Temperatures look downright chilly across the forecast region this morning with most locations in the teens or low twenties. With cold air solidly in place, all we need is some moisture. A deepening trough off our coast and an associated low-pressure system will do its best to provide that final ingredient for snow over the forecast period. Expect cloudy skies across the mountains today and generally dry conditions. As the trough slips closer, winds should increase and become southeasterly. This will allow some very light upslope showers for trailheads east of the Cascade Crest and south of Highway 2 this afternoon. A secondary front should arrive this evening. However, the weather models tend to show this band of moisture weakening as it makes its way into the region. Expect light scattered showers for the southern and eastern portions of the forecast area overnight with less snow further north and west. The big story tonight should be the very strong and gust winds. East to southeast winds should peak in the evening hours before decreasing slightly.
As the weak front continues to meander its way toward Canada, look for showers to taper from south to north Wednesday morning. Most locations will see cloudy skies and isolated light snow showers during the day.
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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Tuesday
Cloudy. Moderate to strong SE winds increasing.
Tuesday
Night
Cloudy with scattered snow showers. Heaviest along the eastern slopes of the Olympics. Strong SE winds.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. Moderate SE winds.
Tuesday
Night
Cloudy with isolated snow showers. Moderate SE winds.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with moderate to strong E winds.
Tuesday
Night
Cloudy with isolated snow showers. Strong E winds
Tuesday
Cloudy with moderate E winds increasing.
Tuesday
Night
Cloudy with scattered snow showers. Moderate to strong E winds.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. Moderate E winds.
Tuesday
Night
Cloudy with isolated snow showers. Moderate to strong E winds.
Tuesday
Becoming cloudy. Moderate to strong E winds.
Tuesday
Night
Cloudy with scattered snow showers. Strong E winds.
Tuesday
Partly cloudy with clouds increasing. Moderate SE winds.
Tuesday
Night
Cloudy with isolated snow showers. Strong SE winds.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with isolated snow showers in the afternoon. Moderate SE winds.
Tuesday
Night
Cloudy with scattered snow showers. Strong SE winds.
Tuesday
Becoming cloudy with isolated snow showers. Moderate to strong SE winds.
Tuesday
Night
Cloudy with scattered snow showers. Strong SE winds.
Tuesday
Becoming cloudy with isolated snow showers. Moderate to strong S 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).