A Pacific frontal system positioned offshore continues to slow and weaken as it attempts to move inland. The front is standing up (becoming more N-S oriented) as the parent low positioned offshore drops south and away from the PNW. The front has been slow to arrive today, resulting in more filtered sunshine, milder temperatures and less precipitation making its way inland than previously forecast. This slower and less wet trend will likely continue overnight with only light precipitation expected over the area as the frontal boundary washes out. It will be another mild night as well with freezing levels in the 3500-6500' range, with the coolest temperatures closer to the low over the Olympic peninsula.
The upper low will drift towards northern CA on Friday and turn the flow aloft over the PNW to southerly. We should see plenty of cloud cover to start the day but the clouds should start to thin with more sunshine pouring through in the afternoon, especially near and west of the Cascade crest with more filtered sunshine along the east slopes of the Cascades. We may see a few isolated showers, especially near the Mt Hood area. Ridgeline winds will be light to moderate out of the SE-S and high temperatures should warm a few degrees over Thursday.
We'll be between the upper low's waning influence and westerly zonal flow to the north on Saturday. This should set the stage for a warm day with freezing levels popping up to 8000-10000' and 5000' temperatures in the 40s and 50s. While mostly sunny skies are expected there may be some surprise additional cloud cover if the upper low continues to send moisture northward on Saturday and perhaps even scattered showers for southern areas like Mt Hood.
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
Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Friday
Cloudy in the morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Friday
Cloudy in the morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Friday
Cloudy in the morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Cloudy in the morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Moderate SW-W ridgeline and Pass level winds easing after midnight.
Friday
Cloudy in the morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Moderate SW-W ridgeline and Pass level winds easing after midnight.
Friday
Cloudy in the morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers.
Friday
Cloudy in the morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with a chance of light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Friday
Cloudy in the morning, becoming partly sunny in the afternoon with filtered sunshine. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with a chance of light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Friday
Cloudy in the morning, becoming partly sunny in the afternoon with filtered sunshine. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with a chance of light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Cloudy in the morning, becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon with sunbreaks. Chance of light rain or snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Issued: 2:37 PM PDT Thursday, April 11, 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 0.10
0
0
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
LT 0.25
0
0
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
LT 0.10
0
0
0
Stevens Pass
LT 0.10
0
0
0
Snoqualmie Pass
LT 0.10
0
0
0
Crystal Mt
LT 0.10
0
0
0
Paradise
LT 0.10
0
0
0
White Pass
LT 0.10
0
0
0
Washington Pass
LT 0.10
0
0
0
Mission Ridge
LT 0.10
0
0
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
LT 0.10
0
0
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
LT 0.10
0
0
0
Mt Hood Meadows
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
0
Timberline
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
0
Hurricane Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.25
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Issued: 2:37 PM PDT Thursday, April 11, 2024
Snow Level (ft)
Thursday
Evening
Thursday
Night
Friday
Morning
Friday
Afternoon
Friday
Evening
Friday
Night
Saturday
Morning
Saturday
Afternoon
Olympics
3500'
3500'
4500'
5500'
6000'
6500'
7500'
8500'
West North
4000'
4000'
5000'
6000'
6000'
6500'
7500'
8000'
West Central
4500'
4500'
5000'
6000'
6000'
6500'
7500'
8500'
West South
5500'
5000'
5000'
7000'
7000'
7000'
8000'
9000'
Stevens Pass
5000'
4500'
5000'
6500'
6500'
6500'
8000'
9000'
Snoqualmie Pass
5000'
4500'
5000'
6500'
6500'
7000'
8000'
9000'
East North
5000'
4000'
5500'
7000'
6000'
5500'
7500'
8500'
East Central
6000'
5000'
6000'
7000'
6500'
6500'
8000'
9000'
East South
6500'
5500'
6000'
7000'
7000'
7500'
8000'
9000'
Mt. Hood
6500'
6000'
6500'
7000'
7500'
8500'
8500'
9000'
Olympics
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
3500'
Thursday
Night
3500'
Friday
Morning
4500'
Friday
Afternoon
5500'
Friday
Evening
6000'
Friday
Night
6500'
Saturday
Morning
7500'
Saturday
Afternoon
8500'
West North
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
4000'
Thursday
Night
4000'
Friday
Morning
5000'
Friday
Afternoon
6000'
Friday
Evening
6000'
Friday
Night
6500'
Saturday
Morning
7500'
Saturday
Afternoon
8000'
West Central
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
4500'
Thursday
Night
4500'
Friday
Morning
5000'
Friday
Afternoon
6000'
Friday
Evening
6000'
Friday
Night
6500'
Saturday
Morning
7500'
Saturday
Afternoon
8500'
West South
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
5500'
Thursday
Night
5000'
Friday
Morning
5000'
Friday
Afternoon
7000'
Friday
Evening
7000'
Friday
Night
7000'
Saturday
Morning
8000'
Saturday
Afternoon
9000'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
5000'
Thursday
Night
4500'
Friday
Morning
5000'
Friday
Afternoon
6500'
Friday
Evening
6500'
Friday
Night
6500'
Saturday
Morning
8000'
Saturday
Afternoon
9000'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
5000'
Thursday
Night
4500'
Friday
Morning
5000'
Friday
Afternoon
6500'
Friday
Evening
6500'
Friday
Night
7000'
Saturday
Morning
8000'
Saturday
Afternoon
9000'
East North
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
5000'
Thursday
Night
4000'
Friday
Morning
5500'
Friday
Afternoon
7000'
Friday
Evening
6000'
Friday
Night
5500'
Saturday
Morning
7500'
Saturday
Afternoon
8500'
East Central
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
6000'
Thursday
Night
5000'
Friday
Morning
6000'
Friday
Afternoon
7000'
Friday
Evening
6500'
Friday
Night
6500'
Saturday
Morning
8000'
Saturday
Afternoon
9000'
East South
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
6500'
Thursday
Night
5500'
Friday
Morning
6000'
Friday
Afternoon
7000'
Friday
Evening
7000'
Friday
Night
7500'
Saturday
Morning
8000'
Saturday
Afternoon
9000'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Thursday
Evening
6500'
Thursday
Night
6000'
Friday
Morning
6500'
Friday
Afternoon
7000'
Friday
Evening
7500'
Friday
Night
8500'
Saturday
Morning
8500'
Saturday
Afternoon
9000'
Issued: 2:37 PM PDT Thursday, April 11, 2024
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Thursday
Night
Friday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
32 / 27
38 / 26
West North
33 / 29
40 / 30
West Central
33 / 29
40 / 30
West South
36 / 31
44 / 31
Stevens Pass
36 / 29
44 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass
35 / 29
41 / 30
East North
35 / 28
44 / 27
East Central
36 / 31
44 / 30
East South
40 / 31
45 / 30
Mt. Hood
39 / 31
45 / 30
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
32 / 27
Friday
38 / 26
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
33 / 29
Friday
40 / 30
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
33 / 29
Friday
40 / 30
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
36 / 31
Friday
44 / 31
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
36 / 29
Friday
44 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
35 / 29
Friday
41 / 30
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
35 / 28
Friday
44 / 27
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
36 / 31
Friday
44 / 30
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
40 / 31
Friday
45 / 30
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
39 / 31
Friday
45 / 30
Issued: 2:37 PM PDT Thursday, April 11, 2024
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
Thursday
Night
Friday
Morning
Friday
Afternoon
Olympics
SSW 10-20
S 5-15
SSE 5-15
S 5-15
West North
S 20-30
S 10-20
SSE 5-15
S 5-15
West Central
SSW 15-25
S 5-15
SE 0-10
S 5-15
West South
SSW 10-20
SSW 10-20
SE 5-15
SSE 5-15
Stevens Pass
SSW 5-15
SW 5-15
SE 0-10
SSE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass
SSW 10-20
SW 5-15
SE 5-15
SSE 5-15
East North
SW 5-15
SW 0-10
SE 0-10
S 0-10
East Central
SW 10-20
SW 5-15
SE 5-15
SSE 5-15
East South
SW 10-20
SW 5-15
SE 5-15
SSE 5-15
Mt. Hood
SW 15-25
SW 10-20
S 10-20
ESE 10-20
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SSW
10-20
Thursday
Night
S
5-15
Friday
Morning
SSE
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
S
5-15
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
S
20-30
Thursday
Night
S
10-20
Friday
Morning
SSE
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
S
5-15
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SSW
15-25
Thursday
Night
S
5-15
Friday
Morning
SE
0-10
Friday
Afternoon
S
5-15
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SSW
10-20
Thursday
Night
SSW
10-20
Friday
Morning
SE
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
SSE
5-15
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SSW
5-15
Thursday
Night
SW
5-15
Friday
Morning
SE
0-10
Friday
Afternoon
SSE
5-15
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SSW
10-20
Thursday
Night
SW
5-15
Friday
Morning
SE
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
SSE
5-15
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SW
5-15
Thursday
Night
SW
0-10
Friday
Morning
SE
0-10
Friday
Afternoon
S
0-10
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SW
10-20
Thursday
Night
SW
5-15
Friday
Morning
SE
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
SSE
5-15
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SW
10-20
Thursday
Night
SW
5-15
Friday
Morning
SE
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
SSE
5-15
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SW
15-25
Thursday
Night
SW
10-20
Friday
Morning
S
10-20
Friday
Afternoon
ESE
10-20
Issued: 2:37 PM PDT Thursday, April 11, 2024
Extended Weather Synopsis
We'll see upper level troughing begin to setup over the region on Sunday. While Sunday will still be quite warm, we see falling temperatures/freezing levels in the afternoon. The bigger story will likely be the increasing westerly ridgeline winds associated with a strong onshore push. Look for strong westerly winds to develop later Sunday afternoon through Monday. A cold low will bring showers and along with some new snow above 4000' on Monday, mainly along the west slopes of the Cascades.
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).