Issued: 2:44 PM PDT Monday, April 17, 2023
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

A deep upper-level trough off the coast of British Columbia will continue to rotate waves of showers into our region through Tuesday. Unseasonably cold temperatures and low temperatures will make it feel more like winter than mid-April. Two impulses rotating through Monday night will drop several inches of snow on our mountains, with the highest amounts likely reserved for the Mt Baker area and the Olympics including Hurricane Ridge. Along with the second shortwave feature tonight, we'll likely see an uptick in strong winds that carries through Tuesday morning. 

On Tuesday, we should see showers increase in the afternoon. Snow levels will only rise into the 2500-4000' in the afternoon. Once again, the Olympic peninsula will likely be the coolest and most showery location closest to the upper level trough that sits along the coast. 

Shower activity should wane Tuesday night. On Wednesday, there's still enough instability left to wring out widespread afternoon showers, but they look generally lighter than Tuesday. 

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 Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Strong winds.
Tuesday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate to strong winds.
Monday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Strong winds.
Tuesday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate to strong winds.
Monday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Strong winds.
Tuesday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate to strong winds.
Monday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Strong winds.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy in the morning with scattered light snow showers. Cloudy in the afternoon with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate to strong winds.
Monday Night Light snow showers. Light to moderate S-SE ridgeline winds becoming moderate W after midnight.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy in the morning with scattered light snow showers. Cloudy in the afternoon with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Light snow showers. Light to moderate S-SE ridgeline winds becoming moderate W after midnight.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy in the morning with scattered light snow showers. Cloudy in the afternoon with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Cloudy with scattered light snow showers.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy in the morning with scattered light snow showers. Cloudy in the afternoon with light snow showers. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Winds increasing to moderate to strong overnight.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy in the morning with scattered light snow showers. Cloudy in the afternoon with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Winds increasing to moderate to strong overnight.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy in the morning with scattered light snow showers. Cloudy in the afternoon with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Strong ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy in the morning with light snow showers. Cloudy in the afternoon with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Strong ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:44 PM PDT Monday, April 17, 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 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Paradise 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.25 0.25
White Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Timberline 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.25 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.50
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday 0.25
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday 0.25
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0.25

Issued: 2:44 PM PDT Monday, April 17, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon
Olympics 2000' 1000' 1500' 2500' 2000' 1500' 2000' 3000'
West North 2000' 1000' 1500' 3000' 2000' 1500' 2000' 3500'
West Central 2000' 1000' 1500' 3000' 2000' 1500' 2000' 3500'
West South 2000' 1000' 1500' 3500' 2000' 1500' 2000' 3500'
Stevens Pass 2000' 1000' 1500' 3000' 2000' 1500' 2000' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 2000' 1000' 1500' 3000' 2000' 1500' 2000' 3500'
East North 2000' 1000' 1500' 4000' 2000' 1500' 2000' 4500'
East Central 2000' 1000' 1500' 4000' 2000' 1500' 2000' 4000'
East South 2000' 1000' 1500' 4000' 2000' 1500' 2000' 4000'
Mt. Hood 2000' 1000' 1500' 3500' 2000' 1500' 2000' 3500'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 3000'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3000'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 3500'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3000'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 3500'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3000'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3000'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 3500'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 4500'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 4000'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 3500'

Issued: 2:44 PM PDT Monday, April 17, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 24 / 17 25 / 19
West North 28 / 19 25 / 19
West Central 23 / 18 25 / 18
West South 27 / 19 28 / 18
Stevens Pass 27 / 18 28 / 17
Snoqualmie Pass 23 / 18 27 / 17
East North 30 / 16 28 / 16
East Central 28 / 17 29 / 18
East South 27 / 17 29 / 17
Mt. Hood 27 / 18 28 / 17
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 24 / 17
Tuesday 25 / 19
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 28 / 19
Tuesday 25 / 19
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 23 / 18
Tuesday 25 / 18
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 27 / 19
Tuesday 28 / 18
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 27 / 18
Tuesday 28 / 17
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 23 / 18
Tuesday 27 / 17
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 30 / 16
Tuesday 28 / 16
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 28 / 17
Tuesday 29 / 18
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 27 / 17
Tuesday 29 / 17
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 27 / 18
Tuesday 28 / 17

Issued: 2:44 PM PDT Monday, April 17, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:44 PM PDT Monday, April 17, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

After evening showers wind down, weak upper level ridging should make for a dry Wednesday night and Thursday. On Thursday, we'll likely see more low-level clouds and moisture trapped along the west slopes of the Cascades. Freezing levels and mountain temperatures will still be cool, but a few degrees warmer than earlier in the week. 

There's poor forecast model agreement for Friday regarding whether the ridge amplifies along the coast and shunts the next weather system to our north or if the frontal system plows into the region. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night Thursday Thursday Night Friday
West North 1000' 3500' 3000' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1000' 3500' 3000' 4500'
Mt. Hood 1000' 4500' 4000' 5000'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night 1000'
Thursday 3500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night 1000'
Thursday 3500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night 1000'
Thursday 4500'
Thursday Night 4000'
Friday 5000'

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

Previous forecast from Apr 16, 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’.