Another beautiful spring-like day is on tap for the mountains, with plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures. A high pressure ridge situated just offshore will continue to drive our weather through the weekend into early next week.
Temperature inversions could make it feel a bit chilly at some trailheads this morning, but it's warm higher up in the mountains. As the sun comes out, expect temperatures to quickly climb, with many sites reaching near or above 50F. Moderate to strong easterly winds continue to keep locations near I-90 and south to Mt Hood a notch cooler than areas further north. Breezy conditions should persist through the morning as the high pressure ridge axis moves inland. Once it passes over the Cascades winds should decrease significantly in the mid to late afternoon.
Yet another clear night will allow for temperature inversions in the mountain valleys and passes. However, most locations will stay well above freezing. As the sun comes up, temperatures once again rise. With generally light to calm winds across the region, expect Sunday to feel hot! It doesn't look like we cool down until at least Wednesday.
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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Saturday
Sunny and warm. Light to moderate SE winds in the afternoon.
Saturday
Night
Clear and warm, with temperature inversions in the mountain valleys.
Saturday
Sunny and warm. A few passing high thin clouds possible.
Saturday
Night
Clear and warm, with temperature inversions in the mountain valleys.
Saturday
Sunny and warm. A few passing high thin clouds possible. Light to moderate E winds turning SE.
Saturday
Night
Clear and warm, with temperature inversions in the mountain valleys and passes.
Saturday
Sunny and warm. Moderate to strong and gusty E winds in the morning, decreasing in the afternoon.
Saturday
Night
Clear and warm, with temperature inversions in the mountain valleys and passes.
Saturday
Sunny and warm. Light to moderate E winds.
Saturday
Night
Clear and warm, with temperature inversions developing. Light easterly flow.
Saturday
Sunny and warm. Moderat E winds turning SE. Light to moderate E flow at pass level.
Saturday
Night
Clear and warm, with temperature inversions developing. Light easterly flow at pass level.
Saturday
Sunny and warm, with a few passing high thin clouds possible. Light to moderate E winds turning SE and decreasing.
Saturday
Night
Clear and warm, with temperature inversions in the mountain valleys and passes.
Saturday
Sunny and warm. Moderate E winds turning SE and decreasing slightly.
Saturday
Night
Clear and warm, with temperature inversions in the mountain valleys and passes.
Saturday
Sunny and warm. Moderate E winds turning SE and decreasing slightly.
Saturday
Night
Clear and warm, with temperature inversions in the mountain valleys and passes.
Saturday
Sunny and warm. Moderate SE winds decreasing slightly in the afternoon.
Saturday
Night
Clear and warm, with temperature inversions in the mountain valleys and passes.
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).