It looks and feels like winter out there with snow levels not far above sea level, mid-mountain temperatures in the teens, and snow showers peppering the mountains. A convergence zone certainly delivered for Stevens Pass overnight with up 13-17" of snow since Sunday afternoon. Other areas near the convergence zone, like Snoqualmie Pass, received over 6-8", while totals were lighter elsewhere. The convergence zone will continue to stack up an additional few inches this morning and become lighter and more diffuse mid-day. An incoming upper level shortwave trough will kick up shower activity mid to late afternoon for all areas, with another round of snow showers and generally continued light accumulations.
The convergence zone will reform later this afternoon and continue overnight, but will likely be a bit further north, ranging from Hwy 2, including Stevens Pass, to the Whatcom/Skagit county line. Snowfall totals on Monday night will generally be a few inches, with higher totals likely again near the convergence zone. Strong west winds will continue today across all areas but will gradually ease to the moderate range later today through Monday night.
Generally lighter showers are expected on Tuesday with continued low snow levels as a new upper level disturbance swings through. The real action should begin Tuesday night as an intense low pressure system approaches the area, with very stormy conditions expected to last through the end of the work week.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
West North
West Central
West South
Stevens Pass
Snoqualmie Pass
East North
East Central
East South
Mt. Hood
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Monday
Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers this morning, showers increasing this afternoon. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Monday
Night
Cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers this morning, showers increasing this afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday
Night
Cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday
Light to occasionally moderate snow showers, heaviest near the convergence zone this morning. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Monday
Night
Light to occasionally moderate snow showers, heaviest near the convergence zone. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday
Cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers this morning, showers increasing this afternoon. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Monday
Night
Cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday
Light to occasionally moderate snow showers, heaviest near the convergence zone this morning. Moderate W winds at Pass level and ridgeline.
Monday
Night
Light to occasionally moderate snow showers, heaviest near the convergence zone. Moderate W winds at Pass level and ridgeline.
Monday
Light to occasionally moderate snow showers, heaviest near the convergence zone this morning. Moderate to strong W winds at Pass level and ridgeline.
Monday
Night
Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate W winds at Pass level and ridgeline.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers this morning, showers increasing this afternoon. Fewer clouds and showers further east of the crest. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday
Night
Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Fewer clouds and showers further east of the crest. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers this morning, showers increasing this afternoon. Fewer clouds and showers further east of the crest. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Monday
Night
Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Fewer clouds and showers further east of the crest. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers this morning, showers increasing this afternoon. Fewer clouds and showers further east of the crest. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Monday
Night
Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Fewer clouds and showers further east of the crest. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers this morning, showers increasing this afternoon. Fewer clouds and showers east-side of mountain. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Monday
Night
Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
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.
The 5000’ temperature forecast does not imply a trend over the 12 hr period and only represents the max and min temperatures within a 12 hr period in the zone. The 6-hr snow level forecast, the forecast discussion, and weather forecast sections may add detail regarding temperature trends.
The snow level forecast represents the general snow level over a 6 hr time period. Freezing levels are forecast when precipitation is not expected.
*Easterly or offshore flow is highlighted with an asterisk when we expect relatively cool east winds in the major Cascade Passes. Easterly flow will often lead to temperature inversions and is a key variable for forecasting precipitation type in the Cascade Passes. Strong easterly flow events can affect terrain on a more regional scale.
Ridgeline winds are the average wind speed and direction over a 6 hr time period.
The wind forecast represents an elevation range instead of a single elevation slice. The elevation range overlaps with the near and above treeline elevation bands in the avalanche forecast and differs per zone.
Wind direction indicates the direction the wind originates or comes from on the 16-point compass rose.
Water Equivalent (WE) is the liquid water equivalent of all precipitation types; rain, snow, ice pellets, etc., forecast to the hundredth of an inch at specific locations. To use WE as a proxy for snowfall amounts, start with a snow to water ratio of 10:1 (10 inches of snow = 1 inch WE). Temperatures at or near freezing will generally have a lower ratio (heavy wet snow) and very cold temperatures can have a much higher ratio (dry fluffy snow).