Mountain Weather Forecast
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I
Weather Synopsis for Sunday & Monday
A cold trough slides down the British Columbia coastline as the surface low tracks into the British Columbia Interior. A band of increasing moderate to heavy rain and snow impacts the Pacific Northwest as the surface cold front drops SE. The heaviest precipitation will be in the central and southern Washington Cascades and Paradise with significant rainshadowing for the eastern Olympics and Puget Sound lowlands. Snow levels hover in the 3500-4500 ft range for most of the area with little change throughout the day. WSW winds have been moderate to strong along the east slopes of the Cascades, but have generally lagged model expectations thus far. Widespread moderate ridgeline winds should develop with more meteorological forcing as the front approaches.
The cold front pushes through the Olympics and Mt Baker areas around 3-4 PM, moving through the central and southern Washington Cascades from 4-7 PM, and pushes through Mt Hood overnight. This pushes the heaviest precipitation southward and ultimately out of the picture as precipitation becomes showery. Snow levels drop rapidly behind the front with a shift to snow levels below 1500 ft in all areas by Monday morning as moderate snow showers continue in most areas. Convergence bands likely set up near Stevens Pass and snow ratios should be closer to 15 to 1.
On Monday, a cold trough passes over the region with light to moderate ridgeline winds out of the W or WNW. It will be cold with snow levels between sea level and 1000 ft in most areas. Convergence enhancement will create locally heavy snow at times in areas from Snoqualmie Pass to Mt Baker.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Sunday | Increasing light rain and snow (moderate to heavy for the western Olympics). Light to moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Sunday Night | Light snow showers. Plummeting temperatures. Light to moderate ridgeline winds become light. |
West North
| Sunday | Increasing moderate to heavy rain and snow (very heavy western part and highway 20). Moderate ridgeline winds develop. |
| Sunday Night | Decreasing moderate snow showers becoming light. |
West Central
| Sunday | Increasing heavy rain and snow. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts. |
| Sunday Night | Decreasing moderate to locally heavy snow showers. |
West South
| Sunday | Increasing light rain and snow becomes moderate to heavy in the afternoon. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts. |
| Sunday Night | Moderate to heavy snow transitions to light to moderate snow showers. Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts. |
Stevens Pass
| Sunday | Increasing moderate to heavy rain and snow. Increasing moderate ridgeline and light to moderate W wind at the Pass. |
| Sunday Night | Decreasing moderate to heavy snow showers and convergence. Decreasing moderate ridgeline and light to moderate W wind at the Pass. |
Snoqualmie Pass
| Sunday | Increasing moderate to heavy rain and snow. Increasing moderate ridgeline and light to moderate W wind at the Pass. |
| Sunday Night | Decreasing moderate to heavy snow showers and convergence. Decreasing moderate ridgeline and light to moderate W wind at the Pass. |
East North
| Sunday | Increasing light to moderate or heavy rain and snow. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds possibly becoming strong. |
| Sunday Night | Decreasing light snow showers. Decreasing moderate to strong ridgeline winds. |
East Central
| Sunday | Increasing light to moderate rain and snow. Increasing moderate to strong ridgeline winds. |
| Sunday Night | Decreasing moderate snow showers become light. |
East South
| Sunday | Increasing light rain and snow. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Sunday Night | Moderate ridgeline winds transition to light snow showers. Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds. |
Mt. Hood
| Sunday | Mostly sunny to start, with increasing clouds. Light to moderate rain and snow develop by mid-afternoon. Increasing moderate to strong ridgeline winds. |
| Sunday Night | Moderate to heavy rain and snow. Decreasing moderate to strong ridgeline winds. |
Issued: 7:09 AM PST Sunday, February 25, 2024
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 4000' | 4000' | None' | 5500' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 4000' | 4000' | None' | 5000' |
| Sunday Evening | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 3000' | None' | 4500' |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 500' | 1000' | None' | 3000' |
| Monday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 0' | 0' | None' | 1000' |
| Monday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 500' | 500' | None' | 1000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
* 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
| Sunday | Sunday Night | Monday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 1.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | 1.00 | 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 1.00 | 0.75 - 1.00 | 0.50 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.75 - 1.00 | 0.50 |
| White Pass | 0.75 | 0.75 - 1.00 | 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | 0.75 | 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | 0.75 | 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.25 | 0.75 - 1.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Timberline | LT 0.25 | 0.75 - 1.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday | 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Monday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday | 1.00 |
| Sunday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Monday | 0.25 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Sunday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Monday | 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday | 1.00 |
| Sunday Night | 0.75 |
| Monday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday | 1.00 |
| Sunday Night | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Monday | 0.50 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Monday | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Sunday Night | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Monday | 0.50 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday | 0.75 |
| Sunday Night | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Monday | 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday | 0.75 |
| Sunday Night | 0.25 |
| Monday | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Monday | LT 0.10 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday | 0.75 |
| Sunday Night | 0.50 |
| Monday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday | 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Monday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Monday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Monday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
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: 7:09 AM PST Sunday, February 25, 2024
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | WSW None - None |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | WSW None - None |
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | WSW None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | W None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | --- None - None |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | --- None - None |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | --- None - None |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | --- None - None |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | WSW None - None |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW None - None |
| Sunday Evening | WSW None - None |
| Sunday Night | W None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | --- None - None |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | --- None - None |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | --- None - None |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | --- None - None |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | WSW None - None |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW None - None |
| Sunday Evening | WSW None - None |
| Sunday 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. 24, 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.