Things are shaping up for a beautiful, crisp mid-winter day in the mountains! A few showers continue to linger this morning near I90, Mt Rainer, Mt St Helens, and Mt Hood. Other locations are seeing a mix of mostly cloudy to mostly clear conditions. A high-pressure ridge will approach and quickly pass over the area. This should end any leftover precipitation and allow the pesky low clouds to burn off. Expect partly to mostly sunny skies across the Olympics and WA Cascades by mid-day, with sun breaks at Mt Hood. High clouds ahead of our next storm system spread over the mountains late this afternoon, once again returning the PNW to more "grey bird" skies.
Most locations should stay dry until the very early morning hours on Monday, but by daybreak, very light precipitation will start to creep into most areas. A warm front will slowly lift from SW to NE gradually increase temperatures and raise snow levels. This first feature favors the southern Cascade volcanoes, where as much as a foot of snow could fall. Despite the warming temperatures, east flow should help keep the Passes all snow until some time Monday night. The storm isn't done yet; active weather continues well into the week.
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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Sunday
Mostly sunny in the morning with increasing high clouds later in the day.
Sunday
Night
Cloudy with light snow starting after midnight.
Sunday
Low clouds and fog this morning becoming partly to mostly sunny. Then increasing clouds in the afternoon.
Sunday
Night
Cloudy, a few flurries or very light snow showers possible.
Sunday
Low clouds this morning with signifcant sun breaks. A few very isolated light showers possible.
Sunday
Night
Cloudy with a few isolated very light showers possible after midnight.
Sunday
Partly to mostly cloudy in the morning with a few very light showers possible. Then significant sun breaks, could become mostly sunny in some locations. Increasing high clouds later in the day.
Sunday
Night
Cloudy with light snow developing after midnight. .
Sunday
Patch low clouds in the morning, then becoming partly to mostly sunny. High clouds increasing later in the day. Light to moderate W winds decreasing slightly.
Sunday
Night
Cloudy with a few flurries possible. Easterly Pass flow developing
Sunday
Partly to mostly cloudy this morning with a few very light showers possible. Becoming partly to mostly sunny before high clouds increase in the afternoon. Light to moderate W winds decreasing.
Sunday
Night
Cloudy with a light precipitation starting after midnight. Easterly Pass flow developing.
Sunday
Some low clouds in the morning before becoming mostly sunny. High clouds increasing in the afternoon. Light to moderate westerly winds.
Sunday
Night
Cloudy with a few flurries possible. Light to moderate SW winds.
Sunday
Low clouds in the morning, then becoming partly to mostly sunny. High clouds increasing later in the day. Moderate W winds decreasing slightly.
Sunday
Night
Cloudy. Light to moderate W winds turning SW and increasing slightly.
Sunday
Low clouds in the morning, then becoming partly to mostly sunny. High clouds increasing in the afternoon. Light to moderate W winds.
Sunday
Night
Cloudy with a few flurries possible after midnight. Light to moderate W winds decreasing.
Sunday
Partly to mostly cloudy with a few sun breaks. Light snow showers throughout the day. Moderate WNW winds turning W and increasing slightly.
Sunday
Night
Cloudy with snow showers. Moderate to strong W winds decreasing.
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).