A relatively inactive pattern continues in the short term with more active weather returning to the region Wednesday night.
On Tuesday, a subtle stationary front sits stalled just offshore with minor amounts of low-level moisture moving into the region on generally light WSW winds. Some very light snow flurries aren't currently making it beyond the westernmost boundary of the Cascades. However, an increase in windspeed during the afternoon (locally strong for exposed ridges along the east slopes of the Cascades) will likely provide the necessary lift to touch off a dusting to an inch of snow from Snoqualmie Pass to Mt. Baker. Expect an additional 1-3" of snow for these same areas overnight as winds gradually decrease. As of Tuesday morning, W winds have begun to erode the cold pool in areas closer to the Cascade Crest, while the cold pool remains very strong in cold, deep valleys. For instance, Berne a few miles east of Stevens Pass has warmed above 30F (20F warmer than this time yesterday), while Mazama currently remains extremely cold (-8F!) with a strong inversion in place. The increasing W winds should continue to erode the cold pool, but inversions in the Methow Valley will remain in place.
A transient and subtle ridge over northern Washington State will not stop the low-level moisture from trickling into west slopes of the Cascades from around Snoqualmie Pass northward. Easterly low-level flow may redevelop through the mountain gaps by the afternoon as the next frontal system approaches and brings light snowfall to the coast by the end of the day.
Temperatures remain slightly seasonal norms.
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
Partly cloudy.
Tuesday
Night
Mostly cloudy.
Tuesday
Cloudy with periods of light snow or flurries.
Tuesday
Night
Cloudy with periods of light snow or flurries.
Tuesday
Cloudy with periods of light snow or flurries.
Tuesday
Night
Cloudy with periods of light snow or flurries.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with periods of very light snow or snow flurries most likely at Paradise.
Tuesday
Night
Mostly cloudy with periods of very light snow or snow flurries most likely at Paradise.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with periods of very light snow at times. Light ridgeline winds becoming moderate at times during the afternoon. Light W wind at the Pass.
Tuesday
Night
Cloudy with periods of very light snow at times. Light to moderate ridgeline winds becoming light. Light W wind at the Pass.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with periods of very light snow at times. Light ridgeline winds becoming moderate at times during the afternoon. Light W wind at the Pass.
Tuesday
Night
Cloudy with periods of very light snow at times. Light to moderate ridgeline winds becoming light. Light W wind at the Pass.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. Cold with a strong inversion in the morning.
Tuesday
Night
Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow flurries.
Tuesday
Partly cloudy with mostly cloudy skies and a chance of snow flurries closer to the Cascade Crest. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds develop by the afternoon.
Tuesday
Night
Partly cloudy with mostly cloudy skies and a chance of snow flurries closer to the Cascade Crest. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds decrease into the light to moderate range by morning.
Tuesday
Partly cloudy with mostly cloudy skies and a chance of snow flurries closer to the Cascade Crest. Moderate ridgeline winds develop by the afternoon.
Tuesday
Night
Partly cloudy with mostly cloudy skies and a chance of snow flurries closer to the Cascade Crest. Moderate ridgeline winds decrease into the light range by morning.
Tuesday
Low clouds with a chance of snow flurries on the west slopes of Mt. Hood with mostly sunny skies further east.
Tuesday
Night
Low clouds with a chance of snow flurries on the west slopes of Mt. Hood with mostly clear skies further east.
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).