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Mountain Weather Forecast

Issued: 7:06 AM PST Saturday, February 24, 2024
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis for Saturday & Sunday

Gradually increasing WNW flow ushers in a pattern shift this weekend. Light rain and snow focus on the west slopes of the central and northern Cascades today with some weak convergence possible from Highway 2 to the mountain loop. Precipitation increases slightly in the afternoon with minor spillover into the immediate lee of the Cascade Crest. Expect 1-3" of snow above the 3000-3500 rain/snow line. 15-20 mph W ridgeline winds will focus on areas near and east of the Cascade Crest with strong gusts at times.

Saturday night, an upper trough begins to slide down the British Columbia Coastline. Light snow rain and snow continue to gradually increase and expand into the Mt Rainier area, perhaps becoming moderate by morning. Although temperatures cool aloft, subtle low-level warming raises the snow lines to around 3500-4000 ft in the central Cascades.

The cold front approaches from the NW on Sunday, bringing increasing moderate to heavy snow for the Washington Cascades. Ridgeline winds increase into the moderate to strong range with extreme gusts likely east of the Cascades. Snow totals above the rain/snow line should be in the 10-20 inch range for the west slopes of the Washington Cascades by the end of the day on Sunday.

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Saturday Cloudy with a chance of light rain and snow from late morning onwards.
Periods of light rain and snow. Ridgeline winds become moderate in the afternoon.
West North
Saturday Light rain and snow. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Night: Increasing light rain and snow, becoming moderate by morning. Moderate ridgeline winds.
West Central
Saturday Light rain and snow with weak convergence. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Increasing light rain and snow, becoming moderate by morning. Moderate ridgeline winds.
West South
Saturday Cloudy with a chance of chance of some very light rain or snow on the west side of
Light to moderate ridgeline wind speeds are higher near the Cascade Crest. Saturday Night: Increasing light rain and snow, becoming moderate by morning. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Stevens Pass
Saturday Periods of light rain and snow with weak convergence. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Increasing light rain and snow, becoming moderate in the early morning hours. Moderate ridgeline and mostly light W wind at the Pass.
Snoqualmie Pass
Saturday Periods of light rain and snow. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Increasing light rain and snow, becoming moderate in the early morning hours. Moderate ridgeline and mostly light W wind at the Pass.
East North
Saturday Mostly cloudy with an increasing chance of light rain or snow near the Cascade Crest in the afternoon. Increasing ridgeline winds with strong gusts.
Increasing light rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts.
East Central
Saturday Mostly cloudy with an increasing chance of light rain or snow near the Cascade Crest in the afternoon. Increasing ridgeline winds with strong gusts.
Increasing light rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts.
East South
Saturday Mostly cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds
Cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts.
Mt. Hood
Saturday Mostly sunny in the morning, then obscured skies or filtered sunshine in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds, strong gusts.
Cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning Snow Level None' None' None' None' 3000' 3500' None' 6000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level None' None' None' None' 3500' 3500' None' 6500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level None' None' None' None' 3500' 3500' None' 5500'
Saturday Night Snow Level None' None' None' None' 3500' 4000' None' 5500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level None' None' None' None' 3000' 3500' None' 4500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
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
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
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
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
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
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
Saturday Morning Snow Level
6000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
5500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4500'
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

Saturday Saturday Night Sunday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 1.00 - 1.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 1.00 - 1.50
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 1.00
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 1.00
Crystal Mt 0 LT 0.10 0.25
Paradise 0 LT 0.25 1.00
White Pass 0 LT 0.10 0.50 - 0.75
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.50 - 0.75
Mission Ridge 0 0 LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 0.25 0.75
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 0 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 LT 0.25
0 0 LT 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 1.00 - 1.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 1.00 - 1.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 1.00
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 1.00
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.25
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 1.00
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation Forecast
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.75
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

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

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

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.