A closed low off the Oregon coast maintains unsettled and cooler weather over our region today. A deformation band becomes better organized early Saturday over the central and northern portions of the Washington Cascades. Expect relatively continuous light to moderate precipitation in these areas, decreasing by the mid-day hours in the central Washington Cascades as the deformation band lifts northward. Expect a break in the action and better chances for a period of sunshine to the south of the deformation band before instability showers closer to the low center move into the southern Washington Cascades during the afternoon hours. Snow levels hover around 4000 ft in most areas.
Models diverge regarding whether precipitation remains associated with a weakened deformation band that shifts SE overnight into Sunday or whether we end up seeing mountain-enhanced shower activity. Either way, expect some light rain and snow mainly for the west slopes of the Cascades and northern Olympics through Sunday. Snow levels generally drop to the 3500-4000 ft range by Sunday.
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
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow decreasing during the afternoon and focusing on the northern Olympics.
Saturday
Night
Decreasing light rain and snow showers.
Saturday
Light to moderate rain and snow.
Saturday
Night
Decreasing light rain and snow showers, possibly ending after midnight.
Saturday
Light to moderate rain and snow decreases from south to north.
Saturday
Night
Increasing light rain and snow showers.
Saturday
Decreasing periods of light rain and snow. A period of full sunshine possible mid-morning, then light showers return in the afternoon.
Saturday
Night
Light rain and snow showers.
Saturday
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow tapers in the afternoon with significant sun breaks likely. Light ridgeline winds. E winds shift W at the Pass very early in the day.
Saturday
Night
Increasing light rain and snow showers. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Saturday
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow tapers in mid-day hours with significant sun breaks likely and scattered convective showers returning in the afternoon. E winds shift W at the Pass very early in the day.
Saturday
Night
Increasing light rain and snow showers. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Saturday
Light to moderate rain and snow.
Saturday
Night
Decreasing light rain and snow.
Saturday
Light to moderate rain and snow tapers in the afternoon, with significant sun breaks likely.
Saturday
Night
A few light rain and snow showers.
Saturday
Light rain and snow tapers early, with significant sun breaks likely before convective showers build up in the afternoon.
Saturday
Night
A few light rain and snow showers.
Saturday
Light rain and snow tapers early, with significant sun breaks likely before convective showers build up in the afternoon.
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).