A slow-moving front approaches the region from the west, but has stalled just offshore. Light rain/snow remains mostly just off the PNW coastline, but the westernmost Olympic Mountains may receive some very light amounts throughout the day. Elsewhere, mid-level moisture continues to increase and thicken clouds in the 10,000 - 15,000 ft range as the ridge of high pressure gradually loses influence over the region. 5000 ft temperatures start the day in the low to mid-20s in most areas and should rise into the upper 20s to mid-30s by the afternoon. SSW should be in the moderate range for Mt Baker, but are generally light in other areas.
The weak front pushes into NW Washington Thursday evening with light rain/snow moving throughout the Olympics and Mt. Baker area. The light precipitation moves throughout the west slopes of the Cascades overnight, with minimal spillover into the immediate lee of the Cascade Crest. Ridgeline WSW winds increase into the moderate range for areas near and E of the Cascade Crest.
On Friday, the front moves through the central Washington Cascades in the morning when light snow peaks along with moderate W ridgline winds. The front then stalls and fizzles before over the southern Washington Cascades in the afternoon. No precipitation is expected to reach Mt. Hood and with mostly flurries lingering by the afternoon. The front brings in modest cooling, maintaining temperatures near or slightly below seasonal norms.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
West North
West Central
West South
Stevens Pass
Snoqualmie Pass
East North
East Central
East South
Mt. Hood
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Thursday
Cloudy with light rain or snow at times western part.
Thursday
Night
Light rain or snow.
Thursday
Mid-level clouds mostly obscure the sky. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday
Night
Light snow.
Thursday
Mid-level clouds mostly obscure the sky.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with light snow developing from late evening onward.
Thursday
Mid-level clouds mostly obscure the sky.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with light snow developing overnight. Moderate winds near the Casacade Crest.
Thursday
Mid-level clouds mostly obscure the sky. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds. Light E wind switching W at the Pass in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with light snow developing overnight. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Thursday
Mid-level clouds mostly obscure the sky. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds. Light E wind switching W at the Pass in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with light snow developing overnight. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
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).