page_title: Graybeard Peak
section_title: Climate
hierarchical_section_title: Graybeard Peak / Climate
caption_attribution_description: English: Graybeard Peak telephoto from Maple Pass Loop Trail in the North Cascades of WA
context_page_description: Graybeard Peak is a 7,965-foot mountain summit located in Skagit County, Washington. The mountain is part of the North Cascades Range. Graybeard Peak straddles the North Cascades National Park boundary line, and can be seen from the North Cascades Highway at the Easy Pass Trailhead. Graybeard Peak is situated on Ragged Ridge. Other peaks on Ragged Ridge include Mesahchie Peak, Kimtah Peak, and Katsuk Peak. The nearest higher peak is Fisher Peak, 1.33 miles to the south. Precipitation runoff on the east side of the mountain drains into Ross Lake via Granite Creek, whereas the west side of the mountain drains into Diablo Lake via Fisher Creek.
context_section_description: Graybeard Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America. Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel northeast toward the Cascade Mountains. 
  As fronts approach the North Cascades, they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range (Orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the Cascades. As a result, the west side of the North Cascades experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. Due to its temperate climate and proximity to the Pacific Ocean, areas west of the Cascade Crest very rarely experience temperatures below 0 °F (−18 °C) or above 80 °F (27 °C). During winter months, weather is usually cloudy, but, due to high pressure systems over the Pacific Ocean that intensify during summer months, there is often little or no cloud cover during the summer. Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger.
caption: Graybeard Peak from Maple Pass loop trail
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