Issued: 2:43 PM PDT Thursday, April 4, 2024
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

A disturbance wrapping around a broad upper-level low pressure centered over western Oregon continues to bring periods of light rain, snow and unsettled weather to the Cascades through Thursday evening. Higher resolution models suggest that the most precipitation may fall from Stevens Pass through the Mountain Loop, but additional precipitation amounts in all areas should be less than 0.25" of water equivalent. Precipitation decreases as the disturbance exits, but there should be enough cool air aloft to maintain chances of light rain or snow showers through early Friday. A subtle surface low-pressure center forms over eastern Washington on Friday. Models diverge regarding the timing of this precipitation, but the chances are highest Friday afternoon and early evening over northern Washington State. Snow levels should be around 2500-3000 ft Friday night, rising to 3500-4000 ft by Friday afternoon.

The broad upper low shifts eastward into the southern Idaho Friday night. Shower activity should taper from north to south. However, Expect a period of moderate W ridgeline winds to develop for the gaps, east slopes of the Cascades, and Mt Hood Friday afternoon and night as W winds return behind the trough. Expect Light rain and snow showers to increase once again ahead of a weak trough approaching Saturday afternoon. Snow levels should be around 3000-3500 ft.

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 Mostly cloudy with periods of Mostly cloudy with periods of very light rain and snow, primarily in the northeastern Olympics. rain and snow.
Friday Partly to mostly cloudy. An isolated rain or snow shower is possible.
Thursday Night Cloudy, with periods of light rain and snow decreasing overnight.
Friday Mostly cloudy with filtered sunshine at times. An isolated rain or snow shower is possible.
Thursday Night Cloudy, with periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow decreasing overnight.
Friday Mostly cloudy with periods of light rain or snow, primarily during the afternoon hours.
Thursday Night Cloudy, with periods of light rain and snow decreasing overnight.
Friday Mostly cloudy with periods of light rain or snow, possibly becoming showery.
Thursday Night Cloudy, with periods of light rain and snow decreasing overnight. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Friday Mostly cloudy with periods of light rain or snow, increasing during the afternoon. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Thursday Night Cloudy, with periods of light rain and snow decreasing overnight. Decreasing light to occasionally moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Friday Mostly cloudy with periods of light rain or snow. Light ridgeline winds becoming moderate in the afternoon. Increasing light to occasionally moderate W wind at the Pass.
Thursday Night Cloudy, with periods of light rain and snow decreasing overnight.
Friday Mostly cloudy with periods of light rain or snow. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Cloudy, with periods of light rain and snow decreasing overnight.
Friday Mostly cloudy with occasional light rain or snow. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Cloudy, with periods of light rain and snow decreasing or ending overnight.
Friday Partly to mostly cloudy. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Cloudy, with periods of light rain and snow decreasing overnight.
Friday Mostly cloudy with periods of light rain or snow, increasing in the afternoon. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.

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 0.10 0 0 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 0 0 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 0 0 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
Timberline LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50

Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Evening Thursday Night Friday Morning Friday Afternoon Friday Evening Friday Night Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon
Olympics 2500' 2500' 3500' 4500' 4500' 3500' 2000' 3000'
West North 3000' 2500' 3000' 4500' 4500' 3000' 2000' 3000'
West Central 3000' 2500' 2500' 3500' 3500' 3000' 2000' 3000'
West South 3000' 2500' 2500' 3500' 3500' 3000' 2000' 3000'
Stevens Pass 3000' 2500' 2500' 3500' 3500' 3000' 2000' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 2500' 2500' 3500' 3500' 3000' 2000' 3000'
East North 3000' 2500' 2500' 4000' 3500' 3000' 3000' 4500'
East Central 3000' 2500' 2500' 4000' 4000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
East South 3000' 2500' 2500' 4500' 4000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
Mt. Hood 3000' 2500' 2500' 3500' 3500' 2500' 2500' 3000'
Olympics Elevation
Thursday Evening 2500'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
Friday Evening 4500'
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday Morning 2000'
Saturday Afternoon 3000'
West North Elevation
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 3000'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
Friday Evening 4500'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday Morning 2000'
Saturday Afternoon 3000'
West Central Elevation
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 2500'
Friday Afternoon 3500'
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday Morning 2000'
Saturday Afternoon 3000'
West South Elevation
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 2500'
Friday Afternoon 3500'
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday Morning 2000'
Saturday Afternoon 3000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 2500'
Friday Afternoon 3500'
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday Morning 2000'
Saturday Afternoon 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 2500'
Friday Afternoon 3500'
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday Morning 2000'
Saturday Afternoon 3000'
East North Elevation
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 2500'
Friday Afternoon 4000'
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday Morning 3000'
Saturday Afternoon 4500'
East Central Elevation
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 2500'
Friday Afternoon 4000'
Friday Evening 4000'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday Morning 3000'
Saturday Afternoon 3500'
East South Elevation
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 2500'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
Friday Evening 4000'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday Morning 3000'
Saturday Afternoon 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 2500'
Friday Afternoon 3500'
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 2500'
Saturday Morning 2500'
Saturday Afternoon 3000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Thursday Night Friday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 28 / 22 36 / 22
West North 29 / 22 35 / 22
West Central 27 / 22 30 / 23
West South 28 / 22 32 / 21
Stevens Pass 27 / 23 30 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 27 / 22 30 / 22
East North 31 / 22 36 / 22
East Central 29 / 24 33 / 24
East South 29 / 22 33 / 22
Mt. Hood 29 / 22 34 / 22
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 28 / 22
Friday 36 / 22
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 29 / 22
Friday 35 / 22
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 27 / 22
Friday 30 / 23
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 28 / 22
Friday 32 / 21
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 27 / 23
Friday 30 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 27 / 22
Friday 30 / 22
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 31 / 22
Friday 36 / 22
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 29 / 24
Friday 33 / 24
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 29 / 22
Friday 33 / 22
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 29 / 22
Friday 34 / 22

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Thursday Evening Thursday Night Friday Morning Friday Afternoon
Olympics N 5-15 NNE 5-15 N 0-10 WNW 5-15
West North NNW 5-15 NNE 5-15 N 0-10 NW 5-15
West Central NW 10-20 NNW 0-10 NNW 5-15 WNW 5-15
West South NW 5-15 NW 5-15 NW 5-15 NW 10-20
Stevens Pass WNW 5-15 WNW 5-15 WNW 5-15 WNW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass NW 10-20 NNW 5-15 NW 5-15 WNW 10-20
East North N 5-15 N 0-10 NNW 5-15 NW 10-20
East Central NW 5-15 NNW 0-10 NW 5-15 WNW 10-20
East South NW 5-15 NW 5-15 NW 10-20 NW 10-20
Mt. Hood WNW 5-15 W 10-20 WNW 10-20 W 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening N 5-15
Thursday Night NNE 5-15
Friday Morning N 0-10
Friday Afternoon WNW 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening NNW 5-15
Thursday Night NNE 5-15
Friday Morning N 0-10
Friday Afternoon NW 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening NW 10-20
Thursday Night NNW 0-10
Friday Morning NNW 5-15
Friday Afternoon WNW 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening NW 5-15
Thursday Night NW 5-15
Friday Morning NW 5-15
Friday Afternoon NW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening WNW 5-15
Thursday Night WNW 5-15
Friday Morning WNW 5-15
Friday Afternoon WNW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening NW 10-20
Thursday Night NNW 5-15
Friday Morning NW 5-15
Friday Afternoon WNW 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening N 5-15
Thursday Night N 0-10
Friday Morning NNW 5-15
Friday Afternoon NW 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening NW 5-15
Thursday Night NNW 0-10
Friday Morning NW 5-15
Friday Afternoon WNW 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening NW 5-15
Thursday Night NW 5-15
Friday Morning NW 10-20
Friday Afternoon NW 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening WNW 5-15
Thursday Night W 10-20
Friday Morning WNW 10-20
Friday Afternoon W 15-25

Extended Weather Synopsis

The aforementioned weak trough crosses the region early Sunday with more very light rain and snow showers, primarily for the west slopes of the Cascades. Shower activity tapers gradually Sunday night as broad ridgeing develops offshore and pushes into our region. Moisture riding over the ridge into British Columbia will bring clouds and a chance of light rain or snow to northern Washington on Monday.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
West North 2500' 3000' 3000' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 2500' 3000' 3000' 3500'
Mt. Hood 2500' 3000' 3500' 3500'
West North Elevation
Saturday Night 2500'
Sunday 3000'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Night 2500'
Sunday 3000'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Night 2500'
Sunday 3000'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday 3500'

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

Previous forecast from Apr 4, 2024

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’.