Issued: 2:39 PM PDT Monday, April 3, 2023
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

A slow-moving upper trough drifts eastward winter temperatures through Wednesday morning with a warming trend becoming noticeable during the day on Wednesday.

The cold upper trough remains centered on the intermountain west with the Pacific Northwest influenced by NW flow aloft on the back side of the trough. This trough has unseasonably cold air at altitude. However, it's springtime which means that the sunshine warms the lower atmosphere and this strong vertical temperature gradient triggers convection. Widespread clouds and scattered snow showers (graupel included) have developed across the region Monday afternoon. These showers should decrease Monday evening as the sun's energy decreases but expect a subtle disturbance to increase snow shower activity late Monday evening through the overnight hours for areas near and west of the Cascade Crest. Convergence could locally enhance snowfall somewhere in the Snoqualmie Pass to Mtn Loop vicinity. However, more widespread snow shower activity can be expected from Mt. Rainier south to Mt. Hood.

Temperatures aloft moderate slightly on Tuesday and winds drop into the light range across the region. This should result in slightly less convective build-up and slightly more sunshine than on Wednesday but continue to expect isolated and locally intense snow/graupel showers with frozen precipitation above 1500-2000 ft.

Shower activity quickly tamps down Tuesday night as an offshore ridge begins pushing onshore. Expect mostly dry weather, increasing high cloud cover with clouds lowering in the afternoon, and more seasonable temperatures after a cool start on Wednesday.
 

 

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 Isolated snow showers.
Tuesday Isolated snow showers with graupel more likely in the afternoon.
Monday Night Isolated snow showers.
Tuesday Partly to mostly cloudy with an increasing chance of snow squalls.
Monday Night Light, but locally intense, snow showers and convergence.
Tuesday Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated flurries or snow squalls.
Monday Night Light, but locally intense snow showers peak in the evening and decrease overnight. Moderate ridgeline winds near the Cascade Crest.
Tuesday Partly to mostly cloudy with an increasing chance of locally intense snow squalls.
Monday Night Scattered snow showers and convergence mainly west of the Pass. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Partly cloudy with isolated snow flurries or squalls. Light ridgeline and west wind at the Pass.
Monday Night Scattered snow showers and convergence. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Partly cloudy with isolated snow flurries or squalls. Light ridgeline and west wind at the Pass.
Monday Night Isolated snow showers in the evening with mostly clearing skies overnight.
Tuesday Partly cloudy with isolated snow flurries or squalls primarily in the afternoon.
Monday Night Isolated snow showers. Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Partly cloudy with isolated snow flurries or squalls primarily in the afternoon.
Monday Night Isolated snow showers.
Tuesday Partly cloudy with isolated snow flurries or squalls primarily in the afternoon.
Monday Night Moderate snow showers becoming light. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Decreasing light snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds becoming light by the afternoon.

Issued: 2:39 PM PDT Monday, April 3, 2023

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

Issued: 2:39 PM PDT Monday, April 3, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon
Olympics 1500' 1000' 500' 2000' 2500' 2000' 2000' 3500'
West North 1500' 1000' 500' 2000' 2000' 1000' 1500' 3500'
West Central 1500' 1000' 500' 2000' 2500' 1000' 1500' 3500'
West South 1500' 1000' 500' 2000' 1500' 1000' 1500' 3500'
Stevens Pass 1500' 1000' 500' 2000' 2500' 1000' 1500' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 1000' 500' 2000' 2500' 1000' 1500' 3500'
East North 1000' 500' 500' 2000' 2500' 1000' 1000' 4000'
East Central 1500' 1000' 500' 2000' 2500' 1000' 1500' 4000'
East South 1500' 1000' 500' 2000' 2000' 1000' 1500' 4000'
Mt. Hood 1500' 1000' 1000' 2000' 1500' 1000' 500' 3000'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Tuesday Evening 2500'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 3500'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon 3500'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Tuesday Evening 2500'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon 3500'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Tuesday Evening 1500'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon 3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Tuesday Evening 2500'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Tuesday Evening 2500'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon 3500'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening 1000'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Tuesday Evening 2500'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 1000'
Wednesday Afternoon 4000'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Tuesday Evening 2500'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon 4000'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Tuesday Evening 1500'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 3000'

Issued: 2:39 PM PDT Monday, April 3, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 26 / 16 29 / 15
West North 27 / 18 30 / 17
West Central 27 / 18 30 / 17
West South 27 / 18 31 / 16
Stevens Pass 27 / 19 32 / 16
Snoqualmie Pass 25 / 17 30 / 16
East North 25 / 13 31 / 13
East Central 28 / 18 33 / 16
East South 29 / 17 33 / 16
Mt. Hood 26 / 18 31 / 19
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 26 / 16
Tuesday 29 / 15
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 27 / 18
Tuesday 30 / 17
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 27 / 18
Tuesday 30 / 17
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 27 / 18
Tuesday 31 / 16
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 27 / 19
Tuesday 32 / 16
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 25 / 17
Tuesday 30 / 16
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 25 / 13
Tuesday 31 / 13
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 28 / 18
Tuesday 33 / 16
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 29 / 17
Tuesday 33 / 16
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 26 / 18
Tuesday 31 / 19

Issued: 2:39 PM PDT Monday, April 3, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics W 5-15 W 0-10 ENE 0-10 W 0-10
West North W 5-15 WSW 0-10 NW 0-10 W 0-10
West Central WNW 10-20 NW 5-15 NNW 0-10 WNW 0-10
West South WNW 5-15 WSW 5-15 W 5-15 WNW 5-15
Stevens Pass WNW 5-15 NW 5-15 WNW 0-10 WNW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass NW 10-20 NW 10-20 NW 5-15 WNW 5-15
East North WNW 5-15 NW 5-15 NNW 5-15 NW 0-10
East Central WNW 10-20 NW 5-15 NW 0-10 NW 0-10
East South WNW 10-20 WNW 10-20 NW 5-15 NW 0-10
Mt. Hood WNW 15-25 W 20-30 W 15-25 W 10-20
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 5-15
Monday Night W 0-10
Tuesday Morning ENE 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon W 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 5-15
Monday Night WSW 0-10
Tuesday Morning NW 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon W 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WNW 10-20
Monday Night NW 5-15
Tuesday Morning NNW 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon WNW 0-10
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WNW 5-15
Monday Night WSW 5-15
Tuesday Morning W 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon WNW 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WNW 5-15
Monday Night NW 5-15
Tuesday Morning WNW 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon WNW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening NW 10-20
Monday Night NW 10-20
Tuesday Morning NW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon WNW 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WNW 5-15
Monday Night NW 5-15
Tuesday Morning NNW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon NW 0-10
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WNW 10-20
Monday Night NW 5-15
Tuesday Morning NW 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon NW 0-10
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WNW 10-20
Monday Night WNW 10-20
Tuesday Morning NW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon NW 0-10
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WNW 15-25
Monday Night W 20-30
Tuesday Morning W 15-25
Tuesday Afternoon W 10-20

Issued: 2:39 PM PDT Monday, April 3, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

The Pacific Northwest transitions back toward an active weather pattern Wednesday night as SSW winds bring moisture into coastal areas and the southern Cascades along with increasingly mild temperatures. A developing low tracks toward the northern tip of Vancouver Island Thursday and Thursday night spreading moderate rain and snow across the region. Temperatures will be markedly warmer than the storm last weekend with 4000-6000 ft snow levels. Expect rain and snow showers along with cooling temperatures on Friday.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night Thursday Thursday Night Friday
West North 3500' 4000' 4500' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 4000' 4500' 4000'
Mt. Hood 4000' 5500' 6000' 4000'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night 3500'
Thursday 4000'
Thursday Night 4500'
Friday 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday 4000'
Thursday Night 4500'
Friday 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night 4000'
Thursday 5500'
Thursday Night 6000'
Friday 4000'

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

Previous forecast from Apr 3, 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’.