The cool, snowy pattern continues. The offshore low that's been spinning modest amounts of moisture into the Pacific Northwest over the last several days will drift closer to the Oregon Coast on Thursday. The result will be an increase in snowfall and winds. Expect moderate snowfall for the SE Olympics to decrease in the afternoon with upslope SE winds. Increasing upper-level SE winds over Washington state and low-level E winds will continue light snowfall at times for the E slopes of the Cascades while downslope winds will maintain mostly cloudy, but dry conditions for Mt. Baker and the Mountain loop. Bands of moisture should bring the southern Cascades volcanoes some light snow that may increase into the moderate range by the afternoon with moderate SW winds in this area. Expect ridgeline winds to increase into the moderate range for most areas.
The upper-low moves into the near-shore waters Thursday night with moderate to heavy snowfall at times focusing on Mt. Hood and the southern Washington Cascades. Usplope E flow peaks along the east slopes of the Cascades with moderate snowfall.
The upper and surface low cross the southern Washington Cascades early Thursday with a decrease in snowfall as the SW winds ease to the south of the low and the E flow decreases as well. However, expect an increase in moisture reaching the northern Washington Cascades and shower activity along the west slopes of the Cascades in the afternoon.
Snow levels remain well below the major mountain passes throughout the periods.
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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Thursday
Light snow at times northern part. Decreasing moderate snow southern part, becoming light.
Thursday
Night
Increasing light snow northern part. Light snow becomes heavy in the SE portion of the range.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with light snow developing by morning.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy.
Thursday
Night
Cloudy with light snow developing by morning.
Thursday
Increasing light snow.
Thursday
Night
Moderate snow becomes heavy at Paradise.
Thursday
Light snow at times. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds. Light E winds become moderate at the Pass.
Thursday
Night
Increasing light snow potentially becoming moderate E of the pass. Moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of light snow. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds. Increasing moderate E winds at the Pass.
Thursday
Night
Increasing light snow. Moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Thursday
Light snow.
Thursday
Night
Increasing light snow.
Thursday
Increasing light snow at times.
Thursday
Night
Increasing light to moderate snow, heaviest around the mountains near Leavenworth and Wenatchee.
Thursday
Increasing light snow.
Thursday
Night
Moderate snow.
Thursday
Increasing periods of light to moderate snow.
Thursday
Night
Moderate to heavy snow decreasing slightly 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).