The leading edge of a storm is just starting to make its way into the mountains this afternoon. This system will bring us gusty winds and periods of moderate to heavy rain/snow for the next 24 hours.
Overnight, we'll sit in the warm sector of the storm. Temperatures won't likely cool much from their afternoon highs, and snow levels should hover around 4500-5500 ft. Gusty winds could make it feel quite stormy, even for places that aren't receiving that much precipitation. Look for rain and snow to steadily increase and eventually start to spill over to locations east of the Cascade Crest. The storm crescendos in the wee hours of the morning as a trailing cold front finally slides into the area. This will be marked by the strongest winds and heaviest precipitation rates, with the bullseye aimed at the Central Cascades.
As the cold front passes in the morning hours, winds should shift slightly WNW and gradually decrease. As temperatures cool, precipitation will turn more showery and once again focus on the west slopes of the mountains. A Puget Sound Convergence Zone could target locally heavier rain and snow near and north of the Highway 2 corridor. By the afternoon, a high pressure ridge starts to nudge its way into the region. You could see sun breaks just about anywhere, but blue sky will be most prevalent east of the Cascades and in locations near the Canadian border.
The region will dry out quickly Tuesday night and into Wednesday. Lingering low-level moisture and continued onshore flow may create some clouds and fog overnight. During the day, passing bands of high clouds could prevent it from becoming fully "blue-bird." Nevertheless, plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures should make it feel like a nice post-storm spring day.
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
Monday
Night
Rain and snow, heaviest in the western Olympics. Gusty moderate SW winds.
Tuesday
Cloudy in the morning with showers mainly in the western Olympics, then clearing. Light to moderate WSW winds decreasing.
Monday
Night
Stormy with periods of heavy precipitation. Strong and gusty southerly winds, turning more west and decreasing.
Tuesday
Rain and snow mainly in the morning, then becoming showery in the afternoon with some sun breaks possible. Moderate WSW winds decreasing.
Monday
Night
Stormy with periods of heavy precipitation and gusty moderate to strong SW winds.
Tuesday
Rain and snow heaviest in the morning and near a Pugest Sound Convergence Zone. Becoming showery in the afternoon with a few sun breaks possible. Moderate W winds.
Monday
Night
Rain and snow, heaviest near Mt Rainier. Gusty moderate to strong westerly winds.
Tuesday
Rain and snow in the morning, then becoming showery in the afternoon. Sun breaks possible, particularly near the Crest. Moderate W winds.
Monday
Night
Rain and snow, could be heavy at times. Gusty moderate W winds.
Tuesday
Rain and snow in the morning, then becoming showery. A Puget Sound Convergence Zone could bring locally heavier precipitation. A few sun breaks possible in the afternoon. Moderate W winds decreasing.
Monday
Night
Rain and snow could be heavy at times. Gusty moderate to strong W winds increasing.
Tuesday
Rain and snow in the morning, becoming more showery in the afternoon. A few sun breaks possible. Moderate to strong W winds.
Monday
Night
Cloudy with rain and snow, heaviest near the crest. Gusty moderate to strong W winds increasing.
Tuesday
Cloudy in the morning with rain and snow, then becoming scattered showers with sun breaks. Strong W winds decreasing in afternoon.
Monday
Night
Cloudy with rain and snow, heaviest near the crest. Strong and gusty W winds increasing overnight.
Tuesday
Cloudy with rain and snow, mainly in the morning, then becoming scattered showers with clearing in the afternoon. Strong and gusty W winds decreasing.
Monday
Night
Cloudy with rain and snow, heaviest near the crest. Strong and gusty W winds.
Tuesday
Cloudy with rain and snow, mainly in the morning, then becoming scattered showers with clearing in the afternoon. Moderate to strong W winds decreasing.
Monday
Night
Cloudy with periods of rain and snow. Strong and gusty W winds.
Tuesday
Cloudy with rain and snow mainly in the morning. Becoming showery with sun breaks in the afternoon. Strong and gusty W winds decreasing.
Issued: 2:30 PM PDT Monday, April 8, 2024
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
Tuesday
Tuesday Night
Wednesday
5 pm - 5 am
5 am - 5 pm
5 pm - 5 am
5 am - 5 pm
Hurricane Ridge
0.25
0
0
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
1.00
LT 0.25
0
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
1.00 - 1.50
0.25
0
0
Stevens Pass
0.75
LT 0.25
0
0
Snoqualmie Pass
0.50 - 0.75
0.25
0
0
Crystal Mt
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
0
0
Paradise
0.75
0.25
0
0
White Pass
0.50
LT 0.25
0
0
Washington Pass
0.50
LT 0.10
0
0
Mission Ridge
LT 0.25
0
0
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
0.50
LT 0.25
0
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
0.25
LT 0.10
0
0
Mt Hood Meadows
0.25 - 0.50
LT 0.25
0
0
Timberline
0.25 - 0.50
LT 0.25
0
0
Hurricane Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0.25
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
1.00
Tuesday
LT 0.25
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
1.00 - 1.50
Tuesday
0.25
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0.75
Tuesday
LT 0.25
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday
0.25
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
LT 0.25
Tuesday
LT 0.10
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0.75
Tuesday
0.25
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0.50
Tuesday
LT 0.25
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0.50
Tuesday
LT 0.10
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
LT 0.25
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0.50
Tuesday
LT 0.25
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0.25
Tuesday
LT 0.10
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday
LT 0.25
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday
LT 0.25
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Issued: 2:30 PM PDT Monday, April 8, 2024
Snow Level (ft)
Monday
Evening
Monday
Night
Tuesday
Morning
Tuesday
Afternoon
Tuesday
Evening
Tuesday
Night
Wednesday
Morning*
Wednesday
Afternoon*
Olympics
5000'
4500'
3500'
3500'
3500'
3500'
4000'
6000'
West North
4000'
4500'
3500'
3500'
3000'
3500'
4000'
5500'
West Central
4500'
4500'
4000'
3500'
3500'
3500'
4500'
6000'
West South
5000'
5000'
4500'
4000'
4000'
4000'
5000'
6500'
Stevens Pass
4500'
4500'
4000'
4000'
4000'
3500'
5000'
6000'
Snoqualmie Pass
4500'
5000'
4500'
4000'
4000'
4000'
5000'
6000'
East North
4500'
4500'
4500'
3500'
3500'
4000'
4500'
6000'
East Central
5000'
5000'
4500'
4000'
4000'
4000'
5000'
6500'
East South
5000'
5000'
5000'
4500'
4500'
4500'
5000'
7000'
Mt. Hood
5500'
5500'
5000'
5000'
5500'
5500'
7500'
8000'
Olympics
Elevation
Monday
Evening
5000'
Monday
Night
4500'
Tuesday
Morning
3500'
Tuesday
Afternoon
3500'
Tuesday
Evening
3500'
Tuesday
Night
3500'
Wednesday
Morning*
4000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
6000'
West North
Elevation
Monday
Evening
4000'
Monday
Night
4500'
Tuesday
Morning
3500'
Tuesday
Afternoon
3500'
Tuesday
Evening
3000'
Tuesday
Night
3500'
Wednesday
Morning*
4000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
5500'
West Central
Elevation
Monday
Evening
4500'
Monday
Night
4500'
Tuesday
Morning
4000'
Tuesday
Afternoon
3500'
Tuesday
Evening
3500'
Tuesday
Night
3500'
Wednesday
Morning*
4500'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
6000'
West South
Elevation
Monday
Evening
5000'
Monday
Night
5000'
Tuesday
Morning
4500'
Tuesday
Afternoon
4000'
Tuesday
Evening
4000'
Tuesday
Night
4000'
Wednesday
Morning*
5000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
6500'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Monday
Evening
4500'
Monday
Night
4500'
Tuesday
Morning
4000'
Tuesday
Afternoon
4000'
Tuesday
Evening
4000'
Tuesday
Night
3500'
Wednesday
Morning*
5000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
6000'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Monday
Evening
4500'
Monday
Night
5000'
Tuesday
Morning
4500'
Tuesday
Afternoon
4000'
Tuesday
Evening
4000'
Tuesday
Night
4000'
Wednesday
Morning*
5000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
6000'
East North
Elevation
Monday
Evening
4500'
Monday
Night
4500'
Tuesday
Morning
4500'
Tuesday
Afternoon
3500'
Tuesday
Evening
3500'
Tuesday
Night
4000'
Wednesday
Morning*
4500'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
6000'
East Central
Elevation
Monday
Evening
5000'
Monday
Night
5000'
Tuesday
Morning
4500'
Tuesday
Afternoon
4000'
Tuesday
Evening
4000'
Tuesday
Night
4000'
Wednesday
Morning*
5000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
6500'
East South
Elevation
Monday
Evening
5000'
Monday
Night
5000'
Tuesday
Morning
5000'
Tuesday
Afternoon
4500'
Tuesday
Evening
4500'
Tuesday
Night
4500'
Wednesday
Morning*
5000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
7000'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Monday
Evening
5500'
Monday
Night
5500'
Tuesday
Morning
5000'
Tuesday
Afternoon
5000'
Tuesday
Evening
5500'
Tuesday
Night
5500'
Wednesday
Morning*
7500'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
8000'
Issued: 2:30 PM PDT Monday, April 8, 2024
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Monday
Night
Tuesday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
33 / 30
33 / 28
West North
34 / 31
34 / 28
West Central
35 / 31
35 / 28
West South
34 / 31
36 / 31
Stevens Pass
33 / 31
34 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass
33 / 31
34 / 27
East North
35 / 28
34 / 27
East Central
35 / 32
35 / 29
East South
33 / 31
35 / 32
Mt. Hood
36 / 33
38 / 33
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
33 / 30
Tuesday
33 / 28
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
34 / 31
Tuesday
34 / 28
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
35 / 31
Tuesday
35 / 28
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
34 / 31
Tuesday
36 / 31
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
33 / 31
Tuesday
34 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
33 / 31
Tuesday
34 / 27
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
35 / 28
Tuesday
34 / 27
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
35 / 32
Tuesday
35 / 29
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
33 / 31
Tuesday
35 / 32
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
36 / 33
Tuesday
38 / 33
Issued: 2:30 PM PDT Monday, April 8, 2024
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
Monday
Night
Tuesday
Morning
Tuesday
Afternoon
Olympics
SW 15-25
WSW 15-25
WSW 10-20
WSW 5-15
West North
SSW 25-35
WSW 15-25
WSW 15-25
W 5-15
West Central
SW 20-30
W 20-30
W 15-25
W 10-20
West South
WSW 20-30
W 20-30
W 15-25
W 15-25
Stevens Pass
W 15-25
W 15-25
W 15-25
W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass
W 15-25
W 20-30
W 20-30
W 20-30
East North
WSW 20-30
W 25-35
W 25-35
W 20-30
East Central
W 25-35
W 30-40
W 25-35
W 20-30
East South
W 25-35
W 25-35
W 20-30
W 15-25
Mt. Hood
W 25-35
W 25-35
W 25-35
W 15-25
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
SW
15-25
Monday
Night
WSW
15-25
Tuesday
Morning
WSW
10-20
Tuesday
Afternoon
WSW
5-15
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
SSW
25-35
Monday
Night
WSW
15-25
Tuesday
Morning
WSW
15-25
Tuesday
Afternoon
W
5-15
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
SW
20-30
Monday
Night
W
20-30
Tuesday
Morning
W
15-25
Tuesday
Afternoon
W
10-20
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
WSW
20-30
Monday
Night
W
20-30
Tuesday
Morning
W
15-25
Tuesday
Afternoon
W
15-25
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
W
15-25
Monday
Night
W
15-25
Tuesday
Morning
W
15-25
Tuesday
Afternoon
W
10-20
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
W
15-25
Monday
Night
W
20-30
Tuesday
Morning
W
20-30
Tuesday
Afternoon
W
20-30
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
WSW
20-30
Monday
Night
W
25-35
Tuesday
Morning
W
25-35
Tuesday
Afternoon
W
20-30
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
W
25-35
Monday
Night
W
30-40
Tuesday
Morning
W
25-35
Tuesday
Afternoon
W
20-30
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
W
25-35
Monday
Night
W
25-35
Tuesday
Morning
W
20-30
Tuesday
Afternoon
W
15-25
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
W
25-35
Monday
Night
W
25-35
Tuesday
Morning
W
25-35
Tuesday
Afternoon
W
15-25
Issued: 2:30 PM PDT Monday, April 8, 2024
Extended Weather Synopsis
The high pressure ridge should provide us with generally warm and dry weather for most of the week. A through will dig south off the coast Thursday. Most weather models show the ridge holding precipitation well offshore. However, a few suggest showers could wander into the region Thursday night. Either way, expect mild temperatures and periods of passing clouds.
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).