Mountain Weather Forecast
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Saturday
A weak upper low continues to spin off the Washington Coastline on Thursday afternoon with light snow showers spinning into the mountains of Washington State through the early evening hours. The low will weaken and move east of the Cascades during the early evening, with a rapid tapering of snow shower activity. Meanwhile, a weakening warm front will bring some light to moderate snow to the Mt Hood area. That front stalls overnight, only bringing some very light snow into the mountains of southernmost Washington. That snowfall should be very light and lingers into Friday as a shortwave ridge replaces the warm front. The result will be the start of a warming trend for areas not exposed to E flow drawing cold air through the gaps and into areas near the Cascade Crest. This will primarily impact the Olympics on Friday afternoon, with freezing levels rising to around 5500 ft.
The warming trend should spread into the West North, West Central, and parts of the West South Cascades Friday night and Saturday as southerly flow aloft brings in mild air ahead of an approaching cold front. The front should bring some very light rain or snow to Mt Hood, the southern Cascade Volcanoes, and the Olympics late in the day.
The other major story will be moderate to locally strong ridgeline winds ramping up Friday afternoon and peaking on Saturday morning.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Thursday Night | Light snow ending during the early evening hours, then clearing skies. |
| Friday | Mostly cloudy. |
West North
| Thursday Night | Partly cloudy early, then mostly clearing skies. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny. High clouds arrive late in the day. |
West Central
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow flurries in the evening. Mostly clear skies overnight. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny. High clouds arrive late in the afternoon. |
West South
| Thursday Night | A few light snow showers early. Light snow at times mainly south of Mt Rainier. |
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow flurries in the morning. |
Stevens Pass
| Thursday Night | Gradually clearing skies with a chance of snow flurries in the evening. Increasing light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny in the morning with high clouds increasing in the afternoon. Increasing moderate ridgeline and light E wind at the Pass. |
Snoqualmie Pass
| Thursday Night | Gradually clearing skies with a chance of snow flurries in the evening. Increasing light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny in the morning with high clouds increasing in the afternoon. Increasing moderate ridgeline and light to moderate E wind at the Pass. |
East North
| Thursday Night | A chance of snow flurries in the evening, then mostly clearing skies. of snow flurries in the evening. Clearing skies overnight. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny. |
East Central
| Thursday Night | A chance of snow flurries in the evening, then mostly clearing skies. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny. Moderate ridgeline winds develop in the afternoon. |
East South
| Thursday Night | Light snow or snow showers at times mainly southern part. |
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow flurries in the morning. |
Mt. Hood
| Thursday Night | Light to moderate snow. |
| Friday | Cloudy with decreasing periods of light snow. Moderate ridgeline winds develop in the afternoon. |
Issued: 2:13 PM 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 Evening | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 0' | 500' | None' | 2500' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 500' | 500' | None' | 3000' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 500' | 500' | None' | 3500' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 2000' | 2000' | None' | 4000' |
| Friday Evening | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 1000' | 1000' | None' | 4000' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 1500' | 1500' | None' | 3000' |
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 1500' | 1500' | None' | 3500' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 1500' | 2000' | None' | 4500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
* 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 Night | Friday | Friday Night | Saturday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 |
| Timberline | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
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: 2:13 PM PST Thursday, February 15, 2024
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | W None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | S None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SE None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SE None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W None - None |
| Thursday Night | S None - None |
| Friday Morning | SE None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | SE None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W None - None |
| Thursday Night | S None - None |
| Friday Morning | SE None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | SE 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.
Free Winds at 9000' (mph)
| Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | --- None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- 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: 2:13 PM PST Thursday, February 15, 2024
Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Monday
Waves of moisture move from SSW to NNE along a stalled and weakening frontal boundary. The most significant wave moves northward on Sunday morning. East gap winds will be gradually decreasing in the moderate range. Areas west of the Crest should be near or above normal. The east slopes of the Cascades will begin to warm up more significantly on Sunday.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | * |
| Sunday | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | * |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | * |
| Monday | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | * |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
* 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 Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Previous forecast from Feb. 15, 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.