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 ridge will be responsible for fair weather Thursday night through Friday. Isolated showers taper in the early evening hours over the Olympics and Mt Baker areas. Partly cloudy skies in most areas rapidly dissipate as daytime heating wears off. Temperatures remain mild in the evening, but cool overnight, thanks to clear skies and light winds. Very light E winds should help the passes drop below freezing.
The ridge and mostly sunny skies combine to enable rapidly rising freezing levels on Friday. Freezing levels start the day in the 2500-4500 ft range and climb up to 5500-7000 ft. The warmest temperatures will be in the southern Cascades. The ridge begins to flatten in the afternoon, allowing WNW flow to start and clouds increase across the northern portion of the forecast region in the afternoon. Exposed ridgelines east of the Crest should expect some moderate winds in the afternoon.
West winds ramp up further Friday night as a system approaches, bringing light rain and snow from highway 2 northward in the early morning hours. Snow levels should be around 3000 ft.
On Saturday, light snow expands in coverage from Snoqualmie Pass northward but may extend as far south as Paradise. Don't expect much spillover east of the Cascade Crest. Expect moderate to strong W ridgeline winds for the mountain gaps and exposed ridgelines along the E slopes of the Cascades. Snow levels fluctuate from 3000-3500 ft.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy to start with isolated showers in the early evening, then clearing skies with some high clouds. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny in the morning, then increasing clouds in the afternoon. |
West North
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy to start with isolated showers in the early evening, then clearing skies. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny in the morning, then increasing clouds in the afternoon. |
West Central
| Thursday Night | Partly cloudy early, then mostly clear skies overnight. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny, then increasing clouds late in the day. |
West South
| Thursday Night | Partly cloudy early, then mostly clear skies with some high clouds overnight. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny. A few high clouds in the morning and late in the day. |
Stevens Pass
| Thursday Night | Partly cloudy early, then mostly clear skies. Light ridgeline and light or variable E winds at Pass level. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny. A few high clouds with increasing clouds late in the day. Light ridgeline and W winds at Pass level. |
Snoqualmie Pass
| Thursday Night | Partly cloudy early, then mostly clear skies. Light ridgeline and light or variable E winds at Pass level. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny. A few high clouds with increasing clouds late in the day. Light ridgeline and W winds at Pass level. |
East North
| Thursday Night | Partly cloudy early with some high clouds overnight. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny. Increasing clouds in the afternoon. |
East Central
| Thursday Night | Partly cloudy early with some high clouds overnight. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny. Increasing clouds late in the day. |
East South
| Thursday Night | Partly cloudy early with some high clouds overnight. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny. Increasing clouds late in the day. |
Mt. Hood
| Thursday Night | Partly cloudy, to start, then clearing skies. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny with some high clouds at times. |
Issued: 2:07 PM PST Thursday, February 22, 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' | 4500' | 4500' | None' | 5500' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 3000' | None' | 4500' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 3000' | None' | 4500' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 5500' | 6000' | None' | 7000' |
| Friday Evening | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 5000' | 5000' | None' | 7000' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 4000' | None' | 6000' |
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 3000' | None' | 5500' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3500' | 3000' | None' | 6000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' |
* 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 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paradise | 0 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Washington Pass | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | 0 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Timberline | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
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: 2:07 PM PST Thursday, February 22, 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 | SSW None - None |
| Thursday Night | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SW None - None |
| Friday Morning | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SW None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | WSW 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 | SSW None - None |
| Thursday Night | SW None - None |
| Friday Morning | SW None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 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 | SSW None - None |
| Thursday Night | SW None - None |
| Friday Morning | SW None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | 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.
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: 2:07 PM PST Thursday, February 22, 2024
Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Monday
Saturday night, the light rain and snow gradually increase extending throughout the west slopes of the Washington Cascades. Heavy rain and snow develop from north to south on Sunday as a cold front approaches. Expect winds and rain/snow to peak early Sunday evening with a sharp frontal passage. Snow levels should be slightly above Snoqualmie Pass elevation until the front passes, but expect snow levels to plummet as temperatures drop Sunday night with light to moderate snow showers and convergence continuing behind the front. Light snow showers continue on Monday with snow levels just above sea level. Expect 1-2 ft of snow for the Cascades (above 3500 ft) from Sunday morning through Monday afternoon.
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' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Monday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Monday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Monday |
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 Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Previous forecast from Feb. 22, 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.