Drier conditions have moved into the region, even as the remnants of a stalled frontal boundary continue to linger overhead. Moisture is still being transported in on brisk upper-level winds, producing light to occasionally moderate rainfall. However, compared to what we’ve seen recently, totals will be measured in mere tenths—or even hundredths—of an inch, rather than inches.
The stalled front continues to focus on the central Washington Cascades through the evening hours, bringing light to occasionally moderate rainfall to that region. Precipitation decreases and shifts slightly northward overnight. Northern Washington remains cooler, so expect some middle-elevation snowfall accumulations (1-4") in the northern Cascades.
The gradual northward drift and further warming is expected on Friday. Precipitation essentially ends south of Snoqualmie Pas by the afternoon, but most areas remain cloudy. This trend continues on Friday night. By Saturday, the high-pressure ridge expands sufficiently as it moves inland over California to shift all of the moisture north of the Canadian border, leaving high freezing levels across the region and partly to mostly cloudy skies.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
West North
West Central
West South
Stevens Pass
Snoqualmie Pass
East North
East Central
East South
Mt. Hood
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Thursday
Night
Decreasing periods of light rain and higher elevation snow.
Friday
Cloudy with occasional light rain or higher elevation snow.
Thursday
Night
Periods of light rain and higher elevation snow.
Friday
Periods of light rain and higher elevation snow.
Thursday
Night
Periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and higher elevation snow.
Friday
Periods of light rain and higher elevation snow.
Thursday
Night
Decreasing light to moderate rain and highest elevation snow (light at Crystal, Mt St Helens, and Mt Adams). Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with very light rain possible to start the day.
Thursday
Night
Decreasing light to moderate rain and highest elevation snow. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Friday
Decreasing periods of light rain. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Thursday
Night
Decreasing light to moderate rain and highest elevation snow. Light to moderate ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Friday
Decreasing periods of light rain. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline and light to moderate W wind at the Pass.
Thursday
Night
Periods of light rain and snow. Light ridgeline winds become moderate overnight.
Friday
Cloudy with periods of very light rain or snow. Moderate ridgeline winds, strong gusts.
Thursday
Night
Decreasing mostly light periods of rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds, strong gusts.
Friday
Decreasing occasional periods of rain. Moderate ridgeline winds, strong gusts.
Thursday
Night
Decreasing periods of rain. Moderate ridgeline winds, strong gusts.
Friday
A few sprinkles early, then becoming mostly cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds, strong gusts.
Thursday
Night
Light rain and highest elevation snow, early, then remaining cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds, strong gusts.
The ridge of high pressure moves east towards the Rockies Saturday night. By Sunday, a frontal system brings light, primarily rain and higher-elevation snow to the region (although Mt. Baker could see more significant precipitation). The first front fizzles over the region Sunday night, bringing more substantial rainfall and high snow levels.
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).