menu

Mountain Weather Forecast

Issued: 1:58 PM PST Saturday, February 17, 2024
by Dallas Glass

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I I Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Monday

Most showers stayed near and west of I-5 today, bringing a bit of rain and snow to the southern Olympics. Elsewhere, dry but windy conditions prevailed. Warm air continues to try to shove its way into the region. You can see its effect in the Olympics, West North, and West Central zones where 5000ft temps reached well above freezing. Cold east winds have managed to keep it at bay in other areas. 

A subtle impulse will push the stalled warm front northward overnight and into Sunday. This will have several impacts on the weather. Showers will slowly spread from S to N along both sides of the Cascades. With the southerly flow, precipitation will generally favor the volcanoes. However, accumulations will probably be meager. Areas near Mt Hood, Mt St Helens, and Mt Rainier could manage 3-6 inches of snow by the afternoon. The strong easterly winds will continue to decrease and ultimately shift more S and then SW. Once they turn more westerly, they should once again increase.  Finally, the decline in easterly flow will allow milder air to move into the Cascades. Look for temperatures to slowly climb on Sunday afternoon. Lingering east flow at Stevens, and potentially Snoqualmie, Passes could keep snow levels at or below road levels through most of the precipitation.

Showers taper sharply and skies could start to break late Sunday afternoon and overnight. However, by Monday, the leftovers from a low-pressure system will travel northward along the California coast and once again bring showers to the mountains. Similar to Sunday's precipitation, southerly flow favors the volcanoes, and as the system falls apart, this won't be much of a snow producer.

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Saturday Night Cloudy. Showers mainly in the southern Olympis and a few isolated showers near Hurricane Ridge.
Cloudy. Showers mainly in the southern Olympics. Light SW winds becoming moderate in the afternoon.
West North
Saturday Night Cloudy. A few flurries possible.
Cloudy with scattered snow showers developing. S winds becoming light to moderate.
West Central
Saturday Night Cloudy with a few flurries possible. Light to moderate SE winds.
Cloudy with scattered showers. Winds turning SW and becoming light to moderate.
West South
Saturday Night Cloudy with generally light snow showers. Moderate SE winds strongest along the Crest. Heavier precipitation and warmer near Mt St Helens.
Cloudy in the morning, with some sun breaks possible in the afternoon. Snow showers heaviest on the volcanoes. Light to moderate SW winds.
Stevens Pass
Saturday Night Cloudy with a few flurries possible. Moderate E flow at Pass level decreasing slightly. Moderate ESE ridgeline winds decreasing overnight.
Cloud with a few light snow showers. Light E flow at Pass level. Winds becoming SW light to moderate.
Snoqualmie Pass
Saturday Night Cloudy with a few isolated showers possible after midnight. Moderate E flow at Pass level, decreasing. Moderate to strong ESE ridgeline winds decreasing.
Cloudy with scattered snow showers. Light E flow at Pass level. Winds becoming SW light to moderate.
East North
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy to cloudy with a few flurries possible. Light to moderate SSE winds decreasing.
Cloudy with a few isolated snow showers. Winds turning WSW and becoming light to moderate.
East Central
Saturday Night Cloudy with scattered showers heaviest along the Wenatchee Range. Moderate SSE winds decreasing slightly.
Cloudy with isolated snow showers. SW winds turning W and becoming moderate.
East South
Saturday Night Cloudy with light snow showers. Moderate SSE winds turning S and decreasing.
Cloudy with light snow showers. Winds shifting W and becoming moderate.
Mt. Hood
Saturday Night Cloudy with light to moderate snow showers. Moderate SW winds turning W and becoming strong and gusty.
Cloudy with generally light snow showers in the morning. Sun breaks possible in the afternoon. Strong and gusty W winds veering SW in the afternoon and decreasing.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Saturday Evening Snow Level* None' None' None' None' 2500' 2500' None' 3000'
Saturday Night Snow Level* None' None' None' None' 2000' 2000' None' 3500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level* None' None' None' None' 2000' 2500' None' 4000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level* None' None' None' None' 3000' 3000' None' 4500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level* None' None' None' None' 3000' 3000' None' 4500'
Sunday Night Snow Level* None' None' None' None' 3000' 3000' None' 4500'
Monday Morning Snow Level* None' None' None' None' 2500' 3000' None' 4000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
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 *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
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 *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
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 *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
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 *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
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 *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday 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

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0 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 0.10 0 LT 0.25
Paradise LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Washington Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25
0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.25
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Evening --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None S None - None
Saturday Night --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None SW None - None
Sunday Morning --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None W None - None
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Evening --- None - None
Saturday Night --- None - None
Sunday Morning --- None - None
Sunday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Evening --- None - None
Saturday Night --- None - None
Sunday Morning --- None - None
Sunday Afternoon --- None - None
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening --- None - None
Saturday Night --- None - None
Sunday Morning --- None - None
Sunday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Evening --- None - None
Saturday Night --- None - None
Sunday Morning --- None - None
Sunday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening S None - None
Saturday Night SW None - None
Sunday Morning W None - None
Sunday Afternoon SW None - None
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening --- None - None
Saturday Night --- None - None
Sunday Morning --- None - None
Sunday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening --- None - None
Saturday Night --- None - None
Sunday Morning --- None - None
Sunday Afternoon --- None - None
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening --- None - None
Saturday Night --- None - None
Sunday Morning --- None - None
Sunday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening --- None - None
Saturday Night --- None - None
Sunday Morning --- None - None
Sunday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening S None - None
Saturday Night SW None - None
Sunday Morning W None - None
Sunday 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.

Extended Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Wednesday

We'll find ourselves under a broad open trough through the first part of the week. This rather stagnant pattern generally doesn't result in any major precipitation, but it will also keep us from fully drying out. Expect periods of showers passing over the region. Right now the potential for a developing surface low could increase shower activity Tuesday afternoon and evening. Otherwise, expect partly to mostly cloudy skies and light easterly flow through the Passes. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Monday Night Snow Level None' - None' None' - None' None' - None' *
Tuesday Snow Level None' - None' None' - None' None' - None' *
Tuesday Night Snow Level None' - None' None' - None' None' - None'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
Wednesday Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
Wednesday Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
Wednesday 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 I Extended Weather

Previous forecast from Feb. 17, 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.