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 Sunday night through Tuesday
The weather pattern remains active through the short-term forecast as successive storms bring significant snow and wind. Post-frontal shower activity continues behind Sunday morning's frontal passage. Convective rain and snow showers arrive on SW flow as a subtle trough approaches, arriving Sunday evening. Temperatures cool slightly overnight (2000-2500 ft snow levels) and as shower activity gradually decreases. A subtle shift toward the WSW with the wind direction should help distribute the precipitation more evenly across the west slopes of the Cascades. Moderate winds should accelerate slightly along the east slopes of the Cascades. Higher resolution models point toward the potential for heavier snowfall in convergence banding around the Mt Baker area late Sunday night into early Monday.
In most other areas, shower activity reaches a minimum on Monday morning as the trough exits to the east. Steadier rain and snow develop by the afternoon as a deeper trough and associated frontal system approaches from the WNW. SSW winds ramp up along with the precipitation, initially for the Olympics and then the Cascades in the afternoon. Snow levels rise to around 2500-3500 ft.
The frontal system arrives 7-10 PM Monday evening with moderate to heavy rain and snow and moderate to strong SSW ridgeline winds. Winds decrease into the moderate range and shift WSW overnight as moderate rain and snow shower activity continue. Decreasing light to moderate rain and snow showers continue as snow levels decrease below 3000 ft on Tuesday.
The volcanoes are looking at 20-40" of snowfall through Tuesday. Most other areas are looking at 6-18".
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Sunday Night | Night: Decreasing light rain and snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Monday | Light rain and snow showers becoming moderate rain and snow in the afternoon. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts. |
West North
| Sunday Night | Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow showers with convergence banding. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Monday | Moderate rain and snow showers in the morning (locally heavy in convergence), becoming steadier and increasing during the afternoon. Increasing moderate to strong ridgeline winds potentially becoming strong. |
West Central
| Sunday Night | Decreasing moderate rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Monday | Light rain and snow showers becoming steady in the afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds. |
West South
| Sunday Night | Decreasing light to moderate rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Monday | Light rain and snow showers becoming steady in the afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds. |
Stevens Pass
| Sunday Night | Decreasing light to moderate rain and snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass. |
| Monday | Light rain and snow showers becoming steady and increasing in the afternoon. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass shifting E from mid-morning onward. |
Snoqualmie Pass
| Sunday Night | Decreasing light to moderate rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds become light and light W wind at the Pass. |
| Monday | Light rain and snow showers becoming steady and increasing in the afternoon. Increasing light to moderate and light W winds at the Pass shift E by mid-morning. |
East North
| Sunday Night | Decreasing light to moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Monday | Light snow showers becoming steady late in the day. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline winds. |
East Central
| Sunday Night | Decreasing light to moderate rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Monday | Very light rain and snow showers increase and become steady in the afternoon. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline winds. |
East South
| Sunday Night | Decreasing light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Monday | Very light rain and snow showers increase and become steady in the afternoon. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline winds. |
Mt. Hood
| Sunday Night | Decreasing light to moderate rain and snow showers. Decreasing strong ridgeline winds become moderate. |
| Monday | Light rain and snow showers become steady and moderate intensity during the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts. |
Issued: 2:33 PM PST Sunday, March 10, 2024
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 3000' | None' | 3500' |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 2500' | 2500' | None' | 3000' |
| Monday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 2000' | 2000' | None' | 2500' |
| Monday Afternoon | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 2500' | 2500' | None' | 3500' |
| Monday Evening | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 3000' | None' | 3500' |
| Monday Night | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 3000' | None' | 4000' |
| Tuesday Morning | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 3000' | None' | 3500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 2500' | 2500' | None' | 2500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level None' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
* 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 Night | Monday | Monday Night | Tuesday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 pm - 5 am | 5 am - 5 pm | 5 pm - 5 am | 5 am - 5 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.75 | 0.50 | 1.00 | 0.75 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | 0.50 | 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.50 |
| Crystal Mt | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.50 | 0.25 |
| Paradise | 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.75 - 1.00 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| White Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 | 0.50 | 0.25 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 | 0.50 | 0.50 |
| Timberline | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 | 0.50 | 0.50 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Monday | 0.25 |
| Monday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Tuesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.75 |
| Monday | 0.50 |
| Monday Night | 1.00 |
| Tuesday | 0.75 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.50 |
| Monday | 0.25 |
| Monday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Tuesday | 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Monday | LT 0.10 |
| Monday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Tuesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Monday | LT 0.25 |
| Monday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Tuesday | 0.50 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 |
| Monday | 0.25 |
| Monday Night | 0.50 |
| Tuesday | 0.25 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.50 |
| Monday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Monday Night | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Tuesday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Monday | LT 0.25 |
| Monday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Tuesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Monday | LT 0.25 |
| Monday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Monday | LT 0.25 |
| Monday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Monday | 0.25 |
| Monday Night | 0.50 |
| Tuesday | 0.25 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 |
| Monday | LT 0.25 |
| Monday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Tuesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Monday | 0.25 |
| Monday Night | 0.50 |
| Tuesday | 0.50 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Monday | 0.25 |
| Monday Night | 0.50 |
| Tuesday | 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: 2:33 PM PST Sunday, March 10, 2024
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | WSW None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | WSW None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SW None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SW None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | WSW None - None |
| Sunday Night | WSW None - None |
| Monday Morning | SW None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | SW None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | WSW None - None |
| Sunday Night | WSW None - None |
| Monday Morning | SW None - None |
| Monday 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None |
| Monday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | --- None - None |
| Sunday Night | --- None - None |
| Monday Morning | --- None - None |
| Monday 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: 2:33 PM PST Sunday, March 10, 2024
Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Thursday
A ridge of high pressure builds offshore Tuesday night and Wednesday, bringing a drying trend with the last dregs of precipitation arriving early Wednesday. Expect increasing sunshine on Wednesday and full sunshine by Thursday with a warming trend.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | |
| Wednesday | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | |
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | |
| Thursday | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Thursday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Thursday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Thursday |
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 March 10, 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.