Mountain Weather

THIS IS NOT A REAL FORECAST. THIS IS USED FOR TESTING PURPOSES ONLY! NWAC NOR RACHEL IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU NOT READING THIS FIRST LINE AND THINKING THIS IS REAL.

Drier conditions have moved into the region, even as the remnants of a stalled frontal boundary continue to linger overhead. Moisture is still being transported in on brisk upper-level winds, producing light to occasionally moderate rainfall. However, compared to what we’ve seen recently, totals will be measured in mere tenths—or even hundredths—of an inch, rather than inches.

The stalled front continues to focus on the central Washington Cascades through the evening hours, bringing light to occasionally moderate rainfall to that region. Precipitation decreases and shifts slightly northward overnight. Northern Washington remains cooler, so expect some middle-elevation snowfall accumulations (1-4") in the northern Cascades.

The gradual northward drift and further warming is expected on Friday. Precipitation essentially ends south of Snoqualmie Pas by the afternoon, but most areas remain cloudy. This trend continues on Friday night. By Saturday, the high-pressure ridge expands sufficiently as it moves inland over California to shift all of the moisture north of the Canadian border, leaving high freezing levels across the region and partly to mostly cloudy skies.

THIS IS NOT A REAL FORECAST. THIS IS USED FOR TESTING PURPOSES ONLY! NWAC NOR RACHEL IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU NOT READING THIS FIRST LINE AND THINKING THIS IS REAL.

The atmospheric river that won't quit continues to bring heavy rain and the highest-elevation snow over the central Washington Cascades. The atmospheric stability conditions are such that the brisk winds bringing moisture over the Olympics mostly split the rain and form a wide zone of convergence in the lee of the range. This convergence targets the southern Mountain Loop to Mt Rainier with the very heavy swath precipitation extending significantly onto the east slopes of the Cascades. The southward shift of the precipitation has brought significant cooling to the northern half of Washington State, with snow levels dropping to 3500-5500 ft from Snoqualmie Pass northward. Areas on the southern side of the convergence won't experience much cooling (Mt Rainier southward). Precipitation decreases significantly after 10 AM in most areas, except in the southern Cascade Volcanoes (including Mt. Hood).

The remnants of the stalled front continue to bring clouds, warm air, and more modest amounts of moisture into the region Thursday night and Friday. Most areas will experience periods of light rain and higher elevation snow throughout this period, along with a warming trend. Areas north of Hwy 2 could pick up an inch or so of snow before precipitation changes back to rain, with Washington Pass staying all snow.