A wet frontal system continues to drag across the PNW this morning, with light to moderate precipitation and snow levels between 4000-5000'. We'll see the heaviest precipitation rates this morning, especially in the Mt Baker area before rates begin to taper off later this morning. Precipitation will become lighter and more showery this afternoon as a shortwave trough approaches. Showers will decrease overnight and we'll see a slight cooling trend as snow levels dip to 2500-3500' across much of the area. Winds will also kick up into the moderate range behind the trough, with widespread 15-25 mph winds out of the WSW and slightly stronger winds in the alpine.
On Saturday, another frontal system will approach in the afternoon, with light to even moderate rain and snow developing for the Olympics and northwest Cascades, and lighter precipitation for areas further south and east. Mt. Hood will be on the southern periphery of this front and will likely see clouds but little to no precipitation during the day.
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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Friday
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow, then light scattered rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Periods of moderate wind.
Friday
Night
Cloudy with a few light rain and snow showers in the evening, then mostly cloudy. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Friday
Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow through mid-morning easing by late morning, then light scattered rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Night
Cloudy with a few light rain and snow showers in the evening, then mostly cloudy. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Friday
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow, then light scattered rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Night
Cloudy with a few light rain and snow showers in the evening, then mostly cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow, then light scattered rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Night
Cloudy with a few light rain and snow showers in the evening, then mostly cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Cloudy with light rain and snow, then light scattered rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Light to moderate Pass level and ridgeline W winds.
Friday
Night
Cloudy with a few light rain and snow showers in the evening, then mostly cloudy. Moderate Pass level and ridgeline W winds.
Friday
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow, then light scattered rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Light to moderate Pass level and ridgeline W winds.
Friday
Night
Cloudy with a few light rain and snow showers in the evening, then mostly cloudy. Moderate Pass level and ridgeline W winds.
Friday
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow, then light scattered rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Night
Cloudy with a few light rain and snow showers in the evening, then mostly cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow, then light scattered rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Night
Cloudy with a few light rain and snow showers in the evening, then mostly cloudy. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Friday
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow, then light scattered rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Night
Cloudy with a few light rain and snow showers in the evening, then mostly cloudy. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Friday
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow, then light scattered rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Night
Cloudy with a few light rain and snow showers in the evening, then mostly cloudy. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
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).