Issued: 2:11 PM PDT Saturday, April 29, 2023
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

"Sunny and warm," pretty much sums up the weather across the region this afternoon. Most weather stations are reporting temperatures around 5000ft near and above 60F. While we should see a bit of reprieve from this hot weather on Sunday, conditions will remain quite warm. The strong high-pressure ridge responsible for our recent bout of summer-like weather will slide a bit further east Saturday night and allow a deepening low-pressure trough to start to impact the region. Initially, this will only result in a few passing high clouds, a slight drop in temperatures, and an increase in southerly winds. 

Most locations should see quite a bit of blue sky to start the day Sunday. However, onshore flow and the approaching through will start to push clouds and a few bands of showers into the mountains. The bulk of the moisture should stay near the coast, but don't be surprised to encounter brief periods of rain, primarily in the afternoon. In general, the airmass will be cooler Sunday than we've seen. However, while temperatures won't be quite as high, snow levels remain above the tops of all but the higher volcanoes. 

Sunday night the trough deepens offshore and takes most of its energy further south towards California. Some moisture will continue to rotate around this feature and maintain a chance for isolated showers. A more organized band of precipitation could arrive Monday morning. With E-SE flow, if this pattern holds, we could see enhanced up-slope showers along the eastern side of the Cascades. This would mainly result in periods of light to moderate rain, and a dusting of snow on the higher peaks. 

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
Saturday Night Mostly clear with some passing high clouds. Slight cooling especially in the western Olympics. S winds becoming light to moderate.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with periods of sunshine. Isolated showers. Slight cooling trend.
Saturday Night Mostly clear with some passing high clouds. S winds becoming moderate.
Sunday Increasing clouds with isolated showers mainly in the afternoon. Light to moderate S winds turning W and decreasing.
Saturday Night Mostly clear with passing high clouds.
Sunday Increasing clouds with a few isolated showers mainly in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly clear with some passing high clouds. Light to moderate S winds turning SW and deceasing.
Sunday Mostly sunny in the morning, becoming cloudy in the afternoon. A few isolated showers possible.
Saturday Night Mostly clear with a few passing high clouds.
Sunday Mostly sunny in the morning, then increasing clouds. A few isolated showers are possible mainly in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly clear with a few passing high clouds.
Sunday Increasing clouds during the day with a few isolated showers possible mainly in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly clear with a few passing high clouds.
Sunday Partly sunny with increasing clouds. Isolated showers and thunderstorms possible in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly clear with a few passing high clouds. SW winds becoming light to moderate.
Sunday Mostly sunny with clouds increasing mainly near the crest. A few isolated showers and thunderstorms possible in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly clear with a few passing high clouds. SW winds becoming light to moderate.
Sunday Mostly sunny with clouds increasing near the crest. A few isolated showers possible mainly in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly clear with a few passing clouds. Light to moderate SW winds.
Sunday Increasing clouds with a few isolated showers mainly in the afternoon. Light to moderate S winds turning SW and increasing.

Issued: 2:11 PM PDT Saturday, April 29, 2023

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 2:11 PM PDT Saturday, April 29, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 11000' 10500' 8500' 7500' 7000' 6500' 6500' 8000'
West North 11500' 10500' 10000' 10000' 8500' 8000' 8500' 9500'
West Central 11500' 11000' 10500' 10000' 8500' 8000' 8500' 9500'
West South 11500' 11000' 10500' 10000' 8500' 8000' 8500' 9500'
Stevens Pass 11500' 11000' 10500' 10000' 8500' 8500' 8500' 9500'
Snoqualmie Pass 11500' 11000' 10500' 10000' 8500' 8000' 8500' 9500'
East North 11500' 10500' 10500' 10500' 9500' 9000' 9500' 9500'
East Central 11500' 11000' 10500' 10500' 9500' 9000' 9500' 9500'
East South 11500' 11000' 10500' 10500' 9500' 9000' 9000' 9500'
Mt. Hood 11500' 11000' 10500' 9000' 8500' 8000' 8000' 9500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening 11000'
Saturday Night 10500'
Sunday Morning 8500'
Sunday Afternoon 7500'
Sunday Evening 7000'
Sunday Night 6500'
Monday Morning 6500'
Monday Afternoon 8000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening 11500'
Saturday Night 10500'
Sunday Morning 10000'
Sunday Afternoon 10000'
Sunday Evening 8500'
Sunday Night 8000'
Monday Morning 8500'
Monday Afternoon 9500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 11500'
Saturday Night 11000'
Sunday Morning 10500'
Sunday Afternoon 10000'
Sunday Evening 8500'
Sunday Night 8000'
Monday Morning 8500'
Monday Afternoon 9500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening 11500'
Saturday Night 11000'
Sunday Morning 10500'
Sunday Afternoon 10000'
Sunday Evening 8500'
Sunday Night 8000'
Monday Morning 8500'
Monday Afternoon 9500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 11500'
Saturday Night 11000'
Sunday Morning 10500'
Sunday Afternoon 10000'
Sunday Evening 8500'
Sunday Night 8500'
Monday Morning 8500'
Monday Afternoon 9500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 11500'
Saturday Night 11000'
Sunday Morning 10500'
Sunday Afternoon 10000'
Sunday Evening 8500'
Sunday Night 8000'
Monday Morning 8500'
Monday Afternoon 9500'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening 11500'
Saturday Night 10500'
Sunday Morning 10500'
Sunday Afternoon 10500'
Sunday Evening 9500'
Sunday Night 9000'
Monday Morning 9500'
Monday Afternoon 9500'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 11500'
Saturday Night 11000'
Sunday Morning 10500'
Sunday Afternoon 10500'
Sunday Evening 9500'
Sunday Night 9000'
Monday Morning 9500'
Monday Afternoon 9500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening 11500'
Saturday Night 11000'
Sunday Morning 10500'
Sunday Afternoon 10500'
Sunday Evening 9500'
Sunday Night 9000'
Monday Morning 9000'
Monday Afternoon 9500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening 11500'
Saturday Night 11000'
Sunday Morning 10500'
Sunday Afternoon 9000'
Sunday Evening 8500'
Sunday Night 8000'
Monday Morning 8000'
Monday Afternoon 9500'

Issued: 2:11 PM PDT Saturday, April 29, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 56 / 40 44 / 40
West North 56 / 45 48 / 43
West Central 58 / 47 47 / 43
West South 58 / 42 50 / 42
Stevens Pass 58 / 44 51 / 45
Snoqualmie Pass 57 / 43 50 / 44
East North 54 / 40 55 / 40
East Central 57 / 44 55 / 46
East South 56 / 46 55 / 44
Mt. Hood 55 / 42 48 / 41
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 56 / 40
Sunday 44 / 40
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 56 / 45
Sunday 48 / 43
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 58 / 47
Sunday 47 / 43
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 58 / 42
Sunday 50 / 42
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 58 / 44
Sunday 51 / 45
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 57 / 43
Sunday 50 / 44
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 54 / 40
Sunday 55 / 40
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 57 / 44
Sunday 55 / 46
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 56 / 46
Sunday 55 / 44
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 55 / 42
Sunday 48 / 41

Issued: 2:11 PM PDT Saturday, April 29, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics S 5-15 S 10-20 S 5-15 S 5-15
West North S 10-20 S 15-25 S 10-20 W 0-10
West Central SSW 5-15 SW 5-15 VAR 0-10 W 5-15
West South S 10-20 SW 5-15 W 0-10 W 5-15
Stevens Pass SE 5-15 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10 W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass SSE 5-15 SSW 5-15 W 5-15 W 5-15
East North S 5-15 S 5-15 SE 5-15 ESE 5-15
East Central SW 5-15 SW 10-20 SE 5-15 SE 5-15
East South SW 5-15 SW 10-20 SE 5-15 S 5-15
Mt. Hood SW 10-20 SSW 10-20 S 10-20 SW 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 5-15
Saturday Night S 10-20
Sunday Morning S 5-15
Sunday Afternoon S 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 10-20
Saturday Night S 15-25
Sunday Morning S 10-20
Sunday Afternoon W 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 5-15
Saturday Night SW 5-15
Sunday Morning VAR 0-10
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 10-20
Saturday Night SW 5-15
Sunday Morning W 0-10
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 5-15
Saturday Night VAR 0-10
Sunday Morning VAR 0-10
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 5-15
Saturday Night SSW 5-15
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 5-15
Saturday Night S 5-15
Sunday Morning SE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon ESE 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 5-15
Saturday Night SW 10-20
Sunday Morning SE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SE 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 5-15
Saturday Night SW 10-20
Sunday Morning SE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon S 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 10-20
Saturday Night SSW 10-20
Sunday Morning S 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SW 15-25

Issued: 2:11 PM PDT Saturday, April 29, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

A few stray showers could linger into Monday night, but in general, the trend will be a resounding return to warm dry weather. The deepening Pacific trough should eventually result in a cut-off low in California with a building high-pressure ridge in British Columbia. This pattern (Rex Block), will result in warm sunny days and mild clear nights. Freezing levels should quickly rebound to around 12,000ft. At night, weak diurnal swings and shallow inversions could allow for slightly milder temperatures. Other than a few passing bands of high clouds, this forecast period looks very sunny. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday * Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 11000' 12000' 11500' 11500'
Snoqualmie Pass 11500' 12000' 11500' 11500'
Mt. Hood 11500' 12000' 11500' 11500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 11000'
Tuesday * 12000'
Tuesday Night 11500'
Wednesday 11500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 11500'
Tuesday * 12000'
Tuesday Night 11500'
Wednesday 11500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 11500'
Tuesday * 12000'
Tuesday Night 11500'
Wednesday 11500'

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

Previous forecast from Apr 28, 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’.