Issued: 2:50 PM PDT Saturday, April 27, 2024
by Robert Hahn

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis

The cool, wet, and active weather pattern continues through the weekend into early next week. Saturday brought another wave of precipitation as a disturbance associated with a subtle disturbance moves into the area through the evening hours. Expect mostly light rain and snow (moderate in the Mt Baker area) to become lighter and showery overnight. Convergence banding is likely to maintain moderate precipitation in the Mt Baker area in the early morning hours. Snow levels continue to hover around 4500 ft overnight with subtle amounts of warming offsetting the typical cooling overnight.

A cold, deep low in the Gulf of Alaska eases southeast Sunday through Monday with WSW flow aloft bringing increasing mostly light showers into the region on Monday. Expect moderate convergence to continue early on Sunday for the the Mt Baker area and then shift south into the Skagit area. Snow levels drop to around 3000-4000 ft and hover there most of the day. Light to moderate ridgeline winds will be strongest for Mt Hood, the mountain gaps, and the east slopes of the Cascades. Snow levels drop to around 2500-3500 ft Sunday night as a frontal system brings moderate rain and snow. The heaviest precipitation should be with a convergence band dropping south into the mountain loop area and on the southern Cascade volcanoes.

On Monday, the coldest lobe of the trough passes over the area. Expect moderate and locally intense convective snow showers and possibly a thunderstorm for the west slopes of the central and southern Cascades with lighter and more sporadic showers east of the crest. Snow levels stay below all the major passes with accumulations expected.

Through Monday, we expect 3-6" of snow for Snoqualmie and Stevens Pass elevations with 6-12" amounts for the west slopes of the Cascades above 4500 ft.

Weather Forecast

Olympics
West North
West Central
West South
Stevens Pass
Snoqualmie Pass
East North
East Central
East South
Mt. Hood
Use dropdown to select your zone
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow becoming showery overnight with a chance for convergence in the early morning hours.
Sunday Much cooler with increasing light rain and snow shower (moderate western part).
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow becoming showery overnight. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Much cooler with increasing moderate rain and snow showers along with convergence banding.
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow decreasing and becoming showery overnight. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Much cooler with increasing light to moderate rain and snow showers along with convergence banding possible for Skagit County in the afternoon. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow decreasing and becoming showery overnight. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Much cooler with increasing light rain and snow showers. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow decreasing and becoming showery overnight. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Much cooler with increasing light rain and snow showers. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow decreasing and becoming showery overnight. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Much cooler with increasing light rain and snow showers. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Periods of light rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers developing and increasing in the afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Periods of light rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers increasing in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Decreasing periods of light rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers developing and increasing in the afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Decreasing light to occasionall moderate rain and snow becoming showery overnight. Moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts.
Sunday Increasing light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:50 PM PDT Saturday, April 27, 2024

Precipitation (in)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm 5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.25 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise 0.25 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Timberline 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.50

Issued: 2:50 PM PDT Saturday, April 27, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 4500' 4000' 3000' 3500' 3000' 2500' 2000' 2500'
West North 4000' 4500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 2500' 2000' 2500'
West Central 4500' 4500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 2500' 2000' 2500'
West South 5000' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 3000' 2500' 3000'
Stevens Pass 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3000' 2500' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3000' 2500' 3000'
East North 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 3000' 2500' 2500'
East Central 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 3000' 2500' 3000'
East South 5000' 4500' 4000' 4500' 4000' 3000' 2500' 3000'
Mt. Hood 5000' 5000' 4000' 4500' 4000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening 4500'
Saturday Night 4000'
Sunday Morning 3000'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 2000'
Monday Afternoon 2500'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening 4000'
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 2000'
Monday Afternoon 2500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 4500'
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 2000'
Monday Afternoon 2500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening 5000'
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 4500'
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 4500'
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening 4500'
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 2500'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 4500'
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening 5000'
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 4500'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening 5000'
Saturday Night 5000'
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 4500'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3500'

Issued: 2:50 PM PDT Saturday, April 27, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 34 / 28 33 / 28
West North 34 / 29 33 / 29
West Central 34 / 30 34 / 28
West South 34 / 30 36 / 29
Stevens Pass 34 / 30 36 / 29
Snoqualmie Pass 34 / 30 33 / 29
East North 34 / 28 37 / 28
East Central 35 / 30 37 / 29
East South 35 / 30 37 / 30
Mt. Hood 35 / 32 36 / 31
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 34 / 28
Sunday 33 / 28
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 34 / 29
Sunday 33 / 29
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 34 / 30
Sunday 34 / 28
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 34 / 30
Sunday 36 / 29
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 34 / 30
Sunday 36 / 29
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 34 / 30
Sunday 33 / 29
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 34 / 28
Sunday 37 / 28
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 35 / 30
Sunday 37 / 29
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 35 / 30
Sunday 37 / 30
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 35 / 32
Sunday 36 / 31

Issued: 2:50 PM PDT Saturday, April 27, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics SW 10-20 SW 5-15 SW 5-15 SW 5-15
West North SSW 10-20 SW 5-15 SSW 10-20 SW 15-25
West Central SW 10-20 WSW 10-20 SW 10-20 WSW 15-25
West South WSW 10-20 WSW 10-20 WSW 10-20 WSW 10-20
Stevens Pass WSW 10-20 W 10-20 WSW 10-20 WSW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass W 10-20 W 15-25 W 10-20 WSW 15-25
East North WSW 10-20 WSW 15-25 WSW 10-20 WSW 10-20
East Central W 15-25 W 20-30 W 10-20 WSW 15-25
East South WSW 10-20 W 10-20 W 10-20 WSW 5-15
Mt. Hood WSW 20-30 WSW 25-35 WSW 15-25 WSW 20-30
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 10-20
Saturday Night SW 5-15
Sunday Morning SW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SW 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 10-20
Saturday Night SW 5-15
Sunday Morning SSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SW 15-25
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 10-20
Saturday Night WSW 10-20
Sunday Morning SW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15-25
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 10-20
Saturday Night WSW 10-20
Sunday Morning WSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 10-20
Saturday Night W 10-20
Sunday Morning WSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 10-20
Saturday Night W 15-25
Sunday Morning W 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15-25
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 10-20
Saturday Night WSW 15-25
Sunday Morning WSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 15-25
Saturday Night W 20-30
Sunday Morning W 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 10-20
Saturday Night W 10-20
Sunday Morning W 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 20-30
Saturday Night WSW 25-35
Sunday Morning WSW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 20-30

Issued: 2:50 PM PDT Saturday, April 27, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

The cold trough keeps the unstable air mass over the area Nonday night with a re-inforcing lobe of the trough arriving on Tuesday. Expect scattered but generally light snow showers to continue. This second lobe may focus the precipitation on the southern half of the area. The trough gradually weakens and slides east Tuesday night into Wednesday with limited light rain/snow shower activity and a gradual warming trend.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 2500' 2500' 3500' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 2500' 3000' 3500' 4000'
Mt. Hood 3000' 3500' 4000' 4500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday 2500'
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday 3000'
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday 3500'
Tuesday Night 4000'
Wednesday 4500'

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I Extended Weather

Previous forecast from Apr 26, 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.

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).

The label LT, is shorthand for ‘less than’.