Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Sunday & Wednesday
This isn't an April Fools' Day joke; a nice round of cold snow is in the forecast for most areas Sunday through Monday!
A deep upper low off the central British Columbia coast will dig south toward our region today as a 120 kt jet becomes aimed at Washington State. This jet will deliver a developing and fast moving frontal system that has already begun to spread light snow over the Olympics and Washington Cascades this morning. This system will bring a quick increase in generally light snowfall through mid-day along the west slopes of the Cascades. A Puget Convergence Zone will form in the afternoon hours near Stevens Pass and shift more toward Snoqualmie Pass in the evening. Much colder air will be ushered into the region beginning later today and especially tonight; snow levels should barely change or even lower this afternoon despite the calendar flipping into April. Mt. Hood will see a slower onset of precipitation and cooling relative to areas further north.
Snow showers will continue later Sunday night, with more moderate snow showers also developing in the southwest Cascades affecting areas like Paradise and Crystal Mt as the flow aloft veers to NW. Snow showers should begin to wind down Monday, but look for additional light accumulations along the west slopes of the Cascades, especially in the morning. Onshore flow at the surface and NW flow aloft should keep cloudy conditions along the Olympics, Mt. Hood and west slopes of the Cascades through Monday afternoon with increasing sunbreaks further east of the Cascade crest. Showers will decrease further Monday night.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Sunday | Periods of light snow, becoming light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon. Strong cooling trend. Winds increasing. |
| Sunday Night | Light snow showers. |
| Monday | Cloudy with light snow showers in the morning becoming mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers in the afternoon. A few sunbreaks possible. |
| Monday Night | Mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers decreasing overnight. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
| Sunday | Light snow, becoming light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon. Heaviest showers in developing convergence zone central Cascades near Stevens Pass in the afternoon. Slight cooling trend. Winds increasing. |
| Sunday Night | Light to occasionally moderate snow showers, heaviest snow in convergence zone central Cascades in the evening near Snoqualmie Pass shifting to SW Cascades near Mt. Rainier after midnight. Strong cooling trend. |
| Monday | Cloudy with light snow showers in the morning becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers in the afternoon. A few sunbreaks possible. |
| Monday Night | Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers decreasing overnight. |
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Sunday | Periods of light snow, becoming light showers in the afternoon. Showers occasionally moderate near the Cascade crest. Slight cooling trend. Winds increasing. |
| Sunday Night | Light snow showers. Showers occasionally moderate near the Cascade crest. Strong cooling trend. |
| Monday | Mostly cloudy with light snow showers in the morning becoming partly to mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers in the afternoon. |
| Monday Night | Partly cloudy with isolated light snow showers ending. |
Mt. Hood
| Sunday | Light snow developing late morning, becoming light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon. Winds increasing. |
| Sunday Night | Light to moderate snow showers. Strong cooling trend. Windy. |
| Monday | Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the morning becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers in the afternoon. A few sunbreaks possible.Winds decreasing slightly in the afternoon. |
| Monday Night | Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers decreasing overnight. |
Issued: 7:42 AM PDT Sunday, April 1, 2018
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | Snow Level | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 4000' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 4000' |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | 500' | 500' | 500' | ' | ' | 500' | ' | 1000' |
| Monday Morning | Snow Level | 500' | 500' | 500' | ' | ' | 500' | ' | 1000' |
| Monday Afternoon | Snow Level | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | ' | ' | 1500' | ' | 2000' |
| Monday Night | Snow Level | 500' | 500' | 500' | ' | ' | 500' | ' | 1000' |
| Sunday Evening | Snow Level | 1000' | 1500' | 1500' | ' | ' | 2000' | ' | 3500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
* 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 | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 - 1.00 | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | 1.00 - 1.50 | LT 0.25 |
| White Pass | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 - 1.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Timberline | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0 - 0.50 |
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: 7:42 AM PDT Sunday, April 1, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 10 - 20 | SSW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 15 - 30 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 20 - 35 | --- - | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | W 15 - 25 | SW 10 - 20 | WSW 15 - 25 | --- - | W 25 - 35 |
| Monday Morning | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 | --- - | W 25 - 35 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | WSW 15 - 25 | --- - | W 15 - 30 |
| Monday Night | SW 10 - 20 | SW 5 - 15 | WSW 10 - 20 | --- - | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Mid-day | WSW 10 - 20 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 15 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Monday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Mid-day | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Mid-day | SW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 35 |
| Sunday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Monday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Mid-day | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Sunday Mid-day | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Monday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 15 - 30 |
| Monday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Mid-day | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 15 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Monday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Mid-day | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Mid-day | SW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 35 |
| Sunday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Monday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Mid-day | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Sunday Mid-day | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Monday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 15 - 30 |
| Monday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Mid-day | WSW 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.
Free Winds at 9000' (mph)
| Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 | SW 25 - 35 | WSW 35 - 45 | --- - | W 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 | SW 25 - 35 | WSW 35 - 50 | --- - | SW 45 - 55 |
| Sunday Night | W 15 - 25 | WNW 25 - 35 | WNW 25 - 40 | --- - | W 40 - 50 |
| Monday Morning | W 10 - 20 | NW 15 - 30 | NW 25 - 35 | --- - | NW 35 - 45 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | W 20 - 30 | --- - | NW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Night | SW 15 - 25 | SW 5 - 15 | W 20 - 30 | --- - | NW 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Monday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Night | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Morning | NW 15 - 30 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Sunday Night | WNW 25 - 40 |
| Monday Morning | NW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Monday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | W 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 45 - 55 |
| Sunday Night | W 40 - 50 |
| Monday Morning | NW 35 - 45 |
| Monday Afternoon | NW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Night | NW 25 - 35 |
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.
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Previous forecast from Mar 31, 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.