Mountain Weather Forecast
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. |
Saturday Night | 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. |
Saturday Night | 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. |
Saturday Night | 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 |
Saturday Night | 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. |
Saturday Night | 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. |
Saturday Night | 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. |
Saturday Night | 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. |
Saturday Night | Increasing light rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts. |
East South
Saturday | Mostly cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds |
Saturday Night | 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. |
Saturday Night | Cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts. |
Issued: 7:06 AM PST Saturday, February 24, 2024
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' |
Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3500' | 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 |
Timberline | 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 |
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: 7:06 AM PST Saturday, February 24, 2024
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 |
Saturday Night | --- 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.