A few convective showers dot the mountains this afternoon. If you happen to be underneath one, you might find it cold, snowy, and gusty. A few of these showers may linger into the early evening hours, particularly in the Methow region. However, the overall trend will be for drying and clearing. A high pressure ridge approaches the coast overnight and sets us up for a beautiful spring weekend.
Expect temperature inversion and patchy valley fog to develop overnight in many of the mountain valleys and passes. While it may be a bit chilly at the trailhead to start the morning, temperatures will quickly warm. Even with plenty of sunshine, cool northerly flow will help keep temperatures in check. Most 5000ft sites should just barely manage to slip into the low 40s.
After another mild clear night, Sunday looks like another gorgeous sunny day. The major difference will be an increase in alpine winds and a few more passing high clouds. The jet stream will start to shift overhead and bring us under the full control of the ridge. As we head into Sunday afternoon and evening warmer air will start to push into the region and send our freezing levels on a steady march upward.
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. Temperature inversions in the mountain valleys and passes.
Saturday
Mostly sunny with a few passing high clouds.
Friday
Night
Mostly clear. Temperature inversions in the mountain valleys and passes.
Saturday
Mostly sunny with a few passing high clouds.
Friday
Night
Mostly clear. Temperature inversions in the mountain valleys and passes.
Saturday
Mostly sunny with a few passing high clouds.
Friday
Night
Mostly clear. Temperature inversions in the mountain valleys and passes.
Saturday
Mostly sunny with a few passing high clouds.
Friday
Night
Mostly clear. Temperature inversions in the mountain valleys and passes. Light E flow developing at pass level.
Saturday
Mostly sunny with a few passing high clouds. Light westerly pass flow.
Friday
Night
Mostly clear. Temperature inversions in the mountain valleys and passes. Light E flow developing at pass level.
Saturday
Mostly sunny with a few passing high clouds. Light westerly pass flow.
Friday
Night
Mostly clear with a few isolated showers. Temperature inversions in the mountain valleys and passes.
Saturday
Mostly sunny with a few passing high clouds.
Friday
Night
Mostly clear with a few isolated showers lingering into the evening. Temperature inversions in the mountain valleys and passes.
Saturday
Mostly sunny with a few passing high clouds.
Friday
Night
Mostly clear. Temperature inversions in the mountain valleys and passes.
Saturday
Mostly sunny with a few passing high clouds.
Friday
Night
Mostly clear. Temperature inversions in the mountain valleys. Light to moderate E winds.
Saturday
Mostly sunny with a few passing high clouds.
Issued: 2:46 PM PDT Friday, March 29, 2024
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
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
0
0
0
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
0
0
0
0
Stevens Pass
0
0
0
0
Snoqualmie Pass
0
0
0
0
Crystal Mt
0
0
0
0
Paradise
0
0
0
0
White Pass
0
0
0
0
Washington Pass
LT 0.10
0
0
0
Mission Ridge
0
0
0
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
0
0
0
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
0
0
0
0
Mt Hood Meadows
0
0
0
0
Timberline
0
0
0
0
Hurricane Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
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
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
0
Sunday
0
Issued: 2:46 PM PDT Friday, March 29, 2024
Snow Level (ft)
Friday
Evening*
Friday
Night*
Saturday
Morning
Saturday
Afternoon
Saturday
Evening
Saturday
Night
Sunday
Morning
Sunday
Afternoon
Olympics
4500'
4500'
4500'
5500'
4000'
4500'
4500'
7000'
West North
5000'
4000'
4500'
5500'
4000'
3500'
4000'
6000'
West Central
5000'
4000'
4500'
5500'
4000'
3500'
4000'
6000'
West South
5000'
4000'
4500'
6000'
4500'
4000'
4000'
6500'
Stevens Pass
5000'
4000'
4500'
5500'
4000'
3500'
4000'
6000'
Snoqualmie Pass
5000'
4000'
4500'
5500'
4500'
3500'
4000'
6000'
East North
4500'
3500'
4500'
5500'
3500'
3500'
4000'
6500'
East Central
5000'
4000'
4500'
6000'
4000'
3500'
4000'
6500'
East South
5000'
4000'
4500'
6500'
4500'
3500'
4000'
6500'
Mt. Hood
5000'
4000'
4500'
6500'
5500'
4500'
4500'
6600'
Olympics
Elevation
Friday
Evening*
4500'
Friday
Night*
4500'
Saturday
Morning
4500'
Saturday
Afternoon
5500'
Saturday
Evening
4000'
Saturday
Night
4500'
Sunday
Morning
4500'
Sunday
Afternoon
7000'
West North
Elevation
Friday
Evening*
5000'
Friday
Night*
4000'
Saturday
Morning
4500'
Saturday
Afternoon
5500'
Saturday
Evening
4000'
Saturday
Night
3500'
Sunday
Morning
4000'
Sunday
Afternoon
6000'
West Central
Elevation
Friday
Evening*
5000'
Friday
Night*
4000'
Saturday
Morning
4500'
Saturday
Afternoon
5500'
Saturday
Evening
4000'
Saturday
Night
3500'
Sunday
Morning
4000'
Sunday
Afternoon
6000'
West South
Elevation
Friday
Evening*
5000'
Friday
Night*
4000'
Saturday
Morning
4500'
Saturday
Afternoon
6000'
Saturday
Evening
4500'
Saturday
Night
4000'
Sunday
Morning
4000'
Sunday
Afternoon
6500'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Friday
Evening*
5000'
Friday
Night*
4000'
Saturday
Morning
4500'
Saturday
Afternoon
5500'
Saturday
Evening
4000'
Saturday
Night
3500'
Sunday
Morning
4000'
Sunday
Afternoon
6000'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Friday
Evening*
5000'
Friday
Night*
4000'
Saturday
Morning
4500'
Saturday
Afternoon
5500'
Saturday
Evening
4500'
Saturday
Night
3500'
Sunday
Morning
4000'
Sunday
Afternoon
6000'
East North
Elevation
Friday
Evening*
4500'
Friday
Night*
3500'
Saturday
Morning
4500'
Saturday
Afternoon
5500'
Saturday
Evening
3500'
Saturday
Night
3500'
Sunday
Morning
4000'
Sunday
Afternoon
6500'
East Central
Elevation
Friday
Evening*
5000'
Friday
Night*
4000'
Saturday
Morning
4500'
Saturday
Afternoon
6000'
Saturday
Evening
4000'
Saturday
Night
3500'
Sunday
Morning
4000'
Sunday
Afternoon
6500'
East South
Elevation
Friday
Evening*
5000'
Friday
Night*
4000'
Saturday
Morning
4500'
Saturday
Afternoon
6500'
Saturday
Evening
4500'
Saturday
Night
3500'
Sunday
Morning
4000'
Sunday
Afternoon
6500'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Friday
Evening*
5000'
Friday
Night*
4000'
Saturday
Morning
4500'
Saturday
Afternoon
6500'
Saturday
Evening
5500'
Saturday
Night
4500'
Sunday
Morning
4500'
Sunday
Afternoon
6600'
Issued: 2:46 PM PDT Friday, March 29, 2024
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Friday
Night
Saturday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
35 / 26
43 / 26
West North
35 / 25
42 / 25
West Central
36 / 27
43 / 28
West South
34 / 25
41 / 25
Stevens Pass
35 / 26
41 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass
35 / 28
40 / 27
East North
34 / 20
39 / 23
East Central
34 / 25
41 / 24
East South
35 / 24
42 / 23
Mt. Hood
35 / 27
42 / 26
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
35 / 26
Saturday
43 / 26
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
35 / 25
Saturday
42 / 25
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
36 / 27
Saturday
43 / 28
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
34 / 25
Saturday
41 / 25
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
35 / 26
Saturday
41 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
35 / 28
Saturday
40 / 27
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
34 / 20
Saturday
39 / 23
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
34 / 25
Saturday
41 / 24
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
35 / 24
Saturday
42 / 23
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
35 / 27
Saturday
42 / 26
Issued: 2:46 PM PDT Friday, March 29, 2024
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
Friday
Night
Saturday
Morning
Saturday
Afternoon
Olympics
NE 5-15
NE 5-15
N 0-10
W 5-15
West North
NE 5-15
NE 5-15
NNW 0-10
W 5-15
West Central
NE 5-15
NE 0-10
VAR 0-10
W 5-15
West South
NE 5-15
ENE 5-15
ENE 0-10
NW 5-15
Stevens Pass
NE 0-10
NE 0-10
VAR 0-10
WNW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass
NE 5-15
NE 5-15
VAR 0-10
WNW 5-15
East North
NNE 5-15
NNE 0-10
NW 0-10
W 5-15
East Central
NE 5-15
NE 5-15
VAR 0-10
W 5-15
East South
ENE 10-20
ENE 10-20
NE 5-15
NW 5-15
Mt. Hood
E 10-20
E 10-20
E 5-15
NNE 5-15
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
NE
5-15
Friday
Night
NE
5-15
Saturday
Morning
N
0-10
Saturday
Afternoon
W
5-15
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
NE
5-15
Friday
Night
NE
5-15
Saturday
Morning
NNW
0-10
Saturday
Afternoon
W
5-15
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
NE
5-15
Friday
Night
NE
0-10
Saturday
Morning
VAR
0-10
Saturday
Afternoon
W
5-15
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
NE
5-15
Friday
Night
ENE
5-15
Saturday
Morning
ENE
0-10
Saturday
Afternoon
NW
5-15
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
NE
0-10
Friday
Night
NE
0-10
Saturday
Morning
VAR
0-10
Saturday
Afternoon
WNW
5-15
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
NE
5-15
Friday
Night
NE
5-15
Saturday
Morning
VAR
0-10
Saturday
Afternoon
WNW
5-15
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
NNE
5-15
Friday
Night
NNE
0-10
Saturday
Morning
NW
0-10
Saturday
Afternoon
W
5-15
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
NE
5-15
Friday
Night
NE
5-15
Saturday
Morning
VAR
0-10
Saturday
Afternoon
W
5-15
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
ENE
10-20
Friday
Night
ENE
10-20
Saturday
Morning
NE
5-15
Saturday
Afternoon
NW
5-15
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
E
10-20
Friday
Night
E
10-20
Saturday
Morning
E
5-15
Saturday
Afternoon
NNE
5-15
Issued: 2:46 PM PDT Friday, March 29, 2024
Extended Weather Synopsis
We'll start the week parked directly underneath a high pressure ridge. This feature will keep us warm, dry, and sunny. Freezing levels should climb to around 9500-10500 feet for most locations by Monday. With lots of sunshine and generally light winds, many mountain weather stations should easily reach into the 50s, with a few locations potentially tipping the 60 degree mark. At night, clear skies will help the surface cool even if air temperatures remain above freezing. Temperature inversions should return each evening in the mountain valleys and passes. Our next possible weather system could arrive on Wednesday.
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).