Mountain Weather Forecast
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I
Weather Synopsis for Friday & Saturday
A warm front will glance the Olympics and northwest Cascades today, delivering more wind than precipitation. Clouds will be thickest in these areas and become more filtered and clearer further south and east. Freezing levels will be on the rise, with the mildest temperatures again further south and east. Increasing offshore flow and SE winds will help keep freezing levels somewhat lower near the Cascade crest and along the east slopes of the Cascades.
The front slows and becomes more north/south oriented overnight, with mainly dry and cloudy conditions over the area. Moderate S-SE winds will continue overnight. The front will weaken as it passes through the Cascades late Saturday morning. A trailing upper level trough will help switch the winds to SW-erly and increase showers over the area. Despite the mild overnight temperatures west of the Cascade crest, snow levels should uniformly come down to around 3500' with the onset of precipitation. Saturday should be a showery and windy day in the mountains.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Friday | Periods of light rain and snow, heavier SW slopes of the Olympics. Moderate to occasionally strong ridgeline winds. |
| Friday Night | Cloudy with periods of light rain or snow. Strong ridgeline winds. |
West North
| Friday | Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Strong ridgeline winds. |
| Friday Night | Cloudy. Chance of light rain or snow. Strong ridgeline winds. |
West Central
| Friday | Cloudy with periods of filtered sunshine. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Friday Night | Cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
West South
| Friday | Partly cloudy with high clouds and filtered sunshine. Ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon. |
| Friday Night | Mostly cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
Stevens Pass
| Friday | Partly to mostly cloudy with high clouds and filtered sunshine. Ridgeline and Pass level S-SE winds increasing in the afternoon. |
| Friday Night | Mostly cloudy. Moderate SE ridgeline and Pass level winds. |
Snoqualmie Pass
| Friday | Partly cloudy with high clouds and filtered sunshine. Ridgeline and Pass level S-SE winds increasing in the afternoon. |
| Friday Night | Mostly cloudy. Moderate SE ridgeline and Pass level winds. |
East North
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with periods of filtered sunshine. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Friday Night | Mostly cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
East Central
| Friday | Partly cloudy with high clouds and filtered sunshine. Ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon. |
| Friday Night | Mostly cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
East South
| Friday | Partly to mostly sunny with periods of high clouds and filtered sunshine. Ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon. |
| Friday Night | Partly cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
Mt. Hood
| Friday | Mostly sunny with periods of high clouds and filtered sunshine in the afternoon. Ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon. |
| Friday Night | Partly cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
Issued: 7:14 AM PST Friday, March 8, 2024
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 2500' | 3000' | None' | 5500' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 4000' | 5000' | None' | 8000' |
| Friday Evening | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3500' | 5000' | None' | 8000' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 4000' | None' | 7000' |
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3500' | 3500' | None' | 3500' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3500' | 3500' | None' | 3500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
* 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 | Friday Night | Saturday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | 0 | 0 | 0.25 |
| White Pass | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Timberline | 0 | 0 | 0.25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 0.50 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 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: 7:14 AM PST Friday, March 8, 2024
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SW None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | S None - None |
| Friday Evening | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | S None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | S None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | S None - None |
| Friday Evening | S None - None |
| Friday Night | S None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Friday Evening | --- None - None |
| Friday Night | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW None - None |
| Friday Afternoon | S None - None |
| Friday Evening | S None - None |
| Friday Night | S 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 March 7, 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.