We're in store for dry and increasingly warm weather over the next few days, and perhaps through the weekend as an upper level ridge of high pressure takes control over the area.
After a cold start this morning, freezing levels will quickly rise with mid-mountain high temperatures reaching the low to mid-40s over the Olympics, Mt Hood, and areas west of the Cascade crest. Temperatures will still rise but will be relatively cooler than the west side in the Cascade Passes, particularly Stevens, and along the east slopes of the Cascades from I-90 and northward. On top of that, we'll see light to moderate S-SE winds in many areas today. Skies will be mostly sunny but expect a few high clouds this afternoon.
A weak weather disturbance passing inland to our north will temporarily flatten the ridge overnight through Thursday morning. This will keep a patchwork of high clouds in the forecast and allow ridgeline wind speeds to tick up over the Olympics and WA Cascades. While freezing levels will more or less hold steady on Thursday, mid-mountain temperatures will warm a few degrees tomorrow with the westerly flow, especially in the Passes and along the east slopes of the Cascades relative to 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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Wednesday
Mostly sunny with periods of high clouds this afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon.
Wednesday
Night
Partly to mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny with periods of high clouds. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon.
Wednesday
Night
Partly to mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Moderate to occasionally strong ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny with periods of high clouds this afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Night
Partly to mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny with periods of high clouds this afternoon. Warmer western part of the zone (Paradise/St Helens), cooler eastern part including White Pass. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Night
Partly to mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny with periods of high clouds this afternoon. Cooler lower and mid slopes, milder upper slopes. Light to occasionally moderate SSE ridgeline winds and light E winds at Pass level.
Wednesday
Night
Partly to mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Light to moderate SW ridgeline winds and light E winds at Pass level.
Wednesday
A few low clouds this morning, otherwise mostly sunny with periods of high clouds this afternoon. Light to moderate SSE ridgeline winds and E winds at Pass level.
Wednesday
Night
Partly to mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Moderate SW ridgeline winds. Light to moderate E winds at Pass level easing after midnight.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny with periods of high clouds. Cooler lower and mid slopes, milder upper slopes. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon.
Wednesday
Night
Partly to mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny with periods of high clouds this afternoon. Cooler lower and mid slopes, milder upper slopes. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon.
Wednesday
Night
Partly to mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny with periods of high clouds this afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Night
Partly to mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Night
Mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
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).