Pacific Northwest Braces for 1-2 Feet of Snow by Friday
The Pacific Northwest faces a notable midweek storm with widespread mountain snow. Forecasters say parts of the region may pick up 1 to 2 feet of snow by Friday.
Overview of the System
A small southern-Cascades event will carry over into early week. A larger storm arrives Tuesday night and lasts through Thursday.
Models agree on timing for the midweek system. Intensity varies more across Oregon than farther north.
Timing and Coverage
Snow begins near higher volcanoes Tuesday evening. It spreads into the Washington Cascades and Whistler through Wednesday night.
Precipitation tapers to showers on Thursday. Snow should be winding down by Friday morning.
Snow Levels and Snow Quality
Early Oregon snow levels run around 4,500 to 7,000 feet. Farther north, levels start near 3,000 to 4,000 feet.
Midweek cooling will push levels down to roughly 500 to 2,500 feet by late Wednesday into Thursday. That change will make passes and mid-mountain terrain wintry.
Initial Oregon snow will be denser. Expect SLRs near 5-10 at Timberline and 6-12 at Mt. Bachelor.
As the air cools, ratios trend lighter. Storm-end SLRs may reach 10-15, with pockets above 15 at the highest elevations.
Wind and Travel Impacts
Ridge gusts will be a concern. Exposed Oregon terrain could see 30 to 50 mph gusts at times.
During the storm’s heart, Timberline and Mt. Bachelor might face 60 to 80 mph gusts. Washington ridges generally look breezy but manageable.
Expected Totals and Resort Forecasts
Where stronger bands linger, Mt. Baker and Oregon volcanoes could see about one to two feet. Stevens, Snoqualmie, Crystal, and Whistler may receive roughly 7 to 14 inches.
After Friday, any follow-up systems look weaker and less organized. Most areas would get only light refreshers if any develop.
| Resort | Forecast Totals (Sat Apr 11 – Fri Apr 17) |
|---|---|
| Timberline | 16–26 in |
| Mt. Baker | 12–19 in |
| Mt. Bachelor | 11–16 in |
| Stevens Pass | 9–14 in |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 8–13 in |
| Crystal Mountain | 7–12 in |
| Whistler | 7–11 in |
Weekend Outlook
Friday should offer the cleanest break and a cooler day. That day will likely ski well if the midweek storm verifies.
Confidence drops for the weekend and early next week. Guidance diverges on whether another Pacific wave organizes.
If a follow-up appears, most areas would see about 2 to 6 inches. Timberline, Stevens, and Mt. Baker have the best upside.
Filmogaz.com compiled this forecast summary from the current guidance suite. Temperatures look near normal overall, not sharply colder.
