Mountain Weather Forecast
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Tuesday
After a generally nice and quiet weather day in the mountains, a series of weak disturbances will impact the area and bring us a few inches of snow to start the week.
Sunday night, a low-pressure system will lift northward along the California coast. As it does so, it will wrap clouds and moisture into the region from the SE. This isn't our normal flow pattern. In this case, precipitation will favor the Mt Hood, East South, and East Central zones. Peaks along the south side of the Wenatchee Mts and near Ahtanum Meadows could see the greatest snowfall totals. Showers will spread from southeast to northwest Sunday night and into Monday. That means the Olympics and Mt Baker areas could stay dry until Monday afternoon.
Southeasterly winds should increase and peak with the onset of precipitation. While not a major east wind event, areas along the Cascade Crest, near Mt Hood, and in the mountain passes could experience strong and gusty conditions. By Monday morning, winds turn more southerly and decrease even as snow showers continue.
A narrow trough forms over the Pacific Northwest Monday evening. This feature will once again leave us in the lurch. Without any major driving weather factors, we should continue to see a mix of clouds, very light snow showers, and lighter winds. This time, however, with a return to a more classic westerly flow pattern, most of the shower activity should occur near and west of the Crest. The pattern continues into Tuesday as a weak shortwave system approaching form the NW squeezes the narrow trough, but has little effect on our weather.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Sunday Night | Becoming mostly cloudy. |
| Monday | Cloudy with a few light showers. |
West North
| Sunday Night | Becoming cloudy. A few flurries possible in the eastern edge of the zone. |
| Monday | Cloudy with light snow showers, mainly in the afternoon. |
West Central
| Sunday Night | Becoming cloudy. Light to moderate ESE winds. A few flurries possible in the eastern and southern portions of the zone. |
| Monday | Cloudy with light snow showers, mainly in the afternoon. Light to moderate ESE winds decreasing. |
West South
| Sunday Night | Cloudy with light snow showers. Moderate ESE winds increasing overnight. Stronger winds possible near the Cascade Crest. |
| Monday | Cloudy with light snow showers. Moderate ESE winds turning SE and decreasing in the afternoon. Stronger winds possible in the morning near the Cascade Crest. |
Stevens Pass
| Sunday Night | Becoming cloudy with a a few light snow showers mainly after midnight. ESE winds becoming moderate. |
| Monday | Cloudy with a few light snow showers. Light to moderate ESE winds decreasing and turning more SE. |
Snoqualmie Pass
| Sunday Night | Becoming cloudy with a few light snow showers mainly east of the Pass. Moderate ESE winds becoming strong and gusty. |
| Monday | Cloudy with occasional light snow showers mainly east of the Pass. Moderate ESE winds decreasing and turning SE in the afternoon. |
East North
| Sunday Night | Increasing clouds overnight with a few very light upslope showers possible. SE winds becoming light to moderate. |
| Monday | Cloudy with occasional light snow showers. Light to moderate SE winds. |
East Central
| Sunday Night | Cloudy with snow showers, heaviest along near and south of the Wenatchee Mts. Light to moderate SE winds becoming strong and gusty. |
| Monday | Cloudy with snow showers mainly near and south of the Wenatchee Mts. Moderate SE winds decreasing and turning S. |
East South
| Sunday Night | Becoming cloudy with snow showers. Moderate SW winds becoming strong and gusty. |
| Monday | Cloudy with snow showers. Moderate SE winds turning S and decreasing. |
Mt. Hood
| Sunday Night | Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate showers. Moderate to strong and gusty SE winds increasing overnight. |
| Monday | Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate showers. Moderate to strong and gusty S winds turning SW and decreasing slightly. |
Issued: 1:54 PM PST Sunday, February 4, 2024
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 3000' | None' | 3500' |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 2500' | 2500' | None' | 3000' |
| Monday Morning | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 3000' | None' | 3000' |
| Monday Afternoon | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3500' | 4000' | None' | 4000' |
| Monday Evening | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 3500' | None' | 4000' |
| Monday Night | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 3000' | None' | 4000' |
| Tuesday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 3000' | None' | 3500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 4000' | 4000' | None' | 4000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
* Easterly flow in the Cascade Passes can cause locally lower Snow or Freezing levels than areas further west.
Freezing Level is when no precipitation is forecast.
Precipitation Forecast
| Sunday Night | Monday | Monday Night | Tuesday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | LT 0.10 | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| White Pass | LT 0.25 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | 0.25 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Monday | LT 0.10 |
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Monday | LT 0.10 |
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Monday | LT 0.10 |
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Monday | LT 0.10 |
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Monday | LT 0.10 |
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Monday | LT 0.25 |
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Monday | 0.25 |
| Monday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.25 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Monday | 0.25 |
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Monday | LT 0.10 |
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Monday | 0.25 |
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Monday | LT 0.25 |
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 |
| Monday | 0.25 |
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 |
| Monday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Monday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 |
| Monday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Monday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
LT = less than; WE or Water equivalent is the liquid water equivalent of melted snow in hundredths of inches. As a rough approximation 1 inch of snow = about .10 inches WE, or 10 inches of snow = about 1 inch WE.
Issued: 1:54 PM PST Sunday, February 4, 2024
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SE None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SSE None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | S None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SW None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SE None - None |
| Sunday Night | SSE None - None |
| Monday Morning | S None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | SW None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SE None - None |
| Sunday Night | SSE None - None |
| Monday Morning | S None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | SW None - None |
Directions above indicate the direction the wind blows from on the 16-point cardinal scale. These winds indicate "free" winds, or those winds in the atmosphere not influenced by terrain. Topographical effects may produce greater or lower wind speeds in certain locations as well as significant variations in direction.
Issued: 1:54 PM PST Sunday, February 4, 2024
Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Thursday
A short wave system will try to make its way into WA and OR on Tuesday night. However, the latest round of weather models track this storm further offshore than previously predicted. If this path proves true, it will keep the bulk of the precipitation out over the ocean. A very broad open trough appears to form over the majority of the mountain west. This pattern often leads to atmospheric instability, showers, and difficult-to-predict weather systems. All that to say, the long-range forecast is short on specifics, but there's a chance of snow in the forecast in nearly every 12 hr period
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | |
| Wednesday | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | |
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | * |
| Thursday | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
* Easterly flow in the Cascade Passes can cause locally lower Snow or Freezing levels than areas further west.
Freezing Level is when no precipitation is forecast.
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I I Extended Weather
Previous forecast from Feb. 4, 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.