Issued: 2:34 PM 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 Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis

A strong front is currently pushing into the central and south Cascades at 2 pm. Heavy precipitation, strong to extreme winds and rapid cooling can be expected for the next few hours.  Camp Muir has had several hours gusting above 100 mph and other stations have seen impressive gusts as well. A Puget Sound Convergence Zone will rapidly set up this evening, impacting the Mt Loop to Hwy 2 Corridor through the evening hours. Significant post-frontal showers will be seen from I-90 to White Pass as well. The convergence zone will likely drift south after midnight, shifting the axis of heaviest precipitation. Significant snowfall accumulations should slop over to the east-side of the crest from this afternoon through tomorrow morning. Mt Hood will see a later frontal passage this afternoon and will see up to a foot of snow through Monday morning with the very strong winds.

We'll be on the back-side of a cool upper trough tomorrow.  Cool, unsettled and mostly cloudy weather will continue along the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood.  The further from the Cascade crest and over the Olympics will see more sunbreaks. The air mass will be unseasonably cool for the end of March. 

Upper level ridging will build offshore Monday night through Tuesday.  Any leftover showers should quickly wind-down Monday evening. Despite the drying trend, there should be some low-level clouds hanging around for the west slopes of the Cascades on Tuesday, making for a partly cloudy forecast.

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 Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy. Chance of light snow showers in the morning.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light to moderate snow showers in the evening becoming scattered light snow showers late. Strong winds decreasing in the evening.
Monday Mostly cloudy. Chance of light snow showers in the morning.
Sunday Night Moderate snow showers, occasionally heavy in the evening. Strong to extreme winds.
Monday Mostly cloudy. Scattered light snow showers.
Sunday Night Cloudy with moderate snow showers. Heaviest showers Paradise area. Strong to extreme winds.
Monday Mostly cloudy. Scattered light snow showers.
Sunday Night Moderate snow showers, occasionally heavy in the evening. Strong to extreme winds.
Monday Mostly cloudy. Scattered light snow showers. Moderate west winds at Pass level and ridgeline.
Sunday Night Moderate to occasionally heavy snow showers. Strong to extreme winds.
Monday Mostly cloudy. Scattered light snow showers. Moderate west winds at Pass level, moderate to strong at ridgeline.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Strong winds decreasing after midnight.
Monday Mostly cloudy. Isolated light snow showers near the Cascade crest. Partly sunny further east.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers, except cloudy with moderate showers near the Cascade crest. Extreme winds.
Monday Mostly cloudy. Scattered light snow showers near the Cascade crest. Partly sunny further east. Strong ridgeline winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers, except cloudy with moderate showers near the Cascade crest. Extreme winds.
Monday Mostly cloudy. Scattered light snow showers near the Cascade crest. Partly sunny further east. Strong ridgeline winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Moderate to occasionally heavy snow showers. Extreme winds.
Monday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers west-side. East-side, partly to mostly cloudy with lighter showers. Strong to extreme winds.

Issued: 2:34 PM PDT Sunday, March 28, 2021

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 2:34 PM PDT Sunday, March 28, 2021

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 2:34 PM PDT Sunday, March 28, 2021

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 21 / 17 29 / 18
West North 21 / 16 27 / 14
West Central 20 / 18 28 / 18
West South 21 / 17 29 / 19
Stevens Pass 20 / 18 29 / 18
Snoqualmie Pass 22 / 17 28 / 17
East North 22 / 14 28 / 13
East Central 23 / 17 29 / 17
East South 24 / 19 30 / 16
Mt. Hood 25 / 19 30 / 17
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 21 / 17
Monday 29 / 18
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 21 / 16
Monday 27 / 14
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 20 / 18
Monday 28 / 18
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 21 / 17
Monday 29 / 19
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 20 / 18
Monday 29 / 18
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 22 / 17
Monday 28 / 17
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 22 / 14
Monday 28 / 13
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 23 / 17
Monday 29 / 17
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 24 / 19
Monday 30 / 16
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 25 / 19
Monday 30 / 17

Issued: 2:34 PM PDT Sunday, March 28, 2021

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics WNW 25-35 WNW 10-20 NW 5-15 NW 5-15
West North W 20-30 WNW 10-20 W 5-15 W 5-15
West Central W 35-50 WNW 25-35 WNW 15-25 W 10-20
West South W 35-50 WNW 25-35 W 15-25 W 10-20
Stevens Pass W 40-55 WNW 20-30 WNW 15-25 W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass W 35-50 WNW 25-35 WNW 15-25 WNW 15-25
East North WNW 25-35 WNW 15-25 WNW 15-25 WNW 15-25
East Central W 45-65 WNW 35-50 WNW 30-40 WNW 15-25
East South WNW 40-55 WNW 30-40 WNW 30-40 WNW 15-25
Mt. Hood W 45-65 WNW 40-55 NW 30-40 WNW 25-35
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 25-35
Sunday Night WNW 10-20
Monday Morning NW 5-15
Monday Afternoon NW 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 20-30
Sunday Night WNW 10-20
Monday Morning W 5-15
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 35-50
Sunday Night WNW 25-35
Monday Morning WNW 15-25
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 35-50
Sunday Night WNW 25-35
Monday Morning W 15-25
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 40-55
Sunday Night WNW 20-30
Monday Morning WNW 15-25
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 35-50
Sunday Night WNW 25-35
Monday Morning WNW 15-25
Monday Afternoon WNW 15-25
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 25-35
Sunday Night WNW 15-25
Monday Morning WNW 15-25
Monday Afternoon WNW 15-25
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 45-65
Sunday Night WNW 35-50
Monday Morning WNW 30-40
Monday Afternoon WNW 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 40-55
Sunday Night WNW 30-40
Monday Morning WNW 30-40
Monday Afternoon WNW 15-25
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 45-65
Sunday Night WNW 40-55
Monday Morning NW 30-40
Monday Afternoon WNW 25-35

Issued: 2:34 PM PDT Sunday, March 28, 2021

Extended Weather Synopsis

Freezing levels will start to rise, especially for southern locations on Wednesday as the ridge axis shifts closer to us. The ridge will begin to flatten Wednesday night as a weak frontal system makes landfall on the Olympics and north Cascades Thursday afternoon. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
West North 2000' 6000' 6000' 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 7000' 6000' 4500'
Mt. Hood 7000' 9000' 9000' 6000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday 6000'
Wednesday Night 6000'
Thursday 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 3000'
Wednesday 7000'
Wednesday Night 6000'
Thursday 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 7000'
Wednesday 9000'
Wednesday Night 9000'
Thursday 6000'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 28, 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’.