A strong front is approaching the region from the Northwest on Saturday, bringing increasing moderate, then heavy rain and snow throughout the region. Snow levels will linger in the 3500-4000 ft range as the front approaches, with ridgeline winds increasing in the moderate range, with strong winds likely at Mt. Baker, Mt. Hood and possibly for some locations on the east slopes of the Cascades.
The frontal boundary moves across the region from north to south Saturday night, with very heavy rain and high elevation snow. Snow levels should peak in the evening hours in the 4000-5000 ft range. Winds will also peak as the front approaches, with strong winds expected at ridgelines.
The frontal passage brings rapid cooling and a rapid shutoff of precipitation, which translates to light snow shower activity behind the front. The heavy rain and snow may taper early Sunday morning for Mt. Hood. Models indicate enhanced light snow showers and convergence with the weak trough from I-90 northward on Sunday from mid-day through the afternoon.
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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Saturday
Heavy rain and snow. Strong wind gusts.
Saturday
Night
Heavy rain and snow in the evening, then light showers after midnight.
Saturday
Increasing heavy rain and snow. Strong winds.
Saturday
Night
Heavy rain and snow in the evening, then tapering to showers in the early morning hours. Strong winds in the evening.
Saturday
Increasing heavy rain and snow.
Saturday
Night
Heavy rain and snow in the evening, then tapering to showers in the early morning hours. Moderate to strong winds until midnight.
Saturday
Increasing heavy rain and snow at Paradise. Increasing moderate rain and snow at White Pass.
Saturday
Night
Heavy rain and snow. Moderate to strong winds tapering by morning.
Saturday
Increasing moderate rain and snow. Light to moderate winds becoming variable at pass level.
Saturday
Night
Heavy rain and snow in the evening, then tapering to showers in the early morning hours. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds in the evening. Variable winds at pass level.
Saturday
Increasing moderate rain and snow becoming heavy. Moderate W winds becoming variable at pass level.
Saturday
Night
Heavy rain and snow in the evening, then tapering to showers in the early morning hours. Strong ridgeline winds in the evening. Variable winds at pass level.
Saturday
Increasing moderate rain and snow becoming heavy. Moderate to strong winds.
Saturday
Night
Heavy rain and snow in the evening, then tapering to showers in the early morning hours. Strong winds in the evening.
Saturday
Increasing moderate rain and snow. Moderate to strong winds.
Saturday
Night
Heavy rain and snow in the evening, then tapering to showers in the early morning hours. Strong winds in the evening.
Saturday
Increasing moderate rain and snow. Moderate to strong winds.
Saturday
Night
Heavy rain and snow in the evening, then tapering to showers in the early morning hours. Strong winds in the evening.
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).