Don't forget the sunglasses and sunscreen. We're in for several days of beautiful springtime weather. Temperature inversions in the mountain valleys and passes could make it feel a bit chilly at some trailheads this morning. However, don't be fooled. A high-pressure ridge parked off the coast will bring us plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures. A few 5000ft sites could easily hit 50 F. Easterly wind will be a bit blustery along the Cascade Crest south of I-90 and on Mt Hood. This should keep these locations a notch cooler than areas further north and west.
Overnight, clear skies will allow lower elevations to cool slightly. Temperature inversions should develop across the region, but most middle and upper-elevation areas will stay well above freezing. Moderate winds continue in the same areas but slowly start to decrease.
Not much changes on Saturday. It could be cool near some trailheads to start the day, but it will warm up fast. As the ridge axis moves inland, wind speeds will significantly decrease. This means it will be sunny, hot, and generally calm.
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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Friday
A few high clouds in the morning, becoming sunny and warm.
Friday
Night
Clear and mild most mountain temperatures staying above freezing.
Friday
A few high clouds in the morning, then becoming sunny and warm.
Friday
Night
Clear and mild. Temperatures inversions in mountain valleys.
Friday
A few high clouds in the morning, then becoming sunny and warm. E winds becoming light to moderate in the afternoon.
Friday
Night
Clear, with temperature inversions developing in the valleys. Winds becoming ESE and becoming light to moderate.
Friday
A few bands of high clouds, mainly in the morning, then becoming sunny and warm. E winds increasing and becoming moderate in the afternoon.
Friday
Night
Clear with temperature inversions in the mountain valleys and passes. Light to moderate ESE winds decreasing slightly.
Friday
A few high clouds in the morning, then becoming sunny and warm. Light E winds could be gusty at times.
Friday
Night
Clear with temperature inversions developing. Light E winds.
Friday
A few bands of high clouds in the morning quickly becoming sunny and warm. Light to moderate E winds.
Friday
Night
Clear with temperature inversions developing. E winds becoming moderate.
Friday
Sunny and warm with a few high thin clouds possible. Light to moderate NE winds decreasing.
Friday
Night
Clear with temperature inversions developing.
Friday
Sunny and warm, with a few bands of high thin clouds possible. NE winds becoming moderate.
Friday
Night
Clear and mild with temperature inversions in the mountain valleys and passes. Moderate NE winds decreasing slightly.
Friday
Sunny and warm. E winds increasing and becoming moderate.
Friday
Night
Clear and mild with temperature inversions developing in the valleys and passes. Moderate E winds decreasing slightly.
Friday
A few high clouds possible in the morning, then sunny and warm. Moderate E winds becoming strong and gusty in the afternoon.
Friday
Night
Clear and mild with temperature inversions developing. Moderate E winds decreasing.
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).