Issued: 2:28 PM PDT Saturday, April 1, 2023
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

There is plenty of snow flying across the mountains this afternoon. Showers and a well defined convergence zone continue to add to the storm totals, especially for places near the Mt Loop Hwy, West South zone, and Mt Hood. This pattern should hold as we head into Saturday evening. While you could encounter a locally heavy snow shower just about anywhere in our forecast region, you're most like to see them in these same locations. Overnight precipitation should gradually taper, and you may even see some clearing skies east of the Cascade crest. 

A short-wave weather system passes through the region Sunday. This will have two big impacts. First, it will reinvigorate shower activity across the mountains. Once again the precipitation will focus near and west of the Cascade crest, with places like Mt Hood and Mt St Helens seeing the bulk of the snow. Second, clouds should increase. So, even if you start the day with a bit of blue sky, that should change. As the system exists in the afternoon, you could once again see a few sun breaks or filtered sunshine. 

Sunday night and Monday seem like a bit of "rinse and repeat." Overnight showers should taper and skies begin to break. However, another short-wave system passes over the Pacific Northwest during the day, increasing the chance of snow showers, and creating mostly cloudy skies. 

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 Becoming mostly cloudy with isolated showers. Light to moderate W winds decreasing.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with sun breaks. Scattered showers mainly in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Light to moderate W winds turning SW and decreasing.
Sunday Cloudy with a few sun breaks. Scattered showers. Light to moderate S winds turning SW and decreasing.
Saturday Night Cloudy with continued showers. Convergence zone could bring locally heavy precipitation in the evening. Light to moderate W winds turning SW.
Sunday Cloudy with a few sun breaks. Snow showers throughout the day. Light to moderate SW winds turning W and decreasing.
Saturday Night Cloudy with a few breaks near the crest. Continued snow showers, mainly on the volcanoes. Moderate W winds.
Sunday Cloudy with a few sun breaks possible. Snow showers, mainly near the volcanoes. SW winds becoming W light to moderate.
Saturday Night Cloudy with snow showers. A convergence zone could bring locally heavier precipitation in the evening, mainly north of Hwy 2. Pass level winds briefly turning easterly overnight, then returning to the W. Ridgeline winds W light to moderate.
Sunday Cloudy with scattered snow showers. A few sun breaks possible. Light W winds.
Saturday Night Cloudy with snow showers. Pass level winds briefly turning E overnight, and returning to the W by morning. Moderate W ridgeline winds.
Sunday Cloudy with with a few sun breaks possible. Snow showers throughout the day. Light to moderate W winds decreasing.
Saturday Night Partly to mostly cloudy. Isolated showers, mainly near the crest. Light to moderate W winds decreasing.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with filtered sunshine and sun breaks possible. Isolated showers, mainly near the crest.
Saturday Night Partly to mostly clear with increasing high clouds. Isolated showers mainly near the crest. Moderate to strong W winds decreasing.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with periods of filtered sunshine and sun breaks. Showers mainly near the crest.
Saturday Night Mostly to partly cloudy with isolated showers mainly near the crest. Moderate to strong W winds decreasing slightly.
Sunday Cloudy with a few sun breaks possible. Isolated showers mainly near the crest. Winds becoming WNW light to moderate.
Saturday Night Stormy with continued snow and strong and gusty W winds. Winds should decrease slightly overnight.
Sunday Stormy with continued snow and moderate but gusty W winds.

Issued: 2:28 PM PDT Saturday, April 1, 2023

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 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Stevens Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Paradise 0.50 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25
White Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 LT 0.25
Timberline 0.75 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 LT 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.75
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25

Issued: 2:28 PM PDT Saturday, April 1, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night* Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500' 1000' 500' 500' 1500'
West North 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500' 1000' 500' 500' 1500'
West Central 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500' 1000' 500' 500' 1500'
West South 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500' 1000' 500' 500' 1500'
Stevens Pass 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500' 1000' 500' 500' 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500' 1000' 500' 500' 1500'
East North 500' 500' 500' 1500' 1000' 500' 500' 1500'
East Central 1000' 500' 500' 1500' 1000' 500' 500' 1500'
East South 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500' 1000' 500' 500' 1500'
Mt. Hood 1500' 1000' 1000' 1500' 1000' 500' 500' 2000'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening 1000'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening 1000'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 1000'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening 1000'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 1000'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 1000'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening 500'
Saturday Night* 500'
Sunday Morning 500'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 1000'
Saturday Night* 500'
Sunday Morning 500'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening 1000'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 2000'

Issued: 2:28 PM PDT Saturday, April 1, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 27 / 21 27 / 21
West North 27 / 22 28 / 22
West Central 28 / 23 28 / 23
West South 26 / 19 27 / 19
Stevens Pass 26 / 21 27 / 21
Snoqualmie Pass 26 / 22 28 / 22
East North 21 / 15 22 / 15
East Central 27 / 21 29 / 21
East South 25 / 19 28 / 20
Mt. Hood 26 / 21 27 / 22
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 27 / 21
Sunday 27 / 21
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 27 / 22
Sunday 28 / 22
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 23
Sunday 28 / 23
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 26 / 19
Sunday 27 / 19
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 26 / 21
Sunday 27 / 21
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 26 / 22
Sunday 28 / 22
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 21 / 15
Sunday 22 / 15
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 27 / 21
Sunday 29 / 21
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 25 / 19
Sunday 28 / 20
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 26 / 21
Sunday 27 / 22

Issued: 2:28 PM PDT Saturday, April 1, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics W 10-20 W 5-15 W 5-15 WNW 5-15
West North W 10-20 SW 5-15 S 10-20 SW 5-15
West Central W 10-20 SW 10-20 SW 10-20 W 5-15
West South W 15-25 W 15-25 SW 5-15 W 10-20
Stevens Pass W 10-20 W 10-20 W 5-15 W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass W 15-25 W 15-25 W 10-20 W 5-15
East North W 10-20 W 5-15 WSW 5-15 VAR 0-10
East Central W 20-30 W 15-25 W 5-15 SSW 5-15
East South W 20-30 W 15-25 WSW 5-15 WNW 10-20
Mt. Hood W 25-35 W 20-30 W 15-25 WNW 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 10-20
Saturday Night W 5-15
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon WNW 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 10-20
Saturday Night SW 5-15
Sunday Morning S 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SW 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 10-20
Saturday Night SW 10-20
Sunday Morning SW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 15-25
Saturday Night W 15-25
Sunday Morning SW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 10-20
Saturday Night W 10-20
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 15-25
Saturday Night W 15-25
Sunday Morning W 10-20
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 10-20
Saturday Night W 5-15
Sunday Morning WSW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon VAR 0-10
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 20-30
Saturday Night W 15-25
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SSW 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 20-30
Saturday Night W 15-25
Sunday Morning WSW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon WNW 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 25-35
Saturday Night W 20-30
Sunday Morning W 15-25
Sunday Afternoon WNW 15-25

Issued: 2:28 PM PDT Saturday, April 1, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

Our cold and shower weather pattern continues thanks to a broad open trough. The third in a series of short-wave storms should once again cause an uptick in shower activity during the day. If this sounds familiar, then you're right. Tuesday n looks generally cloudy with snow showers mainly focussed on the southern forecast zone and Mt Hood. However, weather models typically struggle with the specifics of these subtle weather features. So, we'll need to wait and see how this one shakes out. A high pressure ridge starts to build over the region Wednesday finally bringing an end to the cold showery weather. While some places could start the day with low clouds and valley fog, expect generally clearing skies and sunshine. Right now, this ridge appears to dominate our weather for the remainder of the week.  

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night* Tuesday Tuesday Night* Wednesday *
West North 500' 2000' 1000' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 500' 2000' 1000' 3000'
Mt. Hood 1000' 2000' 1000' 3500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday 2000'
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday * 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday 2000'
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday * 3000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night* 1000'
Tuesday 2000'
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday * 3500'

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

Previous forecast from Apr 1, 2023

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’.