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 Friday night through Sunday
The first half of the weekend features a transition into an active weather pattern, with the bulk of the storm arriving on Sunday.
WNW flow aloft develops as the approaching system flattens Friday's ridge. Clouds spread across the mountains of Washington State Friday evening. Clouds lower and thicken overnight as light rain and snow develop from Stevens Pass northward. Light rain and snow increase and extend south to Mt Rainier on Saturday as Moderate winds ridgeline winds develop in many areas and accelerate down the drier east slopes of the Cascades.
Stormy weather intensifies as a cold front approaches from the WNW on Sunday. Moderate to heavy rain and snow increase for the Washington Cascades, focusing most heavily on the northern half of the Washington Cascades. Light to moderate rain and snow spill over to the east slopes, but only reach Mt Hood late in the day. Snow levels remain steady around 3000 ft in the north, 3500 ft for Snoqualmie Pass, and 4000 ft further south. Westerly winds ramp up into the 20-30 mph range for exposed ridgelines near and east of the Cascade Crest. Above the rain/snow line, we’re expecting 9-15” of snow for Paradise, Snoqualmie Pass, Stevens Pass, and Mt Baker through Sunday.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
Friday Night | Cloudy. |
Saturday | Very light rain and snow at times. Moderate ridgeline winds develop late in the day. |
West North
Friday Night | Cloudy to start, then light rain and snow develop overnight. |
Saturday | Light rain and snow. Modernerate ridgeline winds. |
West Central
Friday Night | Cloudy in the evening, then very light rain and snow develop overnight (north of highway 2). Saturday: Light rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
Saturday | Light rain and snow. Modernerate ridgeline winds. |
West South
Friday Night | High clouds lower and thicken. |
Saturday | Very light rain and snow at times, mainly on the western side of Mt Rainier (including Paradise). |
Stevens Pass
Friday Night | Cloudy in the evening, then very light rain and snow develop in the early morning hours. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass. |
Saturday | Light rain and snow. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass. |
Snoqualmie Pass
Friday Night | Clouds lower and thicken. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass. |
Saturday | Light rain and snow. Light to moderate ridgeline and mostly light W wind at the Pass. |
East North
Friday Night | Increasing clouds. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
Saturday | Light rain and snow at times near the Cascade Crest. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
East Central
Friday Night | Increasing clouds. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
Saturday | Light rain and snow at times near the Cascade Crest. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
East South
Friday Night | Increasing clouds. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds. |
Saturday | Cloudy with very light rain or snow possible in the northern part. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
Mt. Hood
Friday Night | Increasing clouds. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds. |
Saturday | Moderate ridgeline winds. |
Issued: 2:07 PM PST Friday, February 23, 2024
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Friday Evening | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 5000' | 5000' | None' | 7500' |
Friday Night | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3500' | 4000' | None' | 6500' |
Saturday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 3000' | None' | 6000' |
Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 3000' | None' | 6500' |
Saturday Evening | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3500' | 3500' | None' | 6000' |
Saturday Night | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3500' | 3500' | None' | 5500' |
Sunday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 3500' | None' | 5500' |
Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3500' | 3500' | None' | 4500' |
Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
---|---|
Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level None' |
Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
Saturday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' |
Sunday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
Mt. Baker | Elevation |
---|---|
Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level None' |
Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
Saturday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' |
Sunday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
Washington Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level None' |
Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
Saturday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' |
Sunday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
Leavenworth | Elevation |
---|---|
Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level None' |
Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
Saturday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' |
Sunday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
Stevens Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Friday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Friday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
---|---|
Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level None' |
Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
Saturday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
Saturday Night |
Snow Level None' |
Sunday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
Mt. Hood | Elevation |
---|---|
Friday Evening |
Snow Level 7500' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level 6500' |
Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' |
Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6500' |
Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' |
Saturday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
* 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
Friday Night | Saturday | Saturday Night | Sunday | |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 | 0.50 |
Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
Snoqualmie Pass | 0 | LT 0.25 | 0.50 | 1.00 |
Crystal Mt | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 |
Paradise | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
White Pass | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 | 0.50 |
Washington Pass | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 | 0.75 |
Tieton River - Darland Mt. | 0 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
Mt Hood Meadows | 0 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
Timberline | 0 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
---|---|
Friday Night | 0 |
Saturday | LT 0.10 |
Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
Sunday | 0.50 |
Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
---|---|
Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
Saturday | 0.25 |
Saturday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
Sunday | 1.00 - 1.50 |
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
---|---|
Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
Saturday | 0.25 |
Saturday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
Sunday | 1.00 - 1.50 |
Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
---|---|
Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
Saturday | LT 0.25 |
Saturday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
Sunday | 0.75 - 1.00 |
Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
---|---|
Friday Night | 0 |
Saturday | LT 0.25 |
Saturday Night | 0.50 |
Sunday | 1.00 |
Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
---|---|
Friday Night | 0 |
Saturday | 0 |
Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
Sunday | 0.25 |
Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
---|---|
Friday Night | 0 |
Saturday | LT 0.10 |
Saturday Night | 0.25 |
Sunday | 0.75 - 1.00 |
White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
---|---|
Friday Night | 0 |
Saturday | 0 |
Saturday Night | LT 0.25 |
Sunday | 0.50 |
Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
---|---|
Friday Night | 0 |
Saturday | LT 0.10 |
Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
Sunday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
---|---|
Friday Night | 0 |
Saturday | 0 |
Saturday Night | 0 |
Sunday | LT 0.25 |
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | Precipitation Forecast |
---|---|
Friday Night | 0 |
Saturday | LT 0.10 |
Saturday Night | 0.25 |
Sunday | 0.75 |
Tieton River - Darland Mt. | Precipitation Forecast |
---|---|
Friday Night | 0 |
Saturday | 0 |
Saturday Night | 0 |
Sunday | LT 0.25 |
Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
---|---|
Friday Night | 0 |
Saturday | 0 |
Saturday Night | 0 |
Sunday | LT 0.10 |
Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
---|---|
Friday Night | 0 |
Saturday | 0 |
Saturday Night | 0 |
Sunday | 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: 2:07 PM PST Friday, February 23, 2024
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Friday Evening | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | WSW None - None |
Friday Night | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | W None - None |
Saturday Morning | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | W None - None |
Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | W None - None |
Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
---|---|
Friday Evening | --- None - None |
Friday Night | --- None - None |
Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
Mt. Baker | Elevation |
---|---|
Friday Evening | --- None - None |
Friday Night | --- None - None |
Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Friday Evening | --- None - None |
Friday Night | --- None - None |
Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
---|---|
Friday Evening | --- None - None |
Friday Night | --- None - None |
Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
Mt. Hood | Elevation |
---|---|
Friday Evening | WSW None - None |
Friday Night | W None - None |
Saturday Morning | W None - None |
Saturday Afternoon | W None - None |
Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Friday Evening | --- None - None |
Friday Night | --- None - None |
Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Friday Evening | --- None - None |
Friday Night | --- None - None |
Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Friday Evening | --- None - None |
Friday Night | --- None - None |
Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Friday Evening | --- None - None |
Friday Night | --- None - None |
Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Friday Evening | WSW None - None |
Friday Night | W None - None |
Saturday Morning | W None - None |
Saturday Afternoon | W 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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Friday Evening | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None |
Friday Night | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None |
Saturday Morning | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None |
Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None |
Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Friday Evening | --- None - None |
Friday Night | --- None - None |
Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Friday Evening | --- None - None |
Friday Night | --- None - None |
Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Friday Evening | --- None - None |
Friday Night | --- None - None |
Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Friday Evening | --- None - None |
Friday Night | --- None - None |
Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
Saturday Afternoon | --- None - None |
Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Friday Evening | --- None - None |
Friday Night | --- None - None |
Saturday Morning | --- None - None |
Saturday 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 Friday, February 23, 2024
Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Tuesday
The storm peaks with a strong frontal passage from NW to SE late Sunday evening with little change in snow levels from Sunday. In its wake, snow levels plummet overnight and winds gradually decrease. Low-density moderate snow showers and heavier convergence bands bring significant additional accumulation at all elevations as a cold trough moves over the area on Monday. A cold and active pattern continues through the workweek. NW flow keeps light snowfall going Monday night. Another system approaches on WNW flow, bringing increasing moderate snowfall on Tuesday. Snow levels remain below 1500 ft Monday through Tuesday.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sunday Night | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | |
Monday | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | |
Monday Night | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | |
Tuesday | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' |
Mt. Baker | Elevation |
---|---|
Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
Monday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
Monday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
Tuesday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
Monday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
Monday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
Tuesday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
Mt. Hood | Elevation |
---|---|
Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
Monday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
Monday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
Tuesday |
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. 23, 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.