Mountain Weather Forecast
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I
Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Friday
An upper-level and surface low-pressure system spins along the Washington Coastline on Thursday, bringing low-density snow to most of our region. An associated frontal band of moderate snowfall stalls over the central Washington Cascades and northern Olympics through the morning hours, but precipitation should gradually taper as the day progresses. South of the front, light to moderate snow showers continue for the southern Washington Cascades and Mt Hood area. The heaviest snowfall will be associated with SE winds in the SE Olympics, where we expect another 8-12" of snow. Other favored areas include the southern Cascade Volcanoes and Wenatchee Mountains where we expect 4-8" of snowfall today.
The remains of the upper low move east through the Cascades overnight, with shower activity ending quickly for the central and northern Washington Cascades. Mostly light snow or snow shower activity continues, particularly for Mt Hood as a stationary front stalls over the area.
On Friday, a weak ridge moves into the region, bringing a mostly dry day with some high clouds although Mt Hood can expect lingering light snow early in the day. ESE ridgeline and gap winds increase into the moderate range, with strong gusts expected in the afternoon. Temperatures stay cold east of the Cascades but expect a strong warming trend for areas not exposed to the cooling effects of the E flow.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Thursday | Moderate snow becoming light in the afternoon at Hurricane Ridge. Heavy snow becomes moderate in the afternoon in the SE Olympics. |
| Thursday Night | Light snow ending during the evening hours, then becoming partly cloudy. |
West North
| Thursday | Cloudy with a chance of light snow (mainly in the Highway 20 corridor). |
| Thursday Night | Partly cloudy early, then mostly clearing skies. |
West Central
| Thursday | Cloudy with periods of light snow. Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow flurries in the evening. Mostly clear skies overnight with some high clouds. |
West South
| Thursday | Decreasing moderate snow (heaviest on the volcanoes). Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Thursday Night | Decreasing light snow showers. |
Stevens Pass
| Thursday | Decreasing light snow. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline and light E wind at the Pass. |
| Thursday Night | Partly cloudy with a chance of snow flurries in the evening. Increasing light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass. |
Snoqualmie Pass
| Thursday | Decreasing light snow. Decreasing moderate ridgeline and light to moderate E wind at the Pass. |
| Thursday Night | Partly cloudy with a chance of snow flurries in the evening. Increasing light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass. |
East North
| Thursday | Cloudy with light snow at times. |
| Thursday Night | A chance of snow flurries in the evening. Clearing skies overnight. |
East Central
| Thursday | Decreasing light to moderate snow becomes showery. |
| Thursday Night | A chance of snow flurries in the evening, then mostly clearing skies overnight. |
East South
| Thursday | Decreasing light to occasionally moderate snow becomes showery. |
| Thursday Night | Light snow or snow showers at times. |
Mt. Hood
| Thursday | Moderate snow showers. Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Thursday Night | Light snow. |
Issued: 7:02 AM PST Thursday, February 15, 2024
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' |
| Thursday Evening | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' | None' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 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.
Precipitation Forecast
| Thursday | Thursday Night | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Paradise | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| White Pass | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Thursday Night | 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Thursday Night | 0.25 |
| Friday | 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: 7:02 AM PST Thursday, February 15, 2024
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | WSW None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | WSW None - None |
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | W None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | WSW None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW None - None |
| Thursday Evening | W None - None |
| Thursday Night | WSW None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW None - None |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW None - None |
| Thursday Evening | W None - None |
| Thursday Night | WSW 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.
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I
Previous forecast from Feb. 14, 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.