Issued: 12:58 PM PDT Saturday, April 6, 2024
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

The end of the weekend features cool, showery weather. A weak trough reaches the coastline Saturday evening and pushes through the Cascades in the early morning hours. Light to moderate snow showers continue into the evening hours before decreasing into the light range overnight and through Sunday. A convergence band could bring a brief period of moderate precipitation as it lifts northward Saturday evening from Snoqualmie, through Stevens, into the Mountain loop overnight. The remnants may bring some minor enhancement to the Mt Baker area on Sunday as light snow showers gradually decrease for the west slopes of the Cascades.

Snow levels fluctuate from morning lows around 2500 ft to afternoon highs around 3500 ft through the weekend. Expect storm totals in the 2-8" range for the west slopes of the Cascades, with around an inch or less in the immediate lee of the Cascade Crest. Moderate W ridgeline winds continue to target  Mt Hood into early Sunday. Mostly light to occasionally moderate W ridgeline winds continue for the mountain gaps, passes, and Mt Hood.

Shower activity winds down for the west slopes of the Cascades Sunday evening as a broad offshore ridge edges into the region. Generally light winds shift SWerly and start to increase ahead of the next system.

That frontal system approaches from the northwest with increasing light rain and snow developing in the morning and increasing for Snoqualmie Pass northward plus the Olympics, potentially becoming moderate for the west slopes of the Olympics and Mt Baker areas. Snow levels should rise to 3000-4000 ft. Expect SSW ridgeline winds in the moderate range for the Mt Baker area which is more exposed to a barrier jet forming along the west slopes of the Cascades.

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 cloudy with scattered light rain or snow showers.
Sunday Mostly cloudy wiht light to locally moderate rain and snow showers.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with light rain or snow showers.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with decreasing light rain and snow showers.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with light rain or snow showers, locally moderate as a convergence band lifts northward.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with decreasing light rain and snow showers.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with decreasing light rain or snow showers.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with decreasing light rain and snow showers.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with light rain or snow showers (possibly moderate at times in convergence). Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with decreasing light rain and snow showers. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with light rain or snow showers (possibly moderate at times in convergence during the evening hours). Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with decreasing light rain and snow showers. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night Cloudy with a slight chance of light rain or snow showers.
Sunday Partly cloudy with a few rain or snow showers in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with a few light rain or snow showers, particularly near the Cascade Crest. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Partly cloudy with a few rain or snow showers near the Cascade Crest.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with a few light rain or snow showers, particularly near the Cascade Crest.
Sunday Partly cloudy with a few rain or snow showers near the Cascade Crest.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain or snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with light rain or snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.

Issued: 12:58 PM PDT Saturday, April 6, 2024

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

Issued: 12:58 PM PDT Saturday, April 6, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 3000' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000'
West North 3000' 2500' 25000' 3000' 3500' 3000' 2500' 3000'
West Central 3000' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500'
West South 3500' 3000' 2500' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 4000'
Stevens Pass 3000' 3000' 2500' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 3000' 2500' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 3500'
East North 3000' 2500' 2500' 3500' 4000' 3000' 3000' 4500'
East Central 3500' 3000' 2500' 3500' 4000' 3500' 3000' 5000'
East South 3500' 3000' 2500' 3500' 4000' 4000' 3000' 5000'
Mt. Hood 3500' 3000' 2500' 3500' 4000' 3500' 3000' 5000'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening 3000'
Saturday Night 2500'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening 3000'
Saturday Night 2500'
Sunday Morning 25000'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 3000'
Saturday Night 2500'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening 3500'
Saturday Night 3000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 3000'
Saturday Night 3000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 3500'
Saturday Night 3000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening 3000'
Saturday Night 2500'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 3500'
Saturday Night 3000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening 3500'
Saturday Night 3000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening 3500'
Saturday Night 3000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 5000'

Issued: 12:58 PM PDT Saturday, April 6, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 31 / 23 32 / 24
West North 30 / 25 32 / 25
West Central 30 / 26 32 / 26
West South 32 / 27 33 / 27
Stevens Pass 31 / 28 32 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass 31 / 27 32 / 27
East North 32 / 24 34 / 24
East Central 32 / 27 34 / 27
East South 33 / 26 35 / 27
Mt. Hood 32 / 26 33 / 26
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 31 / 23
Sunday 32 / 24
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 30 / 25
Sunday 32 / 25
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 30 / 26
Sunday 32 / 26
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 27
Sunday 33 / 27
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 31 / 28
Sunday 32 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 31 / 27
Sunday 32 / 27
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 24
Sunday 34 / 24
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 27
Sunday 34 / 27
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 33 / 26
Sunday 35 / 27
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 26
Sunday 33 / 26

Issued: 12:58 PM PDT Saturday, April 6, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics WSW 0-10 SW 0-10 SW 0-10 SW 5-15
West North WSW 0-10 WSW 0-10 SW 5-15 SW 10-20
West Central W 0-10 WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15 W 10-20
West South WSW 5-15 W 0-10 SW 0-10 WSW 5-15
Stevens Pass W 5-15 WSW 5-15 W 5-15 W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass WNW 5-15 W 10-20 W 10-20 WNW 10-20
East North WNW 5-15 W 5-15 WSW 5-15 W 10-20
East Central WNW 10-20 W 10-20 WNW 10-20 W 10-20
East South W 10-20 W 10-20 WNW 5-15 W 5-15
Mt. Hood W 20-30 WSW 15-25 WSW 10-20 W 10-20
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 0-10
Saturday Night SW 0-10
Sunday Morning SW 0-10
Sunday Afternoon SW 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 0-10
Saturday Night WSW 0-10
Sunday Morning SW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SW 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 0-10
Saturday Night WSW 5-15
Sunday Morning WSW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 5-15
Saturday Night W 0-10
Sunday Morning SW 0-10
Sunday Afternoon WSW 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 5-15
Saturday Night WSW 5-15
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 5-15
Saturday Night W 10-20
Sunday Morning W 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WNW 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 5-15
Saturday Night W 5-15
Sunday Morning WSW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 10-20
Saturday Night W 10-20
Sunday Morning WNW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 10-20
Saturday Night W 10-20
Sunday Morning WNW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 20-30
Saturday Night WSW 15-25
Sunday Morning WSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20

Issued: 12:58 PM PDT Saturday, April 6, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

The frontal system approaches from the northwest Monday night, bringing light to moderate rain and snow to the west slopes of the Washington Cascades, with the most at Mt Baker. Expect snow levels in the 4000-5000 ft range. Light shower activity focuses on the same general areas on Tuesday with little change in snow level. A broad ridge offshore brings drying Tuesday night. Wednesday will be mostly sunny with a cool start. Feezing levels rise sharply by the afternoon to 5000-9000 ft.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 3500' 4000' 4000' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 4500' 5000' 5000'
Mt. Hood 5500' 5500' 6000' 8000'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday 4000'
Tuesday Night 4000'
Wednesday 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday 4500'
Tuesday Night 5000'
Wednesday 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 5500'
Tuesday 5500'
Tuesday Night 6000'
Wednesday 8000'

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

Previous forecast from Apr 6, 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’.