Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Friday
A strong ridge of high pressure is bringing very warm temperatures for late April across the Pacific Northwest on Thursday. Temperatures at most NWAC stations are in the 50's to low 70's, under clear skies. A cutoff upper low off the California coast will be the next weather player in the Pacific Northwest. A marine stratus cloud deck extends southward along the U.S. coastline from Tatoosh Island, but the stratus clouds are not making their way inland.
The upper low will drift north and east Thursday night. This will shift the high pressure ridge eastward, allowing a marine push to develop during the early morning hours and beginning to bring the stratus deck onshore with SW flow at low levels.
On Friday, the ridge continues shifting east as the marine push will cool locations west of the Cascade crest, from south to north as clouds brush up against the slopes of the Cascades at low levels while upper level clouds also move in from the south. Locations east of the Cascade crest will see minimal cloud cover and very limited, if any, cooling. Very light rain may develop Friday afternoon near Mt. Hood as the upper low continues to drift toward the Pacific Northwest.
On Friday night, a band of rain associated with the upper low will work its way northward across Washington state, into British Columbia.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
Thursday | Sunny and very warm. |
Thursday Night | Warm and clear. |
Friday | Clouds increasing in the afternoon with slight cooling. |
Friday Night | Cloudy with light rain possible. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
Thursday | Sunny and very warm. |
Thursday Night | Warm and clear. |
Friday | Low level clouds increasing and thickening with light westerly flow developing. Cooling during the afternoon, particularly in the south. |
Friday Night | Cloudy with a band of light rain and snow moving from south to north. Strongly cooling temperatures, particularly south. |
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
Thursday | Sunny and very warm. |
Thursday Night | Warm and clear. |
Friday | Very warm and mostly sunny, with mid-level clouds arriving from the south, with some slight cooling late in the day. |
Friday Night | Mostly cloudy with a slow-moving band of rain moving northward. |
Mt. Hood
Thursday | Sunny and very warm. |
Thursday Night | Clear early with clouds arriving during the early morning hours with westerly winds developing. |
Friday | Clouds lowering and thickening with a chance of light rain in the afternoon. Cooling temperatures. |
Friday Night | A chance of light rain or snow, particularly early. Strongly cooling temperatures. |
Issued: 2:41 PM PDT Thursday, April 26, 2018
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | Freezing Level * | 12500' | 12050' | 12500' | ' | ' | 12500' | ' | 12500' |
Thursday Night | Freezing Level * | 12000' | 12000' | 12000' | ' | ' | 12000' | ' | 12000' |
Friday Morning | Freezing Level | 11500' | 12000' | 12000' | ' | ' | 12000' | ' | 11500' |
Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | 9500' | 10500' | 10500' | ' | ' | 10000' | ' | 8000' |
Friday Night | Snow Level | 7000' | 7500' | 10500' | ' | ' | 7000' | ' | 6000' |
Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 12500' (Easterly Flow *) |
Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 12000' (Easterly Flow *) |
Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 11500' |
Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 9500' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level 7000' |
Mt. Baker | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 12050' (Easterly Flow *) |
Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 12000' (Easterly Flow *) |
Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 12000' |
Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 10500' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level 7500' |
Washington Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 12500' (Easterly Flow *) |
Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 12000' (Easterly Flow *) |
Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 12000' |
Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 10500' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level 10500' |
Leavenworth | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
Thursday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
Friday Morning |
Freezing Level ' |
Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
Stevens Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
Thursday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
Friday Morning |
Freezing Level ' |
Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 12500' (Easterly Flow *) |
Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 12000' (Easterly Flow *) |
Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 12000' |
Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 10000' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level 7000' |
Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
Thursday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
Friday Morning |
Freezing Level ' |
Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
Mt. Hood | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 12500' (Easterly Flow *) |
Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 12000' (Easterly Flow *) |
Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 11500' |
Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 8000' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
* 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 | |
---|---|---|
Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
Paradise | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
White Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
Timberline | LT 0.10 | LT 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: 2:41 PM PDT Thursday, April 26, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | E 5 - 15 | --- - | E 10 - 20 |
Thursday Night | VAR 0 - 10 | VAR 0 - 10 | E 5 - 15 | --- - | E 10 - 20 |
Friday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 | VAR 0 - 10 | VAR 0 - 10 | --- - | W 5 - 15 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 | SW 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | --- - | W 20 - 30 |
Friday Night | VAR 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 | --- - | W 15 - 25 |
Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
Thursday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
Friday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
Friday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
Mt. Baker | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
Thursday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
Friday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
Friday Night | W 5 - 15 |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | E 5 - 15 |
Thursday Night | E 5 - 15 |
Friday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
Friday Night | W 10 - 20 |
Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
Thursday Night | --- - |
Friday Morning | --- - |
Friday Afternoon | --- - |
Friday Night | --- - |
Mt. Hood | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | E 10 - 20 |
Thursday Night | E 10 - 20 |
Friday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
Friday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
Friday Night | W 15 - 25 |
Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
Thursday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
Friday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
Friday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
Thursday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
Friday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
Friday Night | W 5 - 15 |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | E 5 - 15 |
Thursday Night | E 5 - 15 |
Friday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
Friday Night | W 10 - 20 |
Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
Thursday Night | --- - |
Friday Morning | --- - |
Friday Afternoon | --- - |
Friday Night | --- - |
Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | E 10 - 20 |
Thursday Night | E 10 - 20 |
Friday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
Friday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
Friday Night | W 15 - 25 |
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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | --- - | S 10 - 20 |
Thursday Night | VAR 0 - 10 | VAR 0 - 10 | VAR 0 - 10 | --- - | E 20 - 30 |
Friday Morning | E 5 - 15 | E 5 - 15 | E 10 - 20 | --- - | E 20 - 30 |
Friday Afternoon | E 5 - 15 | VAR 0 - 10 | E 15 - 25 | --- - | SSW 15 - 25 |
Friday Night | ESE 5 - 15 | E 10 - 20 | SSE 10 - 20 | --- - | SSW 10 - 20 |
Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
Thursday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
Friday Morning | E 5 - 15 |
Friday Afternoon | E 5 - 15 |
Friday Night | ESE 5 - 15 |
Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
Thursday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
Friday Morning | E 5 - 15 |
Friday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
Friday Night | E 10 - 20 |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
Thursday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
Friday Morning | E 10 - 20 |
Friday Afternoon | E 15 - 25 |
Friday Night | SSE 10 - 20 |
Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
Thursday Night | --- - |
Friday Morning | --- - |
Friday Afternoon | --- - |
Friday Night | --- - |
Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
Thursday Night | E 20 - 30 |
Friday Morning | E 20 - 30 |
Friday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
Friday Night | SSW 10 - 20 |
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: 2:41 PM PDT Thursday, April 26, 2018
Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
On Saturday, the upper low arrives onshore in central Oregon. The low will drift north across the Pacific Northwest through Sunday and then eastward by Monday. Saturday through Sunday morning, light rain and snow is forecast in bands that may persist in some areas for multiple hours as the bands move slowly northward. From mid-day Sunday through Monday, W-NW flow will bring light to occasionally moderate showers mainly to the west slopes of the Cascades, decreasing during the day on Monday. Snow levels will be near or below normal for the time of year. Winds are expected to be light to moderate out of the W or W-NW throughout most of the period.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday | Snow Level | 6000' - 7000' | 5000' - 7000' | 4500' - 5500' | |
Saturday Night | Snow Level | 4000' - 5500' | 4000' - 5000' | 4000' - 5000' | |
Sunday | Snow Level | 4000' - 5000' | 4000' - 5000' | 4000' - 5000' | |
Sunday Night | Snow Level | 4000' - 5000' | 3000' - 4000' | 3000' - 4000' | |
Monday | Snow Level | 4000' - 5000' | 3500' - 4500' | 3500' - 4500' |
Mt. Baker | Elevation |
---|---|
Saturday |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
Saturday Night |
Snow Level 4000' - 5500' |
Sunday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
Sunday Night |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
Monday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Saturday |
Snow Level 5000' - 7000' |
Saturday Night |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
Sunday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
Monday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
Mt. Hood | Elevation |
---|---|
Saturday |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' |
Saturday Night |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
Sunday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
Monday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
* 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 Apr 21, 2018
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.