Issued: 2:53 PM PDT Friday, April 28, 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 broad and high amplitude ridge of high pressure maintains dry and unseasonably warm weather through Saturday. Freezing levels will continue to linger in the 12,000-13,000 ft range with 5000 ft lows early Saturday mostly in the 40s and low 50s, rebounding into the upper 50s and 60s on Saturday. These mountain temperatures are more typical of mid-summer and come as a major departure from a prolonged period of cooler-than-average temperatures in early April.

Friday's surface trough west of the Cascades shifts east of the Crest along with the ridge axis by Saturday, driving the shift from E to W winds through the mountain gaps. The warmest surface temperatures shift to the E slopes of the Cascades as a result, but temperatures will only be a few degrees cooler along the west slopes of the Cascades than on Friday.

A cutoff low approaches our region from the west, bringing light to occasionally moderate S winds to exposed terrain on Saturday. Increasing low-level flow off the Pacific Ocean returns more seasonable temperatures and partial cloud cover to the Olympics late Saturday night and the West Slopes of the Cascades on Sunday. Scattered showers rotate around the low on Sunday, but should deliver less than 0.25" of water equivalent in all locations. Proximity to the offshore low dictates the degree of cooling with the Olympics experiencing snow levels down to 7000 ft while snow levels only drop to around 9500-10500 ft for the Cascades, bringing the volcanoes the potential for a light refresh of snow. An increased temperature differential across the Cascades will drive increasing moderate low-level W winds through the mountain gaps that accelerate into the locally strong range for favored locations along the E slopes.

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
Friday Night Mostly clear and unseasonably mild.
Saturday Sunny and unseasonably warm.
Friday Night Mostly clear and unseasonably mild.
Saturday Sunny and unseasonably warm. Moderate ridgeline winds at times during the morning hours.
Friday Night Mostly clear and unseasonably mild.
Saturday Sunny and unseasonably warm.
Friday Night Mostly clear and unseasonably mild.
Saturday Sunny and unseasonably warm.
Friday Night Mostly clear and unseasonably mild. Light ridgeline and decreasing light E wind at the Pass.
Saturday Sunny and unseasonably warm. Light ridgeline and E winds switching W at the Pass early in the day.
Friday Night Mostly clear and unseasonably mild. Light ridgeline and decreasing light E wind at the Pass.
Saturday Sunny and unseasonably warm. Sunny and unseasonably warm. Light ridgeline and E winds switching W at the Pass early in the day.
Friday Night Mostly clear and unseasonably mild.
Saturday Sunny and unseasonably warm.
Friday Night Mostly clear and unseasonably mild.
Saturday Sunny and unseasonably warm.
Friday Night Mostly clear and unseasonably mild.
Saturday Mostly sunny with increasing thin high clouds. Unseasonably warm.
Friday Night Mostly clear and unseasonably mild.
Saturday Mostly sunny with increasing thin high clouds. Unseasonably warm. Moderate ridgeline winds at times during the morning hours.

Precipitation (in)

Friday Night Saturday Saturday Night Sunday
5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm 5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 0 0 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0 0 LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 0 0 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0 0 0 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0 0 0 LT 0.10
Paradise 0 0 0 LT 0.10
White Pass 0 0 0 LT 0.10
Washington Pass 0 0 0 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge 0 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 0 0 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 0 0 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 0 LT 0.10
Timberline 0 0 0 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10

Snow Level (ft)

Friday Evening* Friday Night* Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics 12500' 12500' 12000' 11500' 11500' 10500' 8000' 7000'
West North 12500' 12000' 11500' 11500' 11500' 11000' 9500' 9500'
West Central 12500' 12000' 12000' 12000' 11500' 11000' 10000' 10000'
West South 12500' 12500' 12500' 12000' 12000' 11500' 10000' 10000'
Stevens Pass 12500' 12500' 12000' 12000' 11500' 11500' 10000' 10000'
Snoqualmie Pass 12500' 12500' 12000' 12000' 11500' 11500' 10000' 10000'
East North 13000' 12000' 11500' 11500' 11500' 11500' 11000' 10000'
East Central 13000' 12500' 12000' 12000' 11500' 11500' 11000' 10500'
East South 13000' 12500' 12500' 12000' 12000' 11500' 11000' 10500'
Mt. Hood 13000' 12500' 12000' 12000' 12000' 12000' 10500' 10500'
Olympics Elevation
Friday Evening* 12500'
Friday Night* 12500'
Saturday Morning 12000'
Saturday Afternoon 11500'
Saturday Evening 11500'
Saturday Night 10500'
Sunday Morning 8000'
Sunday Afternoon 7000'
West North Elevation
Friday Evening* 12500'
Friday Night* 12000'
Saturday Morning 11500'
Saturday Afternoon 11500'
Saturday Evening 11500'
Saturday Night 11000'
Sunday Morning 9500'
Sunday Afternoon 9500'
West Central Elevation
Friday Evening* 12500'
Friday Night* 12000'
Saturday Morning 12000'
Saturday Afternoon 12000'
Saturday Evening 11500'
Saturday Night 11000'
Sunday Morning 10000'
Sunday Afternoon 10000'
West South Elevation
Friday Evening* 12500'
Friday Night* 12500'
Saturday Morning 12500'
Saturday Afternoon 12000'
Saturday Evening 12000'
Saturday Night 11500'
Sunday Morning 10000'
Sunday Afternoon 10000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Evening* 12500'
Friday Night* 12500'
Saturday Morning 12000'
Saturday Afternoon 12000'
Saturday Evening 11500'
Saturday Night 11500'
Sunday Morning 10000'
Sunday Afternoon 10000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening* 12500'
Friday Night* 12500'
Saturday Morning 12000'
Saturday Afternoon 12000'
Saturday Evening 11500'
Saturday Night 11500'
Sunday Morning 10000'
Sunday Afternoon 10000'
East North Elevation
Friday Evening* 13000'
Friday Night* 12000'
Saturday Morning 11500'
Saturday Afternoon 11500'
Saturday Evening 11500'
Saturday Night 11500'
Sunday Morning 11000'
Sunday Afternoon 10000'
East Central Elevation
Friday Evening* 13000'
Friday Night* 12500'
Saturday Morning 12000'
Saturday Afternoon 12000'
Saturday Evening 11500'
Saturday Night 11500'
Sunday Morning 11000'
Sunday Afternoon 10500'
East South Elevation
Friday Evening* 13000'
Friday Night* 12500'
Saturday Morning 12500'
Saturday Afternoon 12000'
Saturday Evening 12000'
Saturday Night 11500'
Sunday Morning 11000'
Sunday Afternoon 10500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening* 13000'
Friday Night* 12500'
Saturday Morning 12000'
Saturday Afternoon 12000'
Saturday Evening 12000'
Saturday Night 12000'
Sunday Morning 10500'
Sunday Afternoon 10500'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Friday Night Saturday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 58 / 44 54 / 43
West North 57 / 46 54 / 45
West Central 51 / 47 54 / 49
West South 60 / 45 61 / 45
Stevens Pass 55 / 46 63 / 47
Snoqualmie Pass 51 / 46 57 / 47
East North 53 / 46 59 / 47
East Central 54 / 47 63 / 48
East South 57 / 47 64 / 47
Mt. Hood 61 / 48 64 / 48
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 58 / 44
Saturday 54 / 43
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 57 / 46
Saturday 54 / 45
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 51 / 47
Saturday 54 / 49
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 60 / 45
Saturday 61 / 45
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 55 / 46
Saturday 63 / 47
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 51 / 46
Saturday 57 / 47
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 53 / 46
Saturday 59 / 47
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 54 / 47
Saturday 63 / 48
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 57 / 47
Saturday 64 / 47
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 61 / 48
Saturday 64 / 48

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Friday Evening Friday Night Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon
Olympics S 5-15 S 10-20 SSW 5-15 SSW 0-10
West North S 5-15 S 5-15 SSW 10-20 SSW 5-15
West Central SE 5-15 S 5-15 SSW 5-15 WSW 5-15
West South S 5-15 SW 10-20 SW 5-15 SW 5-15
Stevens Pass SE 0-10 S 0-10 SSW 0-10 NW 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass SE 5-15 SE 0-10 ESE 0-10 WNW 0-10
East North SSE 0-10 SSW 0-10 SW 0-10 WSW 5-15
East Central SW 0-10 SW 5-15 SSW 5-15 SSW 5-15
East South SSW 0-10 SSW 0-10 SW 0-10 WSW 5-15
Mt. Hood SW 5-15 SW 10-20 SW 10-20 SW 5-15
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening S 5-15
Friday Night S 10-20
Saturday Morning SSW 5-15
Saturday Afternoon SSW 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening S 5-15
Friday Night S 5-15
Saturday Morning SSW 10-20
Saturday Afternoon SSW 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SE 5-15
Friday Night S 5-15
Saturday Morning SSW 5-15
Saturday Afternoon WSW 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening S 5-15
Friday Night SW 10-20
Saturday Morning SW 5-15
Saturday Afternoon SW 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SE 0-10
Friday Night S 0-10
Saturday Morning SSW 0-10
Saturday Afternoon NW 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SE 5-15
Friday Night SE 0-10
Saturday Morning ESE 0-10
Saturday Afternoon WNW 0-10
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SSE 0-10
Friday Night SSW 0-10
Saturday Morning SW 0-10
Saturday Afternoon WSW 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SW 0-10
Friday Night SW 5-15
Saturday Morning SSW 5-15
Saturday Afternoon SSW 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SSW 0-10
Friday Night SSW 0-10
Saturday Morning SW 0-10
Saturday Afternoon WSW 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SW 5-15
Friday Night SW 10-20
Saturday Morning SW 10-20
Saturday Afternoon SW 5-15

Extended Weather Synopsis

Bands of mostly light rain and highest-elevation snow showers continue to wrap around the offshore low as it tracks southward off the Oregon Coast Sunday night and Monday. By Monday night and Tuesday the low sits and spins off the California coast. The radius of cooler temperatures and isolated shower activity associated with the low will have a decreasing impact on the Pacific Northwest. A wedge of the weekend's higher pressure finds its way back into the region, allowing freezing levels to rebound back above 11,000 ft in all areas by Tuesday.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Night Monday Monday Night Tuesday
West North 9500' 10000' 11000' 12000'
Snoqualmie Pass 9500' 9000' 11500' 12000'
Mt. Hood 8500' 8000' 9000' 11000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Night 9500'
Monday 10000'
Monday Night 11000'
Tuesday 12000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Night 9500'
Monday 9000'
Monday Night 11500'
Tuesday 12000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Night 8500'
Monday 8000'
Monday Night 9000'
Tuesday 11000'

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

Previous forecast from Apr 27, 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’.