Mountain Weather Forecast
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Wednesday
The Pacific Northwest will experience very active and wintery weather throughout the forecast period.
A cool trough remains in place Monday afternoon with light to moderate W flow combined with cold temperatures aloft to efficiently touch off low-density snow showers with rain/snow lines around 1000-1500 ft.
The pattern remains in place Monday night, but a developing deep low offshore gives the flow a more SWerly wind direction as we head into the overnight hours.Expect significant snow accumulations to continue for the western slopes of the Cascades and Olympics, with most areas picking up 2-6" of snow, but 6-12" amounts are likely for Mt St Helens and Mt Rainier.
Mostly light snow showers generally end early Tuesday a deep upper low off Heida Gwaii pulls down cold air from the Gulf of Alaska, invigorating and rapidly intensifying a newly formed surface low. By Tuesday evening this low-pressure center drops to 940-945 mb, rivaling the strength of hurricanes.
The result will be more cloudy weather with light snow at times on Tuesday morning. Increasing light to moderate ESE winds through the mountain gaps and SSW winds aloft will focus some mostly light snowfall on the east slopes of the Cascades, the Olympics, and southern Volcanoes by the afternoon/
This whole package intensifies very rapidly during the evening hours as the storm reaches peak strength in our offshore waters as it lifts northward. Expect moderate to heavy snowfall focusing on similar areas with lighter snowfall spreading into the western central and northern Cascades. E winds driven by circulation around the low combined with -14 mb cross-cascade pressure gradients (very strong) will create blizzard conditions in the mountain passes and breaking mountain waves could produce damaging winds in the western Cascade Foothills with gusts in the 50-75 mph range over widespread areas.
A warming trend that started Tuesday evening will continue on Wednesday as precipitation decreases in the light to moderate range with decreasing E winds continuing to focus more precipitation along the E slopes of the ranges and SSW winds aloft favoring the volcanoes.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Monday Night | Light snow showers. Locally intense at times. |
| Tuesday | Cloudy in the northern Olympics with increasing light to moderate snow developing in the southern and eastern Olympics. Light ridgeline winds become moderate in the afternoon with strong gusts. |
West North
| Monday Night | Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Locally heavy at times. |
| Tuesday | Light snow showers mostly ending, then remaining cloudy with very light snow possible at times. Light ridgeline winds become moderate in the afternoon with strong gusts. |
West Central
| Monday Night | Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Locally heavy at times. |
| Tuesday | Light snow showers ending early, then remaining cloudy. Light ridgeline winds become moderate in the afternoon with strong gusts. |
West South
| Monday Night | Light to moderate snow showers, heaviest at Paradise. Locally intense at times. |
| Tuesday | Light snow showers transition to periods of light snow. Light ridgeline winds become moderate in the afternoon with strong gusts. |
Stevens Pass
| Monday Night | Light snow showers. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass shifting E overnight. |
| Tuesday | A few snow showers in the morning, then cloudy conditions in the afternoon. Light ridgeline and E winds at the pass in the morning. Ridgeline winds increase into the moderate range in the afternoon. |
Snoqualmie Pass
| Monday Night | Light snow showers. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass shifting E overnight. |
| Tuesday | A few snow showers in the morning, then cloudy conditions in the afternoon. Light ridgeline and E winds at the pass in the morning. Ridgeline winds increase into the moderate range in the afternoon. |
East North
| Monday Night | Mostly cloudy with occasional light snow showers. |
| Tuesday | Cloudy with occasional snow showers in the morning and occasional light snow late in the day. Light ridgeline winds increase into the moderate range during the afternoon. |
East Central
| Monday Night | Mostly cloudy with light snow showers at times. |
| Tuesday | Cloudy with occasional snow showers in the morning and occasional light snow in the afternoon. Light ridgeline winds increase into the moderate range during the afternoon. |
East South
| Monday Night | Mostly cloudy with light snow showers at times. |
| Tuesday | Cloudy with occasional snow showers in the morning and steady light snow develops in the afternoon. Light ridgeline winds increase into the moderate range during the afternoon. |
Mt. Hood
| Monday Night | Light to moderate snow showers may be locally intense at times. Moderate ridgeline winds. |
| Tuesday | Light snow showers in the morning becoming steady and increasing light to potentially moderate snow in the afternoon. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts likely in the afternoon. |
Issued: 2:23 PM PST Monday, November 18, 2024
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Evening | Snow Level | None' | None' | None' | None' | 1000' | 1000' | None' | 1500' |
| Monday Night | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 1000' | 1000' | None' | 2000' |
| Tuesday Morning | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 500' | 1000' | None' | 2500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 1500' | 1500' | None' | 3000' |
| Tuesday Evening | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 1500' | 2000' | None' | 3500' |
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 2000' | 2500' | None' | 4000' |
| Wednesday Morning | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 2500' | 2500' | None' | 4000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon | Snow Level* | None' | None' | None' | None' | 3000' | 3000' | None' | 4000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level None' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (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
| Monday Night | Tuesday | Tuesday Night | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.25 | 0 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 |
| Paradise | 0.50 | LT 0.10 | 1.00 | 0.25 |
| White Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0.75 - 1.00 | 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.75 | 0.25 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.75 | 0.25 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 1.00 | 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.25 | 0.25 | 1.00 | 0.25 |
| Timberline | 0.25 | 0.25 | 1.00 | 0.25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.25 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.75 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.25 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.50 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.50 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 1.00 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.50 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.75 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.75 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 1.00 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.25 |
| Tuesday | 0.25 |
| Tuesday Night | 1.00 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.25 |
| Tuesday | 0.25 |
| Tuesday Night | 1.00 |
| Wednesday | 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: 2:23 PM PST Monday, November 18, 2024
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Evening | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | WSW None - None |
| Monday Night | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SW None - None |
| Tuesday Morning | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | SW None - None |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | --- None - None | S None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | --- None - None |
| Monday Night | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Morning | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | --- None - None |
| Monday Night | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Morning | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | --- None - None |
| Monday Night | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Morning | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | --- None - None |
| Monday Night | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Morning | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | WSW None - None |
| Monday Night | SW None - None |
| Tuesday Morning | SW None - None |
| Tuesday Afternoon | S None - None |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | --- None - None |
| Monday Night | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Morning | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | --- None - None |
| Monday Night | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Morning | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | --- None - None |
| Monday Night | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Morning | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | --- None - None |
| Monday Night | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Morning | --- None - None |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- None - None |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | WSW None - None |
| Monday Night | SW None - None |
| Tuesday Morning | SW None - None |
| Tuesday Afternoon | 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.
Issued: 2:23 PM PST Monday, November 18, 2024
Extended Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Friday
The deep mid-latitude cyclone bringing wild weather early in the week continues to rotate off the British Columbia coastline, spinning waves of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow into our region as snow levels continue to gradually rise. Expect somewhat cooler temperatures east of the Cascade Crest, a wintry mix at times through the Cascade Gaps, and a transition to rain at middle elevations along the western slopes of the Cascades Thursday through Friday.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | * |
| Thursday | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | * |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | * |
| Friday | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' | * |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level None' - None' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday |
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 I Extended Weather
Previous forecast from Nov. 17, 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.