Issued: 2:52 PM PDT Wednesday, April 27, 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 region of upper-level troughing over the NW US, western Canada, and the NE Pacific maintains a pattern of scattered afternoon and evening shower activity Wednesday afternoon (into the evening) and once again Thursday afternoon (into the evening). Daily convection initiates as breaks in the cloud cover warm the surface while cool air moving into the region on a westerly flow makes these warm parcels of air unstable. Increased heating of the land with more sunshine east of the Cascades also drives increased afternoon W winds, allowing convection to focus on the west slopes of the Cascades, but drift eastward onto the east slopes as they dissipate.

The trough axis moves onshore Thursday, but its energy remains mostly to the south of our region. Temperatures remain slightly below average but continue to moderate as the trough weakens. After another cool start Thursday morning, snow levels should climb into the 3500-4000 ft range (slightly higher than on Wednesday). Any snowfall should be in the dusting to 2" range above the rain/snow line.

A transitory ridge moves into the area late Thursday night and Friday, allowing a mostly dry day with partial sunshine and temperatures approaching seasonal norms. Clouds should increase late in the day as closed low approaches the coastline and precipitation reaches the coast.

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 showers, decreasing and ending during the evening hours, then remaining mostly cloudy overnight.
Thursday Partly cloudy early, then becoming mostly cloudy with a chance of rain/snow showers developing by the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Light rain and snow showers, decreasing and ending during the evening hours, then remaining mostly cloudy overnight.
Thursday Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain/snow showers developing by the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Light rain and snow showers, decreasing and ending during the evening hours, then remaining mostly cloudy overnight.
Thursday Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain/snow showers developing by the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Light rain and snow showers, decreasing and ending during the evening hours, then remaining mostly cloudy overnight.
Thursday Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain/snow showers developing by the afternoon.
Wednesday Night A slight chance of an evening rain/snow shower, then remaining mostly cloudy. Decreasing light W wind at the Pass.
Thursday Mostly cloudy with a very slight chance of rain/snow showers developing by the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Light rain and snow showers, decreasing and ending during the evening hours, then remaining mostly cloudy overnight. Decreasing light W wind at the Pass.
Thursday Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain/snow showers developing by the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Partly cloudy.
Thursday Partly cloudy early then becoming mostly cloudy with a very slight chance of a rain/snow shower.
Wednesday Night Partly to mostly clear.
Thursday Partly cloudy early then becoming mostly cloudy with a very slight chance of a rain/snow shower.
Wednesday Night Partly cloudy.
Thursday Partly cloudy early then becoming mostly cloudy with a very slight chance of a rain/snow shower.
Wednesday Night Light rain and snow showers, decreasing and ending during the evening hours, then remaining mostly cloudy overnight.
Thursday Mostly cloudy scattered rain/snow showers in the afternoon. Ridgeline winds increasing into the moderate range.

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

Snow Level (ft)

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

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Wednesday Night Thursday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 30 / 24 33 / 25
West North 31 / 24 33 / 25
West Central 32 / 26 34 / 26
West South 33 / 25 35 / 25
Stevens Pass 33 / 25 36 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass 32 / 25 33 / 25
East North 33 / 25 38 / 25
East Central 33 / 26 37 / 26
East South 34 / 27 38 / 27
Mt. Hood 34 / 27 36 / 27
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 30 / 24
Thursday 33 / 25
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 31 / 24
Thursday 33 / 25
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 32 / 26
Thursday 34 / 26
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 33 / 25
Thursday 35 / 25
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 33 / 25
Thursday 36 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 32 / 25
Thursday 33 / 25
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 33 / 25
Thursday 38 / 25
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 33 / 26
Thursday 37 / 26
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 34 / 27
Thursday 38 / 27
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 34 / 27
Thursday 36 / 27

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Wednesday Evening Wednesday Night Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon
Olympics NNW 0-10 SW 0-10 W 0-10 W 0-10
West North WSW 0-10 SSW 0-10 SSW 0-10 WSW 0-10
West Central W 0-10 WSW 0-10 W 0-10 W 5-15
West South WNW 0-10 W 0-10 W 0-10 WNW 5-15
Stevens Pass W 5-15 W 0-10 W 0-10 WNW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass WNW 5-15 NW 0-10 NW 0-10 WNW 10-20
East North WNW 5-15 W 0-10 SSW 0-10 W 5-15
East Central WNW 5-15 W 0-10 SW 0-10 WNW 5-15
East South W 0-10 SW 0-10 NW 0-10 WNW 5-15
Mt. Hood WSW 5-15 SW 0-10 SW 0-10 W 10-20
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening NNW 0-10
Wednesday Night SW 0-10
Thursday Morning W 0-10
Thursday Afternoon W 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening WSW 0-10
Wednesday Night SSW 0-10
Thursday Morning SSW 0-10
Thursday Afternoon WSW 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening W 0-10
Wednesday Night WSW 0-10
Thursday Morning W 0-10
Thursday Afternoon W 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening WNW 0-10
Wednesday Night W 0-10
Thursday Morning W 0-10
Thursday Afternoon WNW 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening W 5-15
Wednesday Night W 0-10
Thursday Morning W 0-10
Thursday Afternoon WNW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening WNW 5-15
Wednesday Night NW 0-10
Thursday Morning NW 0-10
Thursday Afternoon WNW 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening WNW 5-15
Wednesday Night W 0-10
Thursday Morning SSW 0-10
Thursday Afternoon W 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening WNW 5-15
Wednesday Night W 0-10
Thursday Morning SW 0-10
Thursday Afternoon WNW 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening W 0-10
Wednesday Night SW 0-10
Thursday Morning NW 0-10
Thursday Afternoon WNW 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening WSW 5-15
Wednesday Night SW 0-10
Thursday Morning SW 0-10
Thursday Afternoon W 10-20

Extended Weather Synopsis

The closed low spreads rain/snow showers throughout the region Friday night with the low moving onshore on Saturday. The European model and ensembles suggest the low will move onshore over Oregon while the GFS suggests the low makes landfall over Washington State. Either way, Mt. Hood stands likely to pick up around 0.5" of water equivalent, but the track of the low will determine whether parts of southern Washington pick up similar amounts. The low won't be as cold as systems earlier in the month with 4500-5500 ft snow levels. Rain/snow showers should dissipate during the evening hours on Saturday as the low exits the region and another transitory ridge brings fair weather and seasonable temperatures on Sunday.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Friday Night Saturday Saturday Night Sunday
West North 4500' 4500' 4500' 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' 4500' 4500' 5500'
Mt. Hood 6000' 5000' 5000' 5500'
West North Elevation
Friday Night 4500'
Saturday 4500'
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Night 5000'
Saturday 4500'
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday 5500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Night 6000'
Saturday 5000'
Saturday Night 5000'
Sunday 5500'

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

Previous forecast from Apr 26, 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’.