A closed low off the Northern California Coast pushed a wave of moisture northward into our region overnight. This feature has a weak rotation as it tracks northward along the western slopes of the Washington Cascades. Expect light to occasionally moderate rain and higher-elevation snow, focusing on Mt Hood, the southern Washington Cascade Volcanoes, and the Olympics through the midday hours, with lighter precipitation reaching the northern Cascades from late morning into the evening hours. A narrower band of precipitation lifts northward along the east slopes of the Cascades, but could bring briefly moderate precipitation rates. The most significant rain totals will be in the Olympics on Saturday. Snow levels hover around 6000-6500 ft.
Expect most areas to dry out Saturday night as the wave lifts north of the Canadian Border. However, precipitation rotating around the primary low-pressure system will extend into the Mt. Hood area. This moisture continues into Sunday morning, with shower activity extending farther north in the afternoon.
Expect generally light W ridgeline winds throughout the forecast period, but Mt Hood could see some moderate ridgeline winds early on Saturday, while mountain gaps in the Washington Cascades could experience a slight uptick in winds later in the day. Winds will be light on Sunday with little change in snow level.
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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Saturday
Moderate rain and snow during the morning hours, decreasing or ending in the afternoon.
Saturday
Night
Isolated rain or snow showers in the early evening, then partially clearing overnight.
Saturday
Periods of light rain and snow.
Saturday
Night
A few isolated rain or snow showers in the evening with some clearing overnight.
Saturday
Periods of light rain and snow.
Saturday
Night
Partially clearing skies.
Saturday
Periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow decrease in the afternoon.
Saturday
Night
Partially clearing skies.
Saturday
Cloudy with periods of light rain or higher elevation snow. Light ridgeline and increasing light W wind at the Pass.
Saturday
Night
Partially clearing skies. Light ridgeline and decreasing light W wind at the Pass.
Saturday
Cloudy with periods of light rain or higher elevation snow. Increasing light to occasionally moderate ridgeline W wind at the Pass.
Saturday
Night
Partially clearing skies. Light ridgeline and decreasing light W wind at the Pass.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with periods of light rain or snow.
Saturday
Night
Partially clearing skies.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with periods of light rain or snow, mainly early in the day.
Saturday
Night
Partly cloudy.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers.
Saturday
Night
Partly cloudy.
Saturday
Periods of light rain or snow. Moderate ridgeline winds decrease and become mostly light.
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).