Snow showers continue across the region this morning as a weak front lifts northward. Easterly winds and plenty of moisture in the atmosphere should allow the heaviest showers to pile up along the eastern slopes of the Cascades in locations like Salmon la Sac, Mission Ridge, Washington Pass, and Mt Hood. With temperatures across the region in the low 20s, these modest water amounts could turn into several inches of snow. Moderate to locally strong east winds will continue to affect areas along the spine of the Cascades. By mid-afternoon, showers and winds speeds should decrease slightly allowing for most mountain locations to get a break from the action.
The low pressure responsible for our recent snow will slowly meander its way inland starting Monday night into Tuesday. As it does so, it will reinvigorate snow showers particularly for Hurricane Ridge, Mt Baker, and Paradise. Look for winds to shift to the SW and increase Tuesday as the Low passes over western Washington. A weak Puget Sound Convergence Zone could focus shower activity at areas near the Mountain Loop Highway and Stevens Pass Tuesday afternoon and evening. While this isn't a particularly impressive storm, cold temperatures and near-constant showers should keep our trailheads coated in fresh snow.
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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Monday
Snow showers in the early morning should decrease by mid-day. Strong S winds decrease and turn E in the afternoon.
Monday
Night
Snow showers, occasionally moderate. Light winds.
Monday
Snow showers. Winds becoming light and E.
Monday
Night
Snow showers, occasionally moderate. Winds becoming moderate to strong SSW.
Monday
Snow showers. E winds strongest along the Cascade Crest.
Monday
Night
Light snow showers, moderate at times. Winds becoming moderate SSW.
Monday
Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate SE winds. Stronger E winds in locations on the crest such as Crystal Mt.
Monday
Night
Snow showers, heaviest near Mt Rainier. Winds becoming SW moderate to strong.
Monday
Snow showers, heaviest east of the Pass. Light SE winds.
Monday
Night
Snow showers. Winds becoming moderate WSW.
Monday
Snow showers, heaviest east of the Pass. Light to moderate SE winds.
Monday
Night
Snow showers. Winds becoming moderate WSW.
Monday
Snow showers, moderate at times. Light to moderate SE winds.
Monday
Night
Light snow showers. Moderate SE winds decreasing slightly overnight and turning WSW.
Monday
Snow showers, heaviest near Mission Ridge and Salmon la Sac. Moderate SSE winds increasing slightly in the afternoon.
Monday
Night
Snow showers mainly near the Cascade Crest. Moderate to strong SW winds.
Monday
Snow showers, heaviest near highway 410. Mostly light S winds.
Monday
Night
Isolated snow showers, mainly near the Cascade Crest. Moderate to strong winds, SSW becoming W.
Monday
Light to moderate snow. Moderate SW winds increasing slightly in the afternoon.
Monday
Night
Snow showers. Moderate to strong W winds increasing overnight.
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).