Issued: 3:02 PM PDT Saturday, April 30, 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 that has brought precipitation to the region over the last 24 hours has moved into the Columbia Basin Saturday afternoon. Scattered shower activity should become isolated and limited to the west slopes of the Cascades in the evening hours as the daytime heating that initiates the convection wanes and the upper-level forcing retreats. Snow levels with these lingering showers should be in the 4000-5000 ft range with the lower snow levels in southern parts of the forecast region.

Expect mostly cloudy skies to linger overnight and into the morning hours with a weak high-pressure ridge trapping low-level moisture against the Cascades. Further east, skies should mostly clear. A sharp approaching trough should bring increased mid and high-level clouds to the region Sunday afternoon. Temperatures should be significantly milder with highs in the 40s and possibly even low 50s in the mountains.

A closed low ejects from the sharp trough as it moves near the mouth of the Columbia late Sunday night, spreading light rain and high elevation snow into western portions of the forecast region. The low tracks into northern Oregon Monday morning, bringing bands of light to moderate rain and snow to the region. SE winds over Washington state may favor areas of the east slopes of the Cascades. Snow levels drop to 4000-5000 ft for much of the precipitation on Monday and may be even slightly lower around Mt. Hood. Above the rain/snow line, many areas could receive 2-6" of moderate to high-density snow by Monday evening.

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
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy skies early, with mostly clear skies overnight.
Sunday Partly cloudy in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy with mid and high clouds in the afternoon. Mild.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy skies early, with partial clearing and scattered clouds overnight.
Sunday Partly cloudy in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy with mid and high clouds in the afternoon. Mild.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy skies early with isolated rain/snow showers in the early evening hours.
Sunday Mostly cloudy in the morning with low clouds, then mid and high clouds arriving in the afternoon. Mild.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy skies early with isolated rain/snow showers in the early evening hours.
Sunday Mostly cloudy in the morning with low clouds, then mid and high clouds arriving in the afternoon. Mild.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy skies early with isolated rain/snow showers in the early evening hours. Light W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Mostly cloudy in the morning with low clouds, then mid and high clouds arriving in the afternoon. Mild. Light W wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy skies early with isolated rain/snow showers in the early evening hours. Light W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Mostly cloudy in the morning with low clouds, then mid and high clouds arriving in the afternoon. Mild. Light W wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy skies early, with mostly clear skies overnight.
Sunday Mostly sunny with high clouds arriving in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy skies early, with mostly clear skies overnight.
Sunday Mostly sunny with high clouds arriving in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy skies early, with mostly clear skies overnight.
Sunday Mostly sunny with high clouds arriving in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy skies early with isolated rain/snow showers in the early evening hours.
Sunday Partly cloudy with low clouds in the morning and high clouds in the afternoon.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 5500' 6000' 6000' 6500' 7000' 5500' 4000' 4000'
West North 6000' 6000' 5500' 6000' 7000' 6500' 5500' 4500'
West Central 5000' 5500' 5000' 6500' 8000' 7000' 5500' 4000'
West South 4500' 5000' 5000' 7000' 8000' 7000' 5000' 4000'
Stevens Pass 5000' 5500' 5000' 7000' 8000' 6500' 5500' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 5500' 5500' 5000' 6500' 8000' 7000' 5500' 4000'
East North 6000' 5500' 5000' 7000' 8000' 7000' 5500' 5000'
East Central 5500' 5500' 5500' 7000' 8000' 7500' 5500' 4500'
East South 5500' 5000' 5000' 7000' 8000' 8000' 5000' 4000'
Mt. Hood 4000' 5000' 5500' 7500' 9000' 7500' 4000' 3500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening 5500'
Saturday Night 6000'
Sunday Morning 6000'
Sunday Afternoon 6500'
Sunday Evening* 7000'
Sunday Night* 5500'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening 6000'
Saturday Night 6000'
Sunday Morning 5500'
Sunday Afternoon 6000'
Sunday Evening* 7000'
Sunday Night* 6500'
Monday Morning 5500'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 5000'
Saturday Night 5500'
Sunday Morning 5000'
Sunday Afternoon 6500'
Sunday Evening* 8000'
Sunday Night* 7000'
Monday Morning 5500'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening 4500'
Saturday Night 5000'
Sunday Morning 5000'
Sunday Afternoon 7000'
Sunday Evening* 8000'
Sunday Night* 7000'
Monday Morning 5000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 5000'
Saturday Night 5500'
Sunday Morning 5000'
Sunday Afternoon 7000'
Sunday Evening* 8000'
Sunday Night* 6500'
Monday Morning 5500'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 5500'
Saturday Night 5500'
Sunday Morning 5000'
Sunday Afternoon 6500'
Sunday Evening* 8000'
Sunday Night* 7000'
Monday Morning 5500'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening 6000'
Saturday Night 5500'
Sunday Morning 5000'
Sunday Afternoon 7000'
Sunday Evening* 8000'
Sunday Night* 7000'
Monday Morning 5500'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 5500'
Saturday Night 5500'
Sunday Morning 5500'
Sunday Afternoon 7000'
Sunday Evening* 8000'
Sunday Night* 7500'
Monday Morning 5500'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening 5500'
Saturday Night 5000'
Sunday Morning 5000'
Sunday Afternoon 7000'
Sunday Evening* 8000'
Sunday Night* 8000'
Monday Morning 5000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening 4000'
Saturday Night 5000'
Sunday Morning 5500'
Sunday Afternoon 7500'
Sunday Evening* 9000'
Sunday Night* 7500'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 3500'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 34 / 29 41 / 29
West North 37 / 31 41 / 30
West Central 36 / 31 41 / 30
West South 34 / 28 46 / 28
Stevens Pass 38 / 31 45 / 29
Snoqualmie Pass 35 / 29 43 / 28
East North 39 / 32 46 / 32
East Central 37 / 31 47 / 31
East South 35 / 29 48 / 30
Mt. Hood 35 / 29 49 / 29
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 34 / 29
Sunday 41 / 29
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 37 / 31
Sunday 41 / 30
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 36 / 31
Sunday 41 / 30
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 34 / 28
Sunday 46 / 28
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 38 / 31
Sunday 45 / 29
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 35 / 29
Sunday 43 / 28
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 39 / 32
Sunday 46 / 32
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 37 / 31
Sunday 47 / 31
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 35 / 29
Sunday 48 / 30
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 35 / 29
Sunday 49 / 29

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Extended Weather Synopsis

The closed low exits Monday evening with a few light light rain/snow showers lingering with northerly flow aloft. Clouds with a slight chance of showers linger for the west slopes of the Cascades on Tuesday as a front passes to our north. Ridging moves in Tuesday night and Wednesday for milder weather. Southern parts of the forecast area around Mt. Hood could experience 10,000 ft freezing levels while northern regions will remain significantly cooler and cloudier with a frontal system north of the Canadian border.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 5000' 4500' 5000' 6000'
Snoqualmie Pass 4500' 4500' 7000' 7500'
Mt. Hood 3500' 5000' 8500' 10500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 5000'
Tuesday 4500'
Tuesday Night 5000'
Wednesday 6000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday 4500'
Tuesday Night 7000'
Wednesday 7500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday 5000'
Tuesday Night 8500'
Wednesday 10500'

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

Previous forecast from Apr 29, 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’.