasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Decreasing isolated light rain and snow showers.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers developing during the morning hours and increasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Decreasing isolated light rain and snow showers. Light W wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers developing during the morning hours and increasing in the afternoon. Light W wind at the Pass increasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Decreasing isolated light rain and snow showers. Light W wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers developing during the morning hours and increasing in the afternoon. Light W wind at the Pass increasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy in the morning with light rain and snow developing during the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy in the morning with light rain and snow developing during the afternoon and possibly becoming steady late in the day.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy in the morning with light rain and snow developing during the afternoon.
Monday Night Decreasing isolated light rain and snow showers.
Tuesday Increasing light rain and snow showers possibly becoming steady late in the day.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon
Olympics 3500' 3000' 2500' 3000' 3500' 2500' 2500' 3000'
West North 4000' 3000' 2500' 3000' 3000' 2000' 2000' 3000'
West Central 4000' 3500' 2500' 3000' 3000' 2000' 2500' 3000'
West South 4500' 3500' 2500' 3500' 3500' 2000' 2500' 3500'
Stevens Pass 4500' 3500' 2500' 3500' 3500' 2000' 2500' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 4500' 3500' 2500' 3500' 3500' 2000' 2500' 3000'
East North 5500' 4500' 3500' 4500' 4000' 3000' 2500' 5000'
East Central 5500' 4500' 3500' 4500' 4000' 3000' 2500' 5000'
East South 6000' 4500' 3500' 5000' 4000' 3000' 3000' 5000'
Mt. Hood 5000' 3500' 2500' 3500' 3500' 2500' 3500' 4500'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening 3500'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3000'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday Morning 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon 3000'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3000'
Tuesday Evening 3000'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 3000'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3000'
Tuesday Evening 3000'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday Morning 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon 3000'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening 4500'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday Morning 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon 3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 4500'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday Morning 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 4500'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday Morning 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon 3000'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening 5500'
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday Morning 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Tuesday Evening 4000'
Tuesday Night 3000'
Wednesday Morning 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon 5000'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening 5500'
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday Morning 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Tuesday Evening 4000'
Tuesday Night 3000'
Wednesday Morning 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon 5000'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening 6000'
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday Morning 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 5000'
Tuesday Evening 4000'
Tuesday Night 3000'
Wednesday Morning 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday Morning 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon 4500'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 29 / 24 31 / 24
West North 31 / 25 32 / 24
West Central 32 / 25 32 / 25
West South 35 / 27 33 / 26
Stevens Pass 34 / 27 32 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 32 / 27 32 / 26
East North 35 / 24 34 / 24
East Central 34 / 26 33 / 25
East South 35 / 26 34 / 26
Mt. Hood 34 / 27 33 / 27
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 29 / 24
Tuesday 31 / 24
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 31 / 25
Tuesday 32 / 24
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 32 / 25
Tuesday 32 / 25
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 35 / 27
Tuesday 33 / 26
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 34 / 27
Tuesday 32 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 32 / 27
Tuesday 32 / 26
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 35 / 24
Tuesday 34 / 24
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 34 / 26
Tuesday 33 / 25
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 35 / 26
Tuesday 34 / 26
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 34 / 27
Tuesday 33 / 27

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics SW 5-15 SW 0-10 SW 0-10 WSW 5-15
West North SW 5-15 WSW 0-10 SW 0-10 SW 5-15
West Central WSW 5-15 W 5-15 WSW 0-10 WSW 10-20
West South W 5-15 WSW 0-10 WSW 5-15 WSW 10-20
Stevens Pass W 0-10 W 0-10 W 0-10 W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass W 5-15 WNW 5-15 WNW 5-15 W 10-20
East North WSW 10-20 W 5-15 WNW 5-15 W 10-20
East Central WNW 10-20 WNW 10-20 WNW 10-20 W 10-20
East South W 5-15 W 10-20 W 10-20 W 10-20
Mt. Hood WSW 10-20 WSW 10-20 WSW 10-20 WSW 20-30
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SW 5-15
Monday Night SW 0-10
Tuesday Morning SW 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SW 5-15
Monday Night WSW 0-10
Tuesday Morning SW 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon SW 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WSW 5-15
Monday Night W 5-15
Tuesday Morning WSW 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 5-15
Monday Night WSW 0-10
Tuesday Morning WSW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 0-10
Monday Night W 0-10
Tuesday Morning W 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 5-15
Monday Night WNW 5-15
Tuesday Morning WNW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon W 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WSW 10-20
Monday Night W 5-15
Tuesday Morning WNW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon W 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WNW 10-20
Monday Night WNW 10-20
Tuesday Morning WNW 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon W 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 5-15
Monday Night W 10-20
Tuesday Morning W 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon W 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WSW 10-20
Monday Night WSW 10-20
Tuesday Morning WSW 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 20-30

Extended Weather Synopsis

A broad trough moves into our nearshore waters Wednesday night and weakens as it moves onshore on Thursday. Winds should focus precipitation south of our region, but afternoon instability showers should develop Thursday afternoon into the early evening hourswith cool air aloft. A weak ridge develops Thursday night and Friday leading to leading to mostly dry weather and seasonable temperatures.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night Thursday Thursday Night Friday
West North 3000' 4000' 4000' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 4000' 4000' 4000'
Mt. Hood 4500' 4000' 3500' 4500'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday 4000'
Thursday Night 4000'
Friday 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night 3500'
Thursday 4000'
Thursday Night 4000'
Friday 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night 4500'
Thursday 4000'
Thursday Night 3500'
Friday 4500'

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

Previous forecast from Apr 24, 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’.