Issued: 3:17 PM PDT Wednesday, April 19, 2023
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

Updated 3:17 PM to adjust 5000 ft temperatures and short-term forecast winds at Snoqualmie and Stevens passes.

The last wave in a cold, unsettled weather pattern will bring tapering isolated to scattered snow/graupel showers that could be locally intense early Wednesday evening. Snow levels should linger around 2000 ft. Skies clear overnight, allowing freezing levels to lower to around 1500 ft in most areas.

On Thursday, a low-pressure center off the northern tip of Vancouver Island allows the jetstream to take aim at our region once again. High clouds lower and thicken during the morning hours with increasing southerly winds quickly moderating temperatures across the region. By the time light rain/snow starts to fall, snow levels should be in the 3000-4000 ft range. Precipitation spreads from the Olympics and Mt Hood areas in the late morning hours to around Snoqualmie Pass by 2 PM and to the Mt Baker and Mission Ridge areas late in the day. Ridgeline winds increase into the moderate range for Mt Hood during the afternoon.

Moderate to locally heavy rain/snow and winds peak Thursday evening as a front passes through the region, switching winds from  SSW to WSW by the overnight hours. Mt Hood and Mt Baker stand to receive the most moisture. We expect around 5-10" of snow above the 3000-4000 ft rain/snow line for these areas with lesser amounts in other areas.

Lingering post-frontal rain/snow showers taper Friday morning with partly cloudy and isolated sprinkles/flurries for the west slopes of the Cascades by the afternoon. Expect a nice day along the east slopes of the Cascades.

The NWAC Forecast Office will be closed on Thursday, April 20th for an all-staff end-of-season meeting. Weather forecasting will resume on Friday, April 21st. If you need immediate assistance, please email forecasters@nwac.us and dennis.damico@nwac.us

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 Isolated, locally intense snow/graupel snow showers, tapering during the evening hours. Cold with clearing skies overnight.
Thursday High clouds lowering and thickening in the morning, then light rain/snow developing and increasing from mid-morning onwards.
Wednesday Night Scattered, locally intense snow/graupel snow showers, tapering during the evening hours. Cold with clearing skies overnight.
Thursday High clouds lowering and thickening in the morning, then light rain/snow developing and increasing during the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Scattered, locally intense snow/graupel snow showers, tapering during the evening hours. Cold with clearing skies overnight.
Thursday High clouds lowering and thickening in the morning, then light rain/snow developing and increasing during the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Scattered, locally intense snow/graupel snow showers, tapering during the evening hours. Cold with clearing skies overnight.
Thursday High clouds lowering and thickening in the morning, then light rain/snow developing and increasing from late morning onwards.
Wednesday Night Scattered, locally intense snow/graupel snow showers, tapering during the evening hours. Cold with clearing skies overnight. Light and decreasing ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Thursday High clouds lowering and thickening in the morning, then light rain/snow developing and increasing during the afternoon. Light ridgeline and W winds at the Pass through the early afternoon hours. Light to moderate ridgeline and light E wind at the Pass late in the day.
Wednesday Night Scattered, locally intense snow/graupel snow showers, tapering during the evening hours. Cold with clearing skies overnight. Light to occasionally moderate and decreasing ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Thursday High clouds lowering and thickening in the morning, then light rain/snow developing and increasing during the afternoon. Light ridgeline and W winds at the Pass through the early afternoon hours. Light to moderate ridgeline and light E wind at the Pass late in the day.
Wednesday Night Scattered, locally intense snow/graupel snow showers, tapering during the evening hours. Cold with clearing skies overnight.
Thursday Mostly sunny in the morning with high clouds lowering and thickening in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Isolated, locally intense snow/graupel snow showers, tapering during the evening hours. Cold with clearing skies overnight.
Thursday High clouds lowering and thickening in the morning, then light rain/snow developing and increasing during the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Scattered, locally intense snow/graupel snow showers, tapering during the evening hours. Cold with clearing skies overnight.
Thursday High clouds lowering and thickening in the morning, then light rain/snow developing and increasing from around noon onwards.
Wednesday Night Scattered, locally intense snow/graupel snow showers, tapering during the evening hours. Cold with clearing skies overnight.
Thursday High clouds lowering and thickening in the morning, then light rain/snow developing and increasing from late morning onwards.

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

Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Evening Wednesday Night Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon* Thursday Evening Thursday Night Friday Morning Friday Afternoon
Olympics 2000' 1500' 2000' 2500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 4000'
West North 2000' 1500' 2000' 3000' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3000'
West Central 2000' 1500' 2000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 2500' 3000'
West South 2000' 1500' 2000' 3500' 3000' 3000' 2500' 3500'
Stevens Pass 2000' 1500' 2000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 2500' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 2000' 1500' 2000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 2500' 3500'
East North 2000' 1000' 1500' 4000' 3500' 2500' 2500' 4500'
East Central 2000' 1500' 2000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 2500' 4500'
East South 2000' 1500' 20000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 2500' 4500'
Mt. Hood 2000' 1500' 2000' 3500' 3500' 4000' 3500' 4000'
Olympics Elevation
Wednesday Evening 2000'
Wednesday Night 1500'
Thursday Morning 2000'
Thursday Afternoon* 2500'
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 2500'
Friday Afternoon 4000'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Evening 2000'
Wednesday Night 1500'
Thursday Morning 2000'
Thursday Afternoon* 3000'
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 2500'
Friday Afternoon 3000'
West Central Elevation
Wednesday Evening 2000'
Wednesday Night 1500'
Thursday Morning 2000'
Thursday Afternoon* 3000'
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 2500'
Friday Afternoon 3000'
West South Elevation
Wednesday Evening 2000'
Wednesday Night 1500'
Thursday Morning 2000'
Thursday Afternoon* 3500'
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 2500'
Friday Afternoon 3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening 2000'
Wednesday Night 1500'
Thursday Morning 2000'
Thursday Afternoon* 3000'
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 2500'
Friday Afternoon 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening 2000'
Wednesday Night 1500'
Thursday Morning 2000'
Thursday Afternoon* 3000'
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 2500'
Friday Afternoon 3500'
East North Elevation
Wednesday Evening 2000'
Wednesday Night 1000'
Thursday Morning 1500'
Thursday Afternoon* 4000'
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 2500'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
East Central Elevation
Wednesday Evening 2000'
Wednesday Night 1500'
Thursday Morning 2000'
Thursday Afternoon* 3500'
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 2500'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
East South Elevation
Wednesday Evening 2000'
Wednesday Night 1500'
Thursday Morning 20000'
Thursday Afternoon* 3500'
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 3500'
Friday Morning 2500'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Evening 2000'
Wednesday Night 1500'
Thursday Morning 2000'
Thursday Afternoon* 3500'
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 4000'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 4000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Wednesday Night Thursday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 26 / 20 31 / 20
West North 27 / 20 32 / 21
West Central 27 / 20 32 / 20
West South 27 / 19 33 / 19
Stevens Pass 28 / 20 33 / 20
Snoqualmie Pass 27 / 20 32 / 20
East North 28 / 15 33 / 15
East Central 29 / 20 32 / 20
East South 29 / 20 33 / 20
Mt. Hood 28 / 23 35 / 22
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 26 / 20
Thursday 31 / 20
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 27 / 20
Thursday 32 / 21
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 27 / 20
Thursday 32 / 20
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 27 / 19
Thursday 33 / 19
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 28 / 20
Thursday 33 / 20
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 27 / 20
Thursday 32 / 20
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 28 / 15
Thursday 33 / 15
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 29 / 20
Thursday 32 / 20
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 29 / 20
Thursday 33 / 20
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 28 / 23
Thursday 35 / 22

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Extended Weather Synopsis

A weak and "dirty" ridge allows weak weather systems to bring light rain and high-elevation snow along with warming. A stronger and more organized frontal system displaces the ridge Saturday night bringing light to moderate rain and high-elevation snow along with a subtle cooling trend.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Friday Night Saturday * Saturday Night Sunday
West North 3500' 4500' 5500' 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 5500' 5500' 5500'
Mt. Hood 5500' 6500' 7000' 6000'
West North Elevation
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday * 4500'
Saturday Night 5500'
Sunday 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Night 4000'
Saturday * 5500'
Saturday Night 5500'
Sunday 5500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Night 5500'
Saturday * 6500'
Saturday Night 7000'
Sunday 6000'

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

Previous forecast from Apr 19, 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’.