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Mountain Weather Forecast

Issued: 2:29 PM PST Wednesday, March 13, 2024
by Dennis D'Amico

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Friday

We're on the precipice of a major change in the weather pattern as we enter an extended dry and warm stretch. Mostly cloudy skies this evening will begin to clear out overnight as an upper level ridge of higher pressure positioned offshore shifts slightly closer to the PNW. This will be the last night with a widespread and extended period of mid-mountain temperatures falling below freezing for several days. Freezing levels will climb tomorrow into the 6,500-10,000' range tomorrow, with the warmest temperatures west of the Cascade crest and the coolest temperatures along the east slopes of the Cascades. Mid-mountain temperatures should max out in the 30s/mid 40s on Thursday. A northerly breeze in the alpine, especially along the east slopes of the Cascades and (ENE) Mt Hood will take some of the bite out of the warm-up tomorrow. 

On Friday, we'll see additional warming along the east slopes of the Cascades as freezing levels reach 11,000' across the area. Mid-mountain high temperatures will push into the 40s, and even into the 50s in a few locations.  Offshore flow will ramp on Friday, providing moderate to locally strong E-NE winds through the mountain gaps and in the higher terrain. There's a lot of uncertainty regarding the strength of the wind forecast for Friday and into the extended. 

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, then mostly clear after midnight. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Mostly sunny. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
West North
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, then mostly clear after midnight. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Mostly sunny. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
West Central
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, then mostly clear after midnight. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Mostly sunny. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
West South
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, then mostly clear after midnight. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Mostly sunny. Cooler eastern portion of the zone. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Stevens Pass
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, then mostly clear after midnight. Periods of moderate N ridgeline winds. Light Pass winds.
Mostly sunny. Periods of moderate ENE ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Snoqualmie Pass
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, then mostly clear after midnight. Periods of moderate N ridgeline winds. Light Pass winds.
Mostly sunny. Periods of moderate ENE ridgeline and Pass level winds.
East North
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, then mostly clear after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Mostly sunny. Moderate ridgeline winds.
East Central
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, then mostly clear after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Mostly sunny. Moderate ridgeline winds.
East South
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, then mostly clear after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Mostly sunny. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Mt. Hood
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, then mostly clear after midnight. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Mostly sunny. Moderate ridgeline winds.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Wednesday Evening Snow Level None' None' None' None' 2500' 2500' None' 3000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level None' None' None' None' 2000' 2000' None' 3000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level None' None' None' None' 3500' 4500' None' 4500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level* None' None' None' None' 7500' 8500' None' 8500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level* None' None' None' None' 9000' 9000' None' 9000'
Thursday Night Snow Level* None' None' None' None' 10000' 10000' None' 10000'
Friday Morning Snow Level* None' None' None' None' 10500' 10500' None' 10500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
None'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
None'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
None'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Evening Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
None'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
None'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
None'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Evening Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
None'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
None'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
None'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Evening Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
None'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
None'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
None'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Evening Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
2000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Evening Snow Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
2000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Evening Snow Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
None'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
None'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
None'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Evening Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Evening Snow Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)

* 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

Wednesday Night Thursday Thursday Night Friday
5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm 5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 0 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0 0 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 0 0 0
Stevens Pass 0 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0 0
Crystal Mt 0 0 0 0
Paradise 0 0 0 0
White Pass 0 0 0 0
Washington Pass 0 0 0 0
Mission Ridge 0 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 0 0 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 0 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Wednesday Evening --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None NE None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None ENE None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None ENE None - None
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Evening NE None - None
Wednesday Night ENE None - None
Thursday Morning ENE None - None
Thursday Afternoon ENE None - None
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening NE None - None
Wednesday Night ENE None - None
Thursday Morning ENE None - None
Thursday Afternoon ENE 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
Wednesday Evening --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening --- None - None
Wednesday Night --- None - None
Thursday Morning --- None - None
Thursday Afternoon --- None - None

Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Sunday

Dry and warm weather will continue through early to mid next week as the ridge slowly shifts east. Freezing levels will stay elevated throughout this period keeping things quite mild for mid-March. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Friday Night Snow Level None' - None' None' - None' None' - None' *
Saturday Snow Level None' - None' None' - None' None' - None' *
Saturday Night Snow Level None' - None' None' - None' None' - None' *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)

* 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 13, 2024

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