A deep low pressure center stalled off the Washington coast continues to spin showers over the area in SSW flow aloft. Showers will be the heaviest and most persistent over the Olympic peninsula (especially the southern slopes of the Olympics) today and tonight closer to the low. Further inland, showers are becoming more intense this afternoon with daytime heating and there have been a few lightning strikes over the western WA lowlands. We have a cool, unstable air mass overhead and convective showers may be heavy at times through midnight, contain graupel, along with the chance of thunderstorms mainly over the foothills. Snow levels will plummet to around 3000-3500' during showers. Shower activity and moderate to locally strong ridgeline winds will continue through this evening and begin to ease overnight.
The low pressure system will pull away from the Pacific Northwest and drop south along the coastline Thursday night and Friday. There should be plenty of leftover cloud cover tonight from the showers that sticks around on Friday. With a weak upper level trough overhead, we'll see a renewed threat of afternoon mountain showers. With the flow aloft becoming light out of the north, showers are more likely to fire up over the north Cascades and along the east slopes of the Cascades and slowly drift S-SW. Shower coverage and intensity will be less compared to Thursday. Freezing/snow levels will be a bit warmer on Friday as well.
The upper level ridge will build further into British Columbia on Saturday with continued northerly flow aloft over the PNW. We can expect dry conditions with freezing levels topping out around 6000' and mid-mountain temperatures in the mid 30s to low 40s.
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
Thursday
Night
Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Cloudy in the morning, then mostly cloudy in the afternoon with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers.
Thursday
Night
Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Partly sunny to mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Partly sunny to mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Cloudy in the morning, then partly sunny to mostly cloudy in the afternoon. A chance of showers in the morning, then scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate SW ridgeline winds. Light west winds at Pass level.
Friday
Partly sunny to mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate SW ridgeline winds. Light west winds at Pass level.
Friday
Partly sunny to mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Partly sunny to mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Partly sunny to mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Partly sunny to mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Cloudy in the morning, then partly sunny to mostly cloudy in the afternoon. A chance of showers in the morning, then isolated light rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Issued: 4:26 PM PDT Thursday, March 28, 2024
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
Friday
Friday Night
Saturday
5 pm - 5 am
5 am - 5 pm
5 pm - 5 am
5 am - 5 pm
Hurricane Ridge
LT 0.25
LT 0.25
0
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
0.25
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
0.25
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
Stevens Pass
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
Snoqualmie Pass
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
Crystal Mt
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
Paradise
0.25
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
White Pass
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
Washington Pass
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
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
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
Mt Hood Meadows
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
0
0
Timberline
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
0
0
Hurricane Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.25
Friday
LT 0.25
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0.25
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0.25
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.25
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.25
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.25
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0.25
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.25
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.25
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.25
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.25
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.25
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.25
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.25
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Issued: 4:26 PM PDT Thursday, March 28, 2024
Snow Level (ft)
Thursday
Evening
Thursday
Night
Friday
Morning
Friday
Afternoon
Friday
Evening
Friday
Night
Saturday
Morning
Saturday
Afternoon
Olympics
3500'
3000'
3500'
4000'
3500'
3500'
4000'
5500'
West North
3500'
3000'
3500'
4500'
4000'
3500'
4000'
6000'
West Central
3500'
3000'
3500'
4500'
4000'
3500'
4000'
6000'
West South
3500'
3000'
3500'
5000'
4000'
3500'
4000'
6000'
Stevens Pass
3500'
3000'
3500'
4500'
4000'
3500'
4000'
6000'
Snoqualmie Pass
3500'
3000'
3500'
4500'
4000'
3500'
4000'
6000'
East North
3500'
3000'
3500'
5000'
4000'
3000'
4000'
6000'
East Central
3500'
3000'
3500'
5000'
4000'
3500'
4000'
6000'
East South
3500'
3000'
3500'
5000'
4000'
3500'
4000'
6000'
Mt. Hood
3500'
3000'
3500'
5000'
4500'
4000'
4500'
6000'
Olympics
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
3500'
Thursday
Night
3000'
Friday
Morning
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
4000'
Friday
Evening
3500'
Friday
Night
3500'
Saturday
Morning
4000'
Saturday
Afternoon
5500'
West North
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
3500'
Thursday
Night
3000'
Friday
Morning
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
4500'
Friday
Evening
4000'
Friday
Night
3500'
Saturday
Morning
4000'
Saturday
Afternoon
6000'
West Central
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
3500'
Thursday
Night
3000'
Friday
Morning
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
4500'
Friday
Evening
4000'
Friday
Night
3500'
Saturday
Morning
4000'
Saturday
Afternoon
6000'
West South
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
3500'
Thursday
Night
3000'
Friday
Morning
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
5000'
Friday
Evening
4000'
Friday
Night
3500'
Saturday
Morning
4000'
Saturday
Afternoon
6000'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
3500'
Thursday
Night
3000'
Friday
Morning
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
4500'
Friday
Evening
4000'
Friday
Night
3500'
Saturday
Morning
4000'
Saturday
Afternoon
6000'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
3500'
Thursday
Night
3000'
Friday
Morning
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
4500'
Friday
Evening
4000'
Friday
Night
3500'
Saturday
Morning
4000'
Saturday
Afternoon
6000'
East North
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
3500'
Thursday
Night
3000'
Friday
Morning
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
5000'
Friday
Evening
4000'
Friday
Night
3000'
Saturday
Morning
4000'
Saturday
Afternoon
6000'
East Central
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
3500'
Thursday
Night
3000'
Friday
Morning
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
5000'
Friday
Evening
4000'
Friday
Night
3500'
Saturday
Morning
4000'
Saturday
Afternoon
6000'
East South
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
3500'
Thursday
Night
3000'
Friday
Morning
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
5000'
Friday
Evening
4000'
Friday
Night
3500'
Saturday
Morning
4000'
Saturday
Afternoon
6000'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
3500'
Thursday
Night
3000'
Friday
Morning
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
5000'
Friday
Evening
4500'
Friday
Night
4000'
Saturday
Morning
4500'
Saturday
Afternoon
6000'
Issued: 4:26 PM PDT Thursday, March 28, 2024
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Thursday
Night
Friday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
29 / 25
31 / 25
West North
29 / 25
32 / 25
West Central
29 / 24
32 / 26
West South
28 / 26
35 / 25
Stevens Pass
29 / 23
33 / 23
Snoqualmie Pass
29 / 23
33 / 23
East North
29 / 21
35 / 23
East Central
30 / 23
35 / 24
East South
29 / 24
35 / 24
Mt. Hood
29 / 26
35 / 24
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
29 / 25
Friday
31 / 25
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
29 / 25
Friday
32 / 25
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
29 / 24
Friday
32 / 26
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
28 / 26
Friday
35 / 25
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
29 / 23
Friday
33 / 23
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
29 / 23
Friday
33 / 23
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
29 / 21
Friday
35 / 23
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
30 / 23
Friday
35 / 24
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
29 / 24
Friday
35 / 24
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
29 / 26
Friday
35 / 24
Issued: 4:26 PM PDT Thursday, March 28, 2024
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
Thursday
Night
Friday
Morning
Friday
Afternoon
Olympics
S 15-25
S 10-20
S 0-10
N 0-10
West North
S 10-20
S 5-15
S 0-10
N 0-10
West Central
SW 10-20
SW 5-15
SSW 0-10
N 0-10
West South
SW 15-25
SW 5-15
SW 0-10
N 0-10
Stevens Pass
SSW 10-20
SW 5-15
SW 0-10
N 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass
SSW 10-20
SW 5-15
SW 0-10
N 0-10
East North
S 10-20
SW 5-15
VAR 0-10
N 0-10
East Central
SW 10-20
WSW 5-15
WSW 0-10
NNE 0-10
East South
SW 10-20
WSW 10-20
SW 0-10
NNE 0-10
Mt. Hood
SW 20-30
SW 15-25
S 5-15
ENE 5-15
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
S
15-25
Thursday
Night
S
10-20
Friday
Morning
S
0-10
Friday
Afternoon
N
0-10
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
S
10-20
Thursday
Night
S
5-15
Friday
Morning
S
0-10
Friday
Afternoon
N
0-10
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SW
10-20
Thursday
Night
SW
5-15
Friday
Morning
SSW
0-10
Friday
Afternoon
N
0-10
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SW
15-25
Thursday
Night
SW
5-15
Friday
Morning
SW
0-10
Friday
Afternoon
N
0-10
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SSW
10-20
Thursday
Night
SW
5-15
Friday
Morning
SW
0-10
Friday
Afternoon
N
0-10
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SSW
10-20
Thursday
Night
SW
5-15
Friday
Morning
SW
0-10
Friday
Afternoon
N
0-10
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
S
10-20
Thursday
Night
SW
5-15
Friday
Morning
VAR
0-10
Friday
Afternoon
N
0-10
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SW
10-20
Thursday
Night
WSW
5-15
Friday
Morning
WSW
0-10
Friday
Afternoon
NNE
0-10
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SW
10-20
Thursday
Night
WSW
10-20
Friday
Morning
SW
0-10
Friday
Afternoon
NNE
0-10
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SW
20-30
Thursday
Night
SW
15-25
Friday
Morning
S
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
ENE
5-15
Issued: 4:26 PM PDT Thursday, March 28, 2024
Extended Weather Synopsis
Dry and increasingly warm weather will take hold Sunday and Monday as the upper level ridge flops over our area. Freezing levels will continue climbing up to 7000' on Sunday and perhaps become significantly warmer on Monday with freezing levels topping out in the 8000-11,000' range. It remains to be seen how quickly the upper level ridge breaks down and weather systems return to the area next week.
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).