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
If you're a fan of unseasonably cold temperatures and the potential for several inches of fluffy low-density snow every 12hrs...then this is the forecast for you. A deep upper trough parked off the B.C. coast will slowly drop southward over the next few days and will be the dominant weather feature in our region. Much colder air aloft associated with the upper low will settle over the region with a cold and unstable air mass overhead.
Showers will wax and wane as upper-level shortwaves and day-time heating help to spark and focus shower activity over the next few days. Tonight, the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt Hood will fare better than the east slopes regarding new snow, but on Friday, the flow aloft will turn more southerly helping to spread more snow showers further east. The timing of any particular feature over the next few days will be difficult to pinpoint. The Olympic peninsula which has already been hammered by snow, will continue to receive locally heavier accumulations closer to the low as well as the Mt Hood area closer to the base of the trough.
Periods of moderate SW-S-SE winds will come with the weather impulses with locally strong SW winds down near Mt. Hood. Snow levels will dip to near sea level at night and rebound to 1000-2000' during the days, with the freezing level roughly 500-1000' higher. As with a showery pattern in March, it won't be all precipitation all the time so expect sunbreaks during the day. Due to the convective nature to the showers, heavier showers are likely to contain graupel.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Heaviest accumulations southwest slopes of the Olympics. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Heaviest accumulations southern slopes of the Olympics. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds. |
West North
| Thursday Night | Light to moderate snow showers. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds. |
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
West Central
| Thursday Night | Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds. |
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
West South
| Thursday Night | Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds. |
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
Stevens Pass
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Light east winds at Pass level, light to moderate S-SW winds at ridgeline. |
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
Snoqualmie Pass
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Light east winds at Pass level, light to moderate S-SW winds at ridgeline. |
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
East North
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds |
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
East Central
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds |
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
East South
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds |
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
Mt. Hood
| Thursday Night | Light to moderate snow showers. Strong ridgeline winds. |
| Friday | Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Strong ridgeline winds. |
Issued: 2:00 PM PST Thursday, February 29, 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' | 1500' | 1500' | None' | 1500' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 0' | 0' | None' | 500' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 1000' | 1000' | None' | 1500' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 2000' | 2000' | None' | 2500' |
| Friday Evening | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 500' | 500' | None' | 500' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 0' | 0' | None' | 0' |
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 500' | 500' | None' | 500' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 1500' | 1500' | None' | 1500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| 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' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| 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' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| 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' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| 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 1500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| 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 1500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
* 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 | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | 0.50 | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| White Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | LT 0.25 | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Timberline | 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0.50 |
| Friday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0.50 |
| Friday | 0.25 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Friday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday | 0.25 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | 0.25 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday | 0.25 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0.50 |
| Friday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Saturday | 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: 2:00 PM PST Thursday, February 29, 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 | SW 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 | SW 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 | SW None - None |
| Thursday Night | SW None - None |
| Friday Morning | SW None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 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 | SW None - None |
| Thursday Night | SW None - None |
| Friday Morning | SW None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 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: 2:00 PM PST Thursday, February 29, 2024
Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Monday
The long range looks similar to the short range with the potential for even colder temperatures and plenty of snow showers in the forecast. A more defined frontal system with heavier snow may affect southern areas on Monday, but right now that's far from certain.
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. 29, 2024
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