Issued: 7:10 AM PDT Sunday, March 28, 2021
by Dennis D'Amico

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I

Weather Synopsis

A strong frontal system is poised to pass through the central Cascades between 3-4 pm. Snowfall rates, already over an inch an hour in the Mt Baker area will spread south to the south Washington Cascades in the afternoon.  Look for snow levels to drop quickly with and behind the front, snow levels should be near or below 2500' across Washington state by 5 pm this afternoon and drop further tonight, to 500-1000'.

There is a strong low-level jet out ahead of the frontal system, extreme W-SW winds will develop in most areas during the day. Mt Hood will see the winds this afternoon but the heaviest precipitation will hold off until this evening.  

A Puget Sound Convergence zone will likely wallop the Hwy 2 corridor this evening behind the front. There's less certainty if the convergence zone will dip south and refocus on the Snoqualmie Pass area after midnight. This storm will produce widespread 6-12 inches above 4000', with locally higher totals for Mt Baker and where the convergence zone settles longest. 

We'll be on the back-side of a cool upper trough tomorrow, expect showery and cloudy conditions. 

Weather Forecast

Olympics
West North
West Central
West South
Stevens Pass
Snoqualmie Pass
East North
East Central
East South
Mt. Hood
Use dropdown to select your zone
Sunday Light to moderate rain and snow becoming light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon. Strong winds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers.
Sunday Moderate to heavy rain and snow becoming moderate showers mid-afternoon. Strong winds becoming strong to extreme late morning.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light to moderate snow showers in the evening becoming scattered light snow showers after midnight.
Sunday Light rain and snow developing, becoming moderate mid-day, then moderate showers late in the afternoon. Strong winds becoming strong to extreme late morning.
Sunday Night Light to moderate snow showers. Strong to extreme winds decreasing late.
Sunday Light rain and snow developing mid-day, becoming moderate in the afternoon. Strong winds becoming strong to extreme this afternoon.
Sunday Night Light to moderate snow showers. Strong to extreme winds decreasing late.
Sunday Light rain and snow developing late morning, becoming moderate in the afternoon, becoming moderate to occasionally heavy showers late. Strong winds becoming strong to extreme this afternoon.
Sunday Night Moderate snow showers, occasionally heavy in the evening. Strong to extreme winds decreasing late.
Sunday Light rain and snow developing late morning, becoming moderate in the afternoon, becoming moderate to occasionally heavy showers late. Strong winds becoming strong to extreme this afternoon.
Sunday Night Moderate snow showers. Strong to extreme winds decreasing late.
Sunday Light rain and snow, becoming moderate in the afternoon, then light to moderate showers late. Strong to extreme winds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers.
Sunday Light rain and snow developing late morning, becoming light to moderate in the afternoon. Strong winds becoming strong to extreme winds in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers, except cloudy with moderate showers near the Cascade crest. Strong to extreme winds.
Sunday Light rain and snow developing mid-day, becoming moderate late. Strong winds becoming strong to extreme winds in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers, except cloudy with moderate showers near the Cascade crest. Strong to extreme winds.
Sunday Cloudy. Light rain and snow developing early afternoon, becoming moderate late. Strong winds increasing and becoming extreme in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Moderate to occasionally heavy snow showers. Strong to extreme winds.

Precipitation (in)

Sunday Sunday Night Monday
5 am - 5 pm 5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.50 LT 0.25 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 1.00 - 1.50 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 1.00 0.50 LT 0.25
Stevens Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0
Paradise 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25
White Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 LT 0.10
Washington Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 0.75 LT 0.25
Timberline 0.25 1.00 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 1.00
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday LT 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday LT 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 1.00
Monday 0.25

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 4500' 2000' 1000' 500' 1500' 3000'
West North 3500' 2500' 1000' 500' 1500' 2000'
West Central 4000' 3000' 1500' 500' 1500' 2500'
West South 5000' 4000' 1500' 500' 1500' 3000'
Stevens Pass 4500' 3500' 1500' 500' 1500' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' 4000' 1500' 500' 1500' 2500'
East North 5000' 3500' 1500' 500' 1500' 3000'
East Central 5500' 4500' 1500' 500' 1500' 3500'
East South 5500' 4500' 1500' 500' 1500' 3500'
Mt. Hood 6000' 5000' 2000' 1000' 1500' 3000'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Morning 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 2000'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 2500'
West South Elevation
Sunday Morning 5000'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning 5000'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 2500'
East North Elevation
Sunday Morning 5000'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Morning 5500'
Sunday Afternoon 4500'
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
East South Elevation
Sunday Morning 5500'
Sunday Afternoon 4500'
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Morning 6000'
Sunday Afternoon 5000'
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 3000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Sunday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 30 / 23 21 / 17
West North 30 / 23 19 / 16
West Central 31 / 24 20 / 17
West South 35 / 27 21 / 18
Stevens Pass 32 / 26 21 / 17
Snoqualmie Pass 32 / 25 21 / 17
East North 33 / 26 21 / 16
East Central 35 / 27 22 / 18
East South 36 / 28 22 / 19
Mt. Hood 40 / 31 26 / 19
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 30 / 23
Sunday Night 21 / 17
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 30 / 23
Sunday Night 19 / 16
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 31 / 24
Sunday Night 20 / 17
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 35 / 27
Sunday Night 21 / 18
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 32 / 26
Sunday Night 21 / 17
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 32 / 25
Sunday Night 21 / 17
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 33 / 26
Sunday Night 21 / 16
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 35 / 27
Sunday Night 22 / 18
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 36 / 28
Sunday Night 22 / 19
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 40 / 31
Sunday Night 26 / 19

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night
Olympics SW 20-30 WSW 30-40 WNW 20-30 WNW 10-20
West North SSW 25-35 SW 35-50 W 20-30 WNW 10-20
West Central SW 25-35 SW 40-55 W 30-40 WNW 25-35
West South WSW 20-30 SW 45-65 W 35-50 WNW 20-30
Stevens Pass WSW 20-30 WSW 35-50 W 35-50 WNW 20-30
Snoqualmie Pass WSW 25-35 WSW 40-55 W 35-50 WNW 20-30
East North SW 30-40 WSW 35-50 WNW 25-35 WNW 15-25
East Central WSW 25-35 WSW 35-50 W 45-65 WNW 35-50
East South WSW 20-30 WSW 30-40 WNW 40-55 WNW 30-40
Mt. Hood WSW 30-40 WSW 40-55 W 45-65 WNW 40-55
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SW 20-30
Sunday Afternoon WSW 30-40
Sunday Evening WNW 20-30
Sunday Night WNW 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SSW 25-35
Sunday Afternoon SW 35-50
Sunday Evening W 20-30
Sunday Night WNW 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SW 25-35
Sunday Afternoon SW 40-55
Sunday Evening W 30-40
Sunday Night WNW 25-35
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning WSW 20-30
Sunday Afternoon SW 45-65
Sunday Evening W 35-50
Sunday Night WNW 20-30
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning WSW 20-30
Sunday Afternoon WSW 35-50
Sunday Evening W 35-50
Sunday Night WNW 20-30
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning WSW 25-35
Sunday Afternoon WSW 40-55
Sunday Evening W 35-50
Sunday Night WNW 20-30
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SW 30-40
Sunday Afternoon WSW 35-50
Sunday Evening WNW 25-35
Sunday Night WNW 15-25
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning WSW 25-35
Sunday Afternoon WSW 35-50
Sunday Evening W 45-65
Sunday Night WNW 35-50
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning WSW 20-30
Sunday Afternoon WSW 30-40
Sunday Evening WNW 40-55
Sunday Night WNW 30-40
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning WSW 30-40
Sunday Afternoon WSW 40-55
Sunday Evening W 45-65
Sunday Night WNW 40-55

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I

Previous forecast from Mar 27, 2021

The NWAC program is administered by the USDA-Forest Service and operates from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle. NWAC services are made possible by important collaboration and support from a wide variety of federal, state and private cooperators.

The 5000’ temperature forecast does not imply a trend over the 12 hr period and only represents the max and min temperatures within a 12 hr period in the zone. The 6-hr snow level forecast, the forecast discussion, and weather forecast sections may add detail regarding temperature trends.

The snow level forecast represents the general snow level over a 6 hr time period. Freezing levels are forecast when precipitation is not expected.

*Easterly or offshore flow is highlighted with an asterisk when we expect relatively cool east winds in the major Cascade Passes. Easterly flow will often lead to temperature inversions and is a key variable for forecasting precipitation type in the Cascade Passes. Strong easterly flow events can affect terrain on a more regional scale.

Ridgeline winds are the average wind speed and direction over a 6 hr time period.

The wind forecast represents an elevation range instead of a single elevation slice. The elevation range overlaps with the near and above treeline elevation bands in the avalanche forecast and differs per zone.

Wind direction indicates the direction the wind originates or comes from on the 16-point compass rose.

Water Equivalent (WE) is the liquid water equivalent of all precipitation types; rain, snow, ice pellets, etc., forecast to the hundredth of an inch at specific locations. To use WE as a proxy for snowfall amounts, start with a snow to water ratio of 10:1 (10 inches of snow = 1 inch WE). Temperatures at or near freezing will generally have a lower ratio (heavy wet snow) and very cold temperatures can have a much higher ratio (dry fluffy snow).

The label LT, is shorthand for ‘less than’.