Issued: 2:38 PM PDT Wednesday, April 5, 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 series of frontal systems will bring milder air along with increasing rain and snow through the remainder of the workweek.

Light rain and snow spread from SW to NE across much of the region Wednesday night. We're expecting the edge of the shield of light precipitation to extend from around Hurricane Ridge to Paradise and down to Mt Hood by around 10 PM and should reach Mt Baker after midnight. Snow levels continue to slowly rise in the 3500-4500 ft range. SSW winds continue to increase into the light to moderate range as low-level E flow develops through the mountain gaps.

A shortwave catches up to the stalled offshore frontal system, adding energy and more moisture to the system on Thursday. Expect increasing SSW flow to bring moderate to strong winds to areas like Mt Baker along with increasingly heavy precipitation. Most other areas can expect light to moderate rain and snow on the Cascades volcanoes with the pattern and increasing light rain and snow for the mountain gaps and east slopes of the Cascades. Easterly low-level flow should be in the light to moderate range through the mountain gaps. Snow levels rise to 4000-5000 ft with the E flow keeping temperatures slightly cooler in places like Snoqualmie Pass where we expect a changeover from snow to rain by late morning.

Rain/snow and snow levels peak with the frontal passage Thursday evening. Snow levels rise to around 5000-6000 ft with S flow continuing to favor the volcanoes for precipitation.

Rain and snow become showery on Friday with an incoming trough. However, cooling will be slow with snow levels only dropping to around 4000-4500 ft by Friday afternoon as winds shift westerly.

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 at times, increasing slightly overnight. Moderate rain and snow in the southern Olympics.
Thursday Light rain and snow becoming moderate at times in the afternoon. Increasing heavy rain and snow in the southern Olympics.
Wednesday Night Cloudy in the evening with light rain and snow developing. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Moderate rain and snow in the morning becoming heavy in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Night Cloudy in the evening with increasing light rain and snow developing in the early morning hours.
Thursday Light rain and snow becoming moderate in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Light rain and snow develop during the late evening hours and increase overnight, becoming moderate for the volcanoes.
Thursday Moderate rain and snow (heavy at Mt St Helens).
Wednesday Night Cloudy in the evening with light rain and snow developing in the early morning hours. Light ridgeline and increasing E wind at the Pass.
Thursday Increasing light rain and snow. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Wednesday Night Cloudy in the evening with light rain and snow developing in the early morning hours. Light ridgeline and increasing E wind at the Pass.
Thursday Increasing light rain and snow. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Wednesday Night Cloudy.
Thursday Increasing light rain and snow.
Wednesday Night Cloudy.
Thursday Increasing light rain and snow may become locally moderate late in the day.
Wednesday Night Cloudy in the evening with light rain and snow possible overnight.
Thursday Increasing light rain and snow.
Wednesday Night Increasing light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Light to moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:38 PM PDT Wednesday, April 5, 2023

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 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.25 1.00 1.00 - 1.50 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.10 0.25 0.50 - 0.75 0.25
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.25 0.25
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.10
Paradise 0.25 0.50 - 0.75 0.75 0.25
White Pass LT 0.10 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Washington Pass 0 LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.50 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Timberline LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday 0.25
Thursday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Friday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 1.00
Thursday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Friday 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday 0.25
Thursday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Friday 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night 0.25
Friday 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night 0.25
Friday 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Friday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday 0.50 - 0.75
Thursday Night 0.75
Friday 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday 0.25
Thursday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Friday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night 0.25
Friday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Friday LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday Night 0.50
Friday LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night 0.50
Friday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0.25
Thursday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Friday LT 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Friday 0.25

Issued: 2:38 PM PDT Wednesday, April 5, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 2:38 PM PDT Wednesday, April 5, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Wednesday Night Thursday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 30 / 27 36 / 30
West North 31 / 26 34 / 29
West Central 30 / 26 35 / 29
West South 33 / 25 36 / 31
Stevens Pass 32 / 26 36 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass 31 / 26 34 / 27
East North 33 / 25 34 / 24
East Central 33 / 27 35 / 27
East South 34 / 27 36 / 28
Mt. Hood 34 / 30 38 / 32
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 30 / 27
Thursday 36 / 30
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 31 / 26
Thursday 34 / 29
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 30 / 26
Thursday 35 / 29
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 33 / 25
Thursday 36 / 31
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 32 / 26
Thursday 36 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 31 / 26
Thursday 34 / 27
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 33 / 25
Thursday 34 / 24
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 33 / 27
Thursday 35 / 27
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 34 / 27
Thursday 36 / 28
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 34 / 30
Thursday 38 / 32

Issued: 2:38 PM PDT Wednesday, April 5, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Wednesday Evening Wednesday Night Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon
Olympics SSW 10-20 SSW 15-25 S 15-25 S 20-30
West North S 10-20 S 15-25 S 20-30 SSE 25-35
West Central SSW 5-15 S 5-15 SE 10-20 SE 15-25
West South SSW 5-15 SSW 5-15 S 10-20 S 10-20
Stevens Pass SW 5-15 S 5-15 SSE 5-15 SE 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass S 0-10 SE 0-10 ESE 10-20 SE 15-25
East North SW 5-15 SSW 5-15 SSE 5-15 SE 10-20
East Central SW 5-15 SSW 5-15 S 10-20 SSE 15-25
East South WSW 5-15 SW 5-15 S 5-15 S 10-20
Mt. Hood SW 10-20 SW 15-25 SSW 15-25 SSW 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SSW 10-20
Wednesday Night SSW 15-25
Thursday Morning S 15-25
Thursday Afternoon S 20-30
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening S 10-20
Wednesday Night S 15-25
Thursday Morning S 20-30
Thursday Afternoon SSE 25-35
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SSW 5-15
Wednesday Night S 5-15
Thursday Morning SE 10-20
Thursday Afternoon SE 15-25
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SSW 5-15
Wednesday Night SSW 5-15
Thursday Morning S 10-20
Thursday Afternoon S 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SW 5-15
Wednesday Night S 5-15
Thursday Morning SSE 5-15
Thursday Afternoon SE 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening S 0-10
Wednesday Night SE 0-10
Thursday Morning ESE 10-20
Thursday Afternoon SE 15-25
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SW 5-15
Wednesday Night SSW 5-15
Thursday Morning SSE 5-15
Thursday Afternoon SE 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SW 5-15
Wednesday Night SSW 5-15
Thursday Morning S 10-20
Thursday Afternoon SSE 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening WSW 5-15
Wednesday Night SW 5-15
Thursday Morning S 5-15
Thursday Afternoon S 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SW 10-20
Wednesday Night SW 15-25
Thursday Morning SSW 15-25
Thursday Afternoon SSW 15-25

Issued: 2:38 PM PDT Wednesday, April 5, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

Active weather continues through the weekend with more typical April temperatures. A shallow trough brings cooling in the evening with snow levels lowering to near Snoqualmie Pass level as light snow showers taper off. A shortwave ridge brings drying overnight into early Saturday, but expect mostly cloudy conditions. The next storm system brushes NW Washington late in the day. SW flow continues to feed increasing moisture into the region with rain and snow becoming moderate to locally heavy on Sunday. Snow levels rise to 4500 to 7000 ft by the afternoon.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Friday Night Saturday Saturday Night Sunday *
West North 3000' 3000' 3500' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 3500' 4000' 5000'
Mt. Hood 4000' 4500' 5500' 6500'
West North Elevation
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday 3000'
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday * 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday 3500'
Saturday Night 4000'
Sunday * 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Night 4000'
Saturday 4500'
Saturday Night 5500'
Sunday * 6500'

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

Previous forecast from Apr 5, 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’.