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==Climate== The Cascade Range is tall enough to cause a significant [[rain shadow]] on the eastern slopes. Annually, the western portions of the park receive {{convert|76|in|cm}} more precipitation than the eastern sections. The higher precipitation in the west also correlates to increased snowfall with {{convert|400|in|abbr=on}} more measured in the west than the east annually.<ref name="weather">{{cite web|title=Weather|url=https://www.nps.gov/noca/learn/nature/weather.htm|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=March 29, 2018}}</ref> On the western slopes, snowfall depths range from {{convert|50|to|75|in|cm|abbr=on}} in lower altitudes annually, increasing to {{convert|400|to|600|in|cm|abbr=on}} at elevations between {{convert|4000|to|5500|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level. Snow depths peak in early March and range from {{convert|10|to|25|ft|abbr=on}} depending on altitude.<ref>{{cite web|title=Climate of Washington|url=https://wrcc.dri.edu/narratives/WASHINGTON.htm|publisher=Western Region Climate Center NOAA|access-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref> Snow covers the ground more than six months out of the year, even at lower elevations, and State Route 20, the only highway through the park, is generally closed from late November until late April. Numerous avalanche chutes, as many as traverse any state or federal highway, and including some over {{Convert|2000|feet|m|abbr=on}} long, cross the highway and make snow removal during that period infeasible.<ref name="SR 20 FAQ">{{cite web|title=SR 20 β North Cascades Highway β Frequently Asked Questions|date=March 2013|publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation|access-date=March 28, 2013|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/Passes/NorthCascades/FAQ.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408040311/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/Passes/NorthCascades/FAQ.htm|archive-date=April 8, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Heavy snow and frequent avalanches are common, especially on the western slopes, from autumn to spring. The high elevation trails are generally open by mid-summer and the majority of tourism is between mid-June and late September.<ref name="weather" /> The east side of the park is generally warmer and drier, especially in the summer with highs reaching {{convert|90|Β°F|Β°C}}. Since the 1950s, there has been a five-degree Fahrenheit (2.77{{nbsp}}Β°C) mean winter minimum temperature increase at elevations above {{convert|4000|ft|abbr=on}}. This has led to a reduced winter snowpack as the mean winter freezing level is now {{convert|650|ft|abbr=on}} higher.<ref name="brief" /> Overall the relative proximity of the Pacific Ocean moderates temperatures in the park, and it is warmer than other regions at a similar latitude farther inland. {{Weather box | width = auto | single line = Y | location = North Cascades Visitor Center, North Cascades National Park. Elev: 535 ft (163 m) | Jan high F = 40.9 | Feb high F = 44.8 | Mar high F = 51.0 | Apr high F = 57.8 | May high F = 65.3 | Jun high F = 69.9 | Jul high F = 76.7 | Aug high F = 77.3 | Sep high F = 70.4 | Oct high F = 57.2 | Nov high F = 45.9 | Dec high F = 39.6 | year high F = 58.1 | Jan mean F = 36.2 | Feb mean F = 38.2 | Mar mean F = 42.8 | Apr mean F = 48.1 | May mean F = 54.6 | Jun mean F = 59.6 | Jul mean F = 64.6 | Aug mean F = 65.0 | Sep mean F = 59.2 | Oct mean F = 49.4 | Nov mean F = 40.8 | Dec mean F = 35.3 | year mean F = 49.5 | Jan low F = 31.5 | Feb low F = 31.5 | Mar low F = 34.6 | Apr low F = 38.5 | May low F = 44.0 | Jun low F = 49.2 | Jul low F = 52.5 | Aug low F = 52.8 | Sep low F = 47.9 | Oct low F = 41.5 | Nov low F = 35.7 | Dec low F = 31.0 | year low F = 40.9 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation inch = 9.75 | Feb precipitation inch = 6.15 | Mar precipitation inch = 5.60 | Apr precipitation inch = 4.00 | May precipitation inch = 2.78 | Jun precipitation inch = 2.59 | Jul precipitation inch = 1.41 | Aug precipitation inch = 1.37 | Sep precipitation inch = 2.79 | Oct precipitation inch = 7.66 | Nov precipitation inch = 10.49 | Dec precipitation inch = 8.24 | year precipitation inch = 62.83 | humidity colour = green | Jan humidity = 81.9 | Feb humidity = 74.8 | Mar humidity = 68.1 | Apr humidity = 57.7 | May humidity = 55.5 | Jun humidity = 55.4 | Jul humidity = 50.1 | Aug humidity = 48.9 | Sep humidity = 51.4 | Oct humidity = 59.8 | Nov humidity = 82.5 | Dec humidity = 84.9 | year humidity = 64.2 | Jan dew point F = 31.2 | Feb dew point F = 30.9 | Mar dew point F = 33.0 | Apr dew point F = 33.9 | May dew point F = 39.0 | Jun dew point F = 43.6 | Jul dew point F = 45.6 | Aug dew point F = 45.3 | Sep dew point F = 41.3 | Oct dew point F = 36.0 | Nov dew point F = 35.9 | Dec dew point F = 31.2 | year dew point F = 37.3 |Jan sun = 62.0 |Feb sun = 84.8 |Mar sun = 155.0 |Apr sun = 180.0 |May sun = 217.0 |Jun sun = 240.0 |Jul sun = 279.0 |Aug sun = 248.0 |Sep sun = 180.0 |Oct sun = 155.0 |Nov sun = 60.0 |Dec sun = 62.0 |Jand sun = 2 |Febd sun = 3 |Mard sun = 5 |Aprd sun = 6 |Mayd sun = 7 |Jund sun = 8 |Juld sun = 9 |Augd sun = 8 |Sepd sun = 6 |Octd sun = 5 |Novd sun = 2 |Decd sun = 2 |Jan light = 8.8 |Feb light = 10.2 |Mar light = 11.9 |Apr light = 13.7 |May light = 15.3 |Jun light = 16.1 |Jul light = 15.7 |Aug light = 14.3 |Sep light = 12.6 |Oct light = 10.8 |Nov light = 9.2 |Dec light = 8.3 |Jan percentsun = 23 |Feb percentsun = 29 |Mar percentsun = 42 |Apr percentsun = 44 |May percentsun = 46 |Jun percentsun = 50 |Jul percentsun = 57 |Aug percentsun = 56 |Sep percentsun = 48 |Oct percentsun = 46 |Nov percentsun = 22 |Dec percentsun = 24 |Jan uv = 1 |Feb uv = 2 |Mar uv = 3 |Apr uv = 5 |May uv = 6 |Jun uv = 7 |Jul uv = 7 |Aug uv = 7 |Sep uv = 5 |Oct uv = 3 |Nov uv = 1 |Dec uv = 1 |source 1 = PRISM Climate Group<ref name=prism>{{cite web|url=http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/|title=PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University|website=www.prism.oregonstate.edu|access-date=July 15, 2019}}</ref> |source 2 = Weather Atlas (sun data)<ref name="Weather Atlas">{{cite web |url=https://www.weather-us.com/en/washington-usa/north-cascades-national-park-climate |title=North Cascades National Park, Washington - Monthly weather forecast and Climate data |publisher=Weather Atlas |access-date=May 30, 2023 }}</ref> }} === Air and water quality === [[File:Paul Bunyans Stump 25870.JPG|thumb|Air quality in North Cascades National Park is generally considered good and aside from some reduced clarity due to haze, even distant peaks are easily seen most days.|alt=A distant mountain range above a diagonal slope of forest.]] While North Cascades National Park is in a remote region for the most part, the prevailing westerly winds bring various pollutants into the park from the industrialized region around Puget Sound and the [[Fraser Valley|Fraser River Valley]] of British Columbia. These pollutants deposit onto plants and glaciers and are then carried by rainfall or ice melt and dispersed into rivers and lakes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Air Quality|url=https://www.nps.gov/noca/learn/nature/airquality.htm|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=March 27, 2018}}</ref> The industrialized regions around Puget Sound and the Fraser River Valley have had a more noticeable negative impact on water and air quality than at [[Mount Rainier National Park]] well to the south due to the prevailing winds. Lakes at higher elevations show a higher level of acidity due to this phenomenon; the current and long-term impact on the ecosystem of the park has not yet been fully assessed.<ref name="sulfur">{{cite web|title=Air Pollution Impacts|url=https://www.nature.nps.gov/air/permits/aris/noca/impacts.cfm?tab=0#TabbedPanels1|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=March 27, 2018}}</ref> [[Mercury (element)|Mercury]] and toxins from pesticides have been detected in the park, as has [[ozone]]; these have not been demonstrated to be at sufficient concentrations to greatly impact the ecosystem. Sulfur, [[nitrogen dioxide]] and ozone from factories and automobile emissions as well as increased dust and fine particulates from sources such as farming and construction are dispersed into the atmosphere, reducing long-range visibility.<ref>{{cite web|title=More on Air Quality|url=https://www.nps.gov/noca/learn/nature/airquality2.htm|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=June 28, 2018}}</ref> Visibilities of up to {{convert|150|mi|abbr=on}} have been reduced to less than {{convert|50|mi|abbr=on}} on the worst days due to the increased haze.<ref name="sulfur" /> Climate change will impact the temperatures of high altitude lakes and streams, which in turn will have an effect on the fish that can thrive in these waters. Retreating glaciers reduce the amount of glacial ice melt available in warmer months that kept streams and lakes cold, even in late summer.<ref name="riedel1" />
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