We're in for a warm, wet, and windy day across much of the forecast region. A relatively weak atmospheric river takes aim at the Olympics and North/ Central Cascades. Given the narrow nature of this system, small changes in its position could mean the difference between getting soaked and seeing little precipitation. Areas near and north of Hwy 2 should experience steady rain and high elevation snow. Conversely, south of Hwy 12 conditions should stay dry. It's that area in between where the uncertainty really lies. Cooler temperatures this morning are allowing snow to fall at some trailheads, but that doesn't last long. Warmer air causes snow levels to march up the hillsides. By this evening, rain will reach high into the mountains to the tops of all but the tallest peaks.
The wind is the other major player in this storm. Conditions look very gusty. Stronger gusts could mix down to even lower elevations and surprise you. Even if there are a few ebbs and flows, wind speeds generally stay strong for much of the forecast period. Don't expect much change in the rain, warmth, or winds. This pattern sticks with us until late Monday, when a building high pressure ridge will help us dry out from south to north.
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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Sunday
Rain and high elevation snow. Precipitation could be heavy at times particularly in the western Olympics. Moderate to strong and gusty winds.
Sunday
Night
Rain, heavy in the western Olympics. Strong and gusty winds.
Sunday
Rain and snow with warming temperatures and rising snow levels. Strong and gusty SSW winds dropping slightly in the afternoon.
Sunday
Night
Rain and snow with rising snow levels. Precipitation could be heavy at times. Strong and gusty SSW winds.
Sunday
Rain and high elevation snow with rising snow levels. Moderate to strong and gusty SW winds decreasing slightly in the afternoon.
Sunday
Night
Rain and high elevation snow. Could be heavy at times. Moderate to strong and gusty SW winds.
Sunday
Cloudy with a few showers mainly near Mt Rainier. Moments of filtered sunshine possible particularly in the southern half of the zone. Moderate to strong and gusty SW winds.
Sunday
Night
Mostly cloudy with some clearing. A few scattered showers possible north of Hwy 12. Moderate to strong and gusty SW winds.
Sunday
Rain and snow with warming temperatures and rising snow levels. Light to moderate but gusty SW ridgeline winds. Light east flow at pass level.
Sunday
Night
Rain and high elevation snow could be heavy at times. Moderate SW ridgeline winds becoming strong and gusty. Pass level winds shifting from east to west.
Sunday
Rain and snow with warming temperatures and rising snow levels. Moderate and gusty SW ridgeline winds. Light easterly flow at pass level.
Sunday
Night
Rain could be heavy at times in the evening. Moderate and gusty SW ridgeline winds increasing. Light easterly flow at pass level turning west.
Sunday
Cloudy with rain and snow, heaviest near the crest and showers further east. Warming temperatures. Moderate and gusty SW winds.
Sunday
Night
Cloudy with rain and snow, could be heavy at times. Moderate SW winds becoming strong and gusty overnight.
Sunday
Cloudy with rain and snow mainly near the crest. Showers further east. Rising snow levels. Windy. Moderate to strong and gusty winds.
Sunday
Night
Cloudy with rain and high elevation snow. Strong and gusty winds increasing.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy with a few showers mainly near the Bumping Lake area. Filtered sunshine further east and south. Strong and gusty WSW winds decreasing slightly.
Sunday
Night
Mostly cloudy with a few isolated showers possible near Hwy 410. Partly cloudy further south. Strong and gusty WSW winds.
Sunday
Partly to mostly cloudy with filtered sunshine. Warming temperatures. Strong and gusty winds decreasing slightly in the afternoon.
Sunday
Night
Partly cloudy with some clearing possible. Moderate to strong and gusty winds.
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).