Mount Rainier Weather and Forecasts

    Welcome to my Mount Rainier Weather and Forecast page. I've created this page because I am curious about mountain weather and also enjoy climbing mountains. This page has links to the most applicable official National Weather Service forecasts as well as other resources and products. I hope you find this page useful. If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail me at .

*** Disclaimer Statement ***   By using this web page, you agree that you have read the disclaimer and assume all risk for your actions.

Quick links for this page:

•  A Word About Safety
•  Weather and Climate of Mount Rainier
•  Conditions on the Mountain
•  Forecasts for Mount Rainier (National Weather Service)
•  Current Weather Observations
•  Atmospheric Profiles of Temperature and Wind    [New!]
•  Mount Rainier Web Cams

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First a word about safety . . .

    On average, about 10,000 people climb on Mount Rainier each year, but less than half reach the top. More than 50 people have died on Mount Rainier in the past, usually due to falls, avalanches, or exposure. The best way to stay safe on Mount Rainier is to be knowledgeable about the weather, route, and do not exceed your abilities. Proper training and equipment is essential on all routes to the summit. Check with a ranger at any of the ranger stations in the park for current trail and route conditions. Backcountry, climbing, and overnight regulations may apply.

Weather and Climate of Mount Rainier

Conditions on the Mountain

•  Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center

National Weather Service Forecasts for Mount Rainier and Surroundings

•  Mount Rainier Recreational Forecast    This provides a 3-day overview of forecasts for various points on the mountain

Experimental Gridpoint Forecasts

    About the experimental gridpoint forecasts. Recent advances in computer technology have made it possible to give forecasts valid for specific localized areas like mountain ridge tops, specific valleys, etc. This is made possible because the NWS forecast data is now entered into a high resolution nation-wide grid. The forecasts below are for grid points on or near Mount Rainier. Although this information is very specific, remember that it is still subject to uncertainty. The weather can be very different on one side of the mountain from the another side.  

•  Forecasts for grid points on or near Mount Rainier
  •  0.6 miles south of Mount Rainier (valid for an elevation of 12,330 ft)
    • 7-day text forecast
  •  1.9 miles south of Mount Rainier (valid for an elevation of 9482 ft)
    • 7-day text forecast
  •  Paradise, 5.2 miles south of Mount Rainier (valid for an elevation of 5330 ft)
    • 7-day text forecast

Experimental Graphical Forecasts for Western Washington

    About the experimental graphical forecasts. The forecast for the entire region including expected snowfall, minimum and maximum temperatures, wind, and other elements can be easily seen from the graphical grid forecasts. This is very useful for seeing fronts and other changes coming in, and will help in determining how the weather could change during your expedition. 

•  Graphical Forecast Fields

Area Forecast Discussions

    To find out what the forecasters were thinking when they made the forecast, read the Area Forecast Discussion (AFD). These are technical discussions on the factors that forecasters feel are important for the current forecast cycle.

•  Seattle AFD
•  Portland AFD

Current Weather Observations in the Vicinity of Mount Rainier

Surface Observations

•  Paradise

•  Sunrise

•  Chinook Pass

•  Crystal Mountain Ski Area -- Rainier Express Lift 

Regional Radar Imagery

•  KRTX -- Portland, OR
  • Short Range Base Reflectivity     [Loop]

Regional Satellite Imagery

•  UCAR-RAP Regional Satellite
  • Visible  
  • False Color Infrared 

Regional Weather Maps

•  Regional Surface Plot

Want even more information? Numerous models and upper air data are available at the UCAR-RAP Weather Pages.

Atmospheric Profiles of Temperature and Wind Near Mount Rainier     New!

Most Recent Sounding                Loop (not yet implemented)              Archive 

This product is scheduled to update an hour and a half after the sounding synoptic time (00Z, 12Z, and when severe weather threatens the region, 18Z). When Seattle is on Daylight Savings Time, the web product will update at 6:31 PM, 6:31 AM, and occasionally 12:31 PM PDT.

Note: Your use of this product signifies that you have read the Disclaimer Statement and that you assume all risk for your actions.

Mount Rainier Web Cams

Comments or questions? Please contact me.