Issued: 2:14 PM PDT Thursday, April 25, 2024
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

Our cool and wet weather patten continues as we wrap up the week and head into the weekend. The upper trough responsible for Thursday's rain pushes inland overnight. This will cause precipitation and winds to increase. Expect moderate to strong and gusty winds in most locations. Rain and snow will also make their way over the crest and bring a period of more focused precipitation to the eastern forecast zones. 

Instead of clearing out, the trough stalls and expands. It won't be quite as wet Friday and Friday night, but we won't exactly dry out either. Showers and clouds will be most prevalent in the morning. With daytime heating and a little sunshine, we should see clouds gather, and skies begin to part. While you could find a sun break just about anywhere, they'll be more prevalent east of the crest. Friday night, onshore flow and lingering moisture should draw low-level clouds back into the west slopes and passes with a return to cloudy skies.

A more organized storm in the Gulf of Alaska will eject several waves of moisture toward the Pacific Northwest over the weekend and into the first part of next week. The first of these pulses arrives Saturday. Precipitation should start in the Olympics and North Cascades during the morning before spreading further south in the afternoon. Similar to most of these recent events, this storm doesn't look particularly wet, but you'll see an increase in precipitation and ridgeline winds as the front crosses the mountains. 

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 rain and snow, heaviest in the western and southern Olympics. Light to moderate SW winds.
Friday Mostly cloudy with scattered showers.
Thursday Night Cloudy. Rain and snow could be moderate at times. Moderate to strong and gusty S winds decreasing slightly.
Friday Cloudy with showers in the morning. Becoming isolated with sun breaks in the afternoon. Light to moderate S winds turning SW and decreasing.
Thursday Night Cloudy. Rain and snow could be moderate at time. Moderate to strong and gusty S winds decreasing slightly.
Friday Cloudy with showers in the morning. Becoming isolated with sun breaks in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Cloudy. Rain and snow could be moderate at time. Moderate to strong and gusty SW winds decreasing slightly.
Friday Cloudy with showers in the morning. Becoming isolated with sun breaks in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Cloudy with generally light rain and snow. Light to moderate WSW winds decreasing.
Friday Cloudy with showers in the morning. Becoming isolated with sun breaks in the afternoon. Generally light W flow at pass level.
Thursday Night Cloudy with generally light rain and snow. Moderate SW winds turning W and decreasing slightly.
Friday Cloudy with showers in the morning. Becoming isolated with sun breaks in the afternoon. Generally light W flow at pass level.
Thursday Night Cloudy with showers in the evening, becoming more isolated overnight. Light to moderate SSW winds decreasing.
Friday Cloudy in the morning with a few showers mainly near the crest. Becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Cloudy to mostly cloudy overnight with showers mainly in the evening, becoming more isolated. Moderate SW winds turning W.
Friday Mostly cloudy with a few showers in the morning. Becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Cloudy to mostly cloudy overnight with showers, heaviest near the crest Moderate to strong and gusty WSW winds turning W and decreasing slightly.
Friday Mostly cloudy in the morning with showers near the crest. Becoming partly to mostly sunny.
Thursday Night Cloudy with generally moderate rain and snow could be heavy at times. Strong and gusty W winds decreasing overnight.
Friday Cloudy with showers in the morning. Mostly cloudy with showers and the possibility of a few sun breaks in the afternoon. W winds becoming moderate.

Issued: 2:14 PM PDT Thursday, April 25, 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 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise 0.75 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
White Pass 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 0.75 -1.00 LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Timberline 0.75 -1.00 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0.50
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0.25
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0.25
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
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 0.75
Friday 0.25
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0.25
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0.25
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0.75 -1.00
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0.75 -1.00
Friday 0.25
Friday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday LT 0.25

Issued: 2:14 PM PDT Thursday, April 25, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Evening Thursday Night Friday Morning Friday Afternoon Friday Evening Friday Night Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon
Olympics 5000' 5000' 5000' 5500' 5000' 4500' 4000' 4500'
West North 5000' 5000' 4500' 5500' 5000' 4500' 4500' 4500'
West Central 5000' 5000' 4500' 5500' 5000' 4500' 4500' 4500'
West South 5000' 5000' 4500' 5500' 5000' 4500' 4500' 5000'
Stevens Pass 5000' 5000' 4500' 5500' 5000' 4500' 4500' 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' 5000' 4500' 5500' 5000' 4500' 4500' 5000'
East North 5500' 5000' 5000' 6000' 5500' 5000' 5000' 5000'
East Central 5500' 5000' 5000' 6000' 5500' 5000' 5000' 5000'
East South 5000' 5000' 4500' 5500' 5000' 4500' 4500' 5000'
Mt. Hood 5500' 5000' 5000' 6000' 5000' 4500' 4500' 5000'
Olympics Elevation
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 5000'
Friday Morning 5000'
Friday Afternoon 5500'
Friday Evening 5000'
Friday Night 4500'
Saturday Morning 4000'
Saturday Afternoon 4500'
West North Elevation
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 5000'
Friday Morning 4500'
Friday Afternoon 5500'
Friday Evening 5000'
Friday Night 4500'
Saturday Morning 4500'
Saturday Afternoon 4500'
West Central Elevation
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 5000'
Friday Morning 4500'
Friday Afternoon 5500'
Friday Evening 5000'
Friday Night 4500'
Saturday Morning 4500'
Saturday Afternoon 4500'
West South Elevation
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 5000'
Friday Morning 4500'
Friday Afternoon 5500'
Friday Evening 5000'
Friday Night 4500'
Saturday Morning 4500'
Saturday Afternoon 5000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 5000'
Friday Morning 4500'
Friday Afternoon 5500'
Friday Evening 5000'
Friday Night 4500'
Saturday Morning 4500'
Saturday Afternoon 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 5000'
Friday Morning 4500'
Friday Afternoon 5500'
Friday Evening 5000'
Friday Night 4500'
Saturday Morning 4500'
Saturday Afternoon 5000'
East North Elevation
Thursday Evening 5500'
Thursday Night 5000'
Friday Morning 5000'
Friday Afternoon 6000'
Friday Evening 5500'
Friday Night 5000'
Saturday Morning 5000'
Saturday Afternoon 5000'
East Central Elevation
Thursday Evening 5500'
Thursday Night 5000'
Friday Morning 5000'
Friday Afternoon 6000'
Friday Evening 5500'
Friday Night 5000'
Saturday Morning 5000'
Saturday Afternoon 5000'
East South Elevation
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 5000'
Friday Morning 4500'
Friday Afternoon 5500'
Friday Evening 5000'
Friday Night 4500'
Saturday Morning 4500'
Saturday Afternoon 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening 5500'
Thursday Night 5000'
Friday Morning 5000'
Friday Afternoon 6000'
Friday Evening 5000'
Friday Night 4500'
Saturday Morning 4500'
Saturday Afternoon 5000'

Issued: 2:14 PM PDT Thursday, April 25, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Thursday Night Friday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 35 / 31 36 / 31
West North 34 / 31 37 / 30
West Central 34 / 31 37 / 30
West South 34 / 30 38 / 30
Stevens Pass 36 / 31 39 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass 35 / 31 37 / 30
East North 37 / 31 42 / 30
East Central 37 / 30 39 / 30
East South 36 / 30 40 / 30
Mt. Hood 34 / 31 38 / 30
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 35 / 31
Friday 36 / 31
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 34 / 31
Friday 37 / 30
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 34 / 31
Friday 37 / 30
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 34 / 30
Friday 38 / 30
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 36 / 31
Friday 39 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 35 / 31
Friday 37 / 30
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 37 / 31
Friday 42 / 30
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 37 / 30
Friday 39 / 30
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 36 / 30
Friday 40 / 30
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 34 / 31
Friday 38 / 30

Issued: 2:14 PM PDT Thursday, April 25, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Thursday Evening Thursday Night Friday Morning Friday Afternoon
Olympics SW 10-20 SW 10-20 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10
West North S 20-30 S 15-25 S 10-20 SW 5-15
West Central SSW 20-30 S 15-25 SSW 5-15 W 5-15
West South SW 20-30 SW 15-25 SW 5-15 W 5-15
Stevens Pass WSW 10-20 W 5-15 W 5-15 W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass SW 15-25 W 10-20 W 5-15 W 5-15
East North SSW 10-20 W 5-15 W 0-10 W 5-15
East Central SW 15-25 W 15-25 W 5-15 W 5-15
East South WSW 20-30 W 15-25 W 5-15 W 5-15
Mt. Hood W 25-35 W 15-25 W 10-20 W 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SW 10-20
Thursday Night SW 10-20
Friday Morning VAR 0-10
Friday Afternoon VAR 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening S 20-30
Thursday Night S 15-25
Friday Morning S 10-20
Friday Afternoon SW 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SSW 20-30
Thursday Night S 15-25
Friday Morning SSW 5-15
Friday Afternoon W 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SW 20-30
Thursday Night SW 15-25
Friday Morning SW 5-15
Friday Afternoon W 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening WSW 10-20
Thursday Night W 5-15
Friday Morning W 5-15
Friday Afternoon W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SW 15-25
Thursday Night W 10-20
Friday Morning W 5-15
Friday Afternoon W 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SSW 10-20
Thursday Night W 5-15
Friday Morning W 0-10
Friday Afternoon W 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SW 15-25
Thursday Night W 15-25
Friday Morning W 5-15
Friday Afternoon W 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening WSW 20-30
Thursday Night W 15-25
Friday Morning W 5-15
Friday Afternoon W 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening W 25-35
Thursday Night W 15-25
Friday Morning W 10-20
Friday Afternoon W 15-25

Issued: 2:14 PM PDT Thursday, April 25, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

After several days of mild and wet weather, temperatures will finally start to cool, and snow levels lower. A cold front originating from the Pacific low should push through the area Sunday night. This will bring yet another round of precipitation and stronger winds followed by post-frontal showers. It won't be particularly cold, but we could see snow, or at least a rain/snow mix, at Cascade Pass levels by Monday morning. This doesn't look like the end of our cool and unsettled weather pattern. Additional disturbances appear to swing through the region throughout the week. However, the exact timing and strength of each storm is a bit unclear. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
West North 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 4500' 4000' 4000' 3500'
Mt. Hood 5000' 4500' 4500' 4000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Night 4000'
Sunday 3500'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday 4000'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Night 5000'
Sunday 4500'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday 4000'

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

Previous forecast from Apr 24, 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’.