Issued: 2:29 PM PST Sunday, February 27, 2022
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

A barrage of systems arriving on a WSW flow will bring an atmosheric river of moisture into the region through early Tuesday. This will be a very impactful system for our region.

A developing low moving into the region on WSW tracks just north of Vancouver Island Sunday night and with a shield of heavy rain and snow taking aim at the mountains of Washington State with snow water equivalent amounts in the 0.4-2" range. Easterly flow likely keeps Stevens Pass all snow until after midnight with Snoqualmie mixing with or changing to rain by early evening. Areas east and north of Stevens Pass stay snow until sometime on Monday.

While Sunday night's low moves inland, an offshore low keeps the firehose aimed at Washington State on Monday with very heavy precipitation aimed at the region throughout the day and into Monday night. The trough slowly works its way in late Monday night, bringing gradual cooling and an easing of precipitation from NW to southeast. The weakening front should reach the Mt. Hood area by mid-morning on Tuesday as WSW flow continues to bring light to moderate rain and high elevation snow showers to the region.

We expect 2-6" of rain for the west slopes of the Cascades with this system. Expect strong to extreme SW winds in the Mt. Hood area late Monday night through Tuesday evening, with strong winds in other areas at times.

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 Increasing heavy rain and snow. Strong ridgeline winds at times.
Monday Heavy rain and highest elevation snow. Strong ridgeline winds at times.
Sunday Night Moderate rain and snow becoming heavy overnight. Strong ridgeline winds at times.
Monday Very heavy rain and snow. Strong ridgeline winds at times.
Sunday Night Moderate rain and snow becoming heavy overnight.
Monday Very heavy rain and snow.
Sunday Night Moderate rain and snow becoming heavy with strong ridgeline winds overnight.
Monday Very heavy rain and high elevation snow. Strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Light rain and snow becoming moderate to heavy overnight. Light to occasionally moderate E winds at the Pass.
Monday Heavy rain and high elevation snow. Light E winds at the Pass.
Sunday Night Moderate rain and snow becoming moderate to heavy overnight. Light to moderate E winds at the Pass.
Monday Very heavy rain and snow with rapidly rising snow levels during the morning hours. Light E winds at the Pass.
Sunday Night Light snow becoming heavy overnight.
Monday Very heavy rain and snow.
Sunday Night Increasing light snow.
Monday Heavy rain and snow. Rapidly rising snow levels in the morning hours. Increasing strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Moderate rain and snow.
Monday Moderate to heavy rain and snow. Strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow with elevated snow levels and increasing ridgeline winds becoming strong.
Monday Heavy rain and high elevation snow. Strong ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:29 PM PST Sunday, February 27, 2022

Precipitation (in)

Sunday Night Monday Monday Night Tuesday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 1.00 - 1.50 1.00 - 1.50 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 1.50 2.00 1.00 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 1.50 2.00 - 2.50 1.50 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass 0.75 -1.00 1.50 1.00 - 1.50 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 1.50 2.00 - 2.50 1.50 0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt 1.00 1.50 0.75 -1.00 LT 0.25
Paradise 2.00 2.50 1.50 - 2.00 0.50
White Pass 0.75 -1.00 1.50 - 2.00 1.00 - 1.50 0.25
Washington Pass 0.75 1.50 0.75 -1.00 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 1.00 1.50 0.75 -1.00 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.50 - 0.75 1.00 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 - 0.50 1.00 - 1.50 0.50 - 0.75 0.50
Timberline 0.50 1.00 - 1.50 0.50 - 0.75 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Monday 1.00 - 1.50
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 1.50
Monday 2.00
Monday Night 1.00
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 1.50
Monday 2.00 - 2.50
Monday Night 1.50
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.75 -1.00
Monday 1.50
Monday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Tuesday 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 1.50
Monday 2.00 - 2.50
Monday Night 1.50
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 1.00
Monday 1.50
Monday Night 0.75 -1.00
Tuesday LT 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 2.00
Monday 2.50
Monday Night 1.50 - 2.00
Tuesday 0.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.75 -1.00
Monday 1.50 - 2.00
Monday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Tuesday 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday 1.50
Monday Night 0.75 -1.00
Tuesday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.50 - 0.75
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 1.00
Monday 1.50
Monday Night 0.75 -1.00
Tuesday 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 1.00
Monday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 1.00 - 1.50
Monday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday 0.50
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 1.00 - 1.50
Monday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday 0.50

Issued: 2:29 PM PST Sunday, February 27, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 4500' 4500' 5500' 6000' 6000' 5000' 4500' 5000'
West North 4000' 4000' 4500' 5000' 5500' 5000' 4000' 5000'
West Central 4500' 4500' 5000' 6000' 6500' 5500' 5000' 5000'
West South 4500' 5000' 6000' 7000' 7000' 6000' 5500' 5500'
Stevens Pass 3000' 3500' 4000' 6000' 6500' 5500' 5500' 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 3500' 4500' 7000' 6500' 6000' 5500' 5500'
East North 3000' 3000' 3000' 4000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000'
East Central 3000' 3500' 4000' 6000' 7000' 6000' 5500' 5500'
East South 4500' 5000' 6000' 7500' 7000' 6500' 6000' 6000'
Mt. Hood 5000' 5500' 7500' 8000' 7500' 7500' 6500' 6500'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 4500'
Monday Morning* 5500'
Monday Afternoon 6000'
Monday Evening 6000'
Monday Night 5000'
Tuesday Morning 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon 5000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday Morning* 4500'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
Monday Evening 5500'
Monday Night 5000'
Tuesday Morning 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 5000'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 4500'
Monday Morning* 5000'
Monday Afternoon 6000'
Monday Evening 6500'
Monday Night 5500'
Tuesday Morning 5000'
Tuesday Afternoon 5000'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 5000'
Monday Morning* 6000'
Monday Afternoon 7000'
Monday Evening 7000'
Monday Night 6000'
Tuesday Morning 5500'
Tuesday Afternoon 5500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning* 4000'
Monday Afternoon 6000'
Monday Evening 6500'
Monday Night 5500'
Tuesday Morning 5500'
Tuesday Afternoon 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning* 4500'
Monday Afternoon 7000'
Monday Evening 6500'
Monday Night 6000'
Tuesday Morning 5500'
Tuesday Afternoon 5500'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning* 3000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 5000'
Tuesday Morning 5000'
Tuesday Afternoon 5000'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning* 4000'
Monday Afternoon 6000'
Monday Evening 7000'
Monday Night 6000'
Tuesday Morning 5500'
Tuesday Afternoon 5500'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 5000'
Monday Morning* 6000'
Monday Afternoon 7500'
Monday Evening 7000'
Monday Night 6500'
Tuesday Morning 6000'
Tuesday Afternoon 6000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening* 5000'
Sunday Night* 5500'
Monday Morning* 7500'
Monday Afternoon 8000'
Monday Evening 7500'
Monday Night 7500'
Tuesday Morning 6500'
Tuesday Afternoon 6500'

Issued: 2:29 PM PST Sunday, February 27, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 34 / 31 36 / 34
West North 32 / 30 34 / 32
West Central 33 / 31 36 / 33
West South 34 / 32 37 / 34
Stevens Pass 32 / 29 34 / 32
Snoqualmie Pass 32 / 30 35 / 32
East North 29 / 22 36 / 28
East Central 32 / 29 36 / 32
East South 35 / 31 38 / 35
Mt. Hood 36 / 34 39 / 37
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 34 / 31
Monday 36 / 34
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 30
Monday 34 / 32
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 33 / 31
Monday 36 / 33
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 34 / 32
Monday 37 / 34
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 29
Monday 34 / 32
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 30
Monday 35 / 32
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 22
Monday 36 / 28
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 29
Monday 36 / 32
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 35 / 31
Monday 38 / 35
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 36 / 34
Monday 39 / 37

Issued: 2:29 PM PST Sunday, February 27, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics SSW 20-30 SSW 25-35 SW 20-30 SW 25-35
West North S 20-30 SSW 25-35 SSW 15-25 SW 20-30
West Central S 10-20 SSW 20-30 SSW 20-30 SW 30-40
West South SW 20-30 SW 25-35 SW 25-35 SW 25-35
Stevens Pass S 5-15 SSW 10-20 SW 15-25 WSW 25-35
Snoqualmie Pass S 10-20 SSE 5-15 SW 15-25 WSW 20-30
East North SSW 5-15 S 10-20 SSW 5-15 SW 20-30
East Central SW 10-20 SW 20-30 SW 25-35 WSW 35-50
East South SW 15-25 SW 20-30 SW 25-35 SW 25-35
Mt. Hood SW 20-30 SW 30-40 SW 30-40 SW 30-40
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SSW 20-30
Sunday Night SSW 25-35
Monday Morning SW 20-30
Monday Afternoon SW 25-35
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening S 20-30
Sunday Night SSW 25-35
Monday Morning SSW 15-25
Monday Afternoon SW 20-30
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening S 10-20
Sunday Night SSW 20-30
Monday Morning SSW 20-30
Monday Afternoon SW 30-40
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 20-30
Sunday Night SW 25-35
Monday Morning SW 25-35
Monday Afternoon SW 25-35
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening S 5-15
Sunday Night SSW 10-20
Monday Morning SW 15-25
Monday Afternoon WSW 25-35
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening S 10-20
Sunday Night SSE 5-15
Monday Morning SW 15-25
Monday Afternoon WSW 20-30
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SSW 5-15
Sunday Night S 10-20
Monday Morning SSW 5-15
Monday Afternoon SW 20-30
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 10-20
Sunday Night SW 20-30
Monday Morning SW 25-35
Monday Afternoon WSW 35-50
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 15-25
Sunday Night SW 20-30
Monday Morning SW 25-35
Monday Afternoon SW 25-35
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 20-30
Sunday Night SW 30-40
Monday Morning SW 30-40
Monday Afternoon SW 30-40

Issued: 2:29 PM PST Sunday, February 27, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

The upper trough gradually moves onshore Tuesday night through Thursday. Expect SW winds to bring bands of light to moderate rain and snow showers. The trough will bring gradual cooling, decreasing winds, and a return to with snow showers returning typical mid-mountain locations Tuesday night and Wednesday and more seasonable temperatures by Thursday.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
West North 5000' 4000' 3500' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 5500' 4500' 3500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 6500' 5000' 4000' 3000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 5000'
Wednesday 4000'
Wednesday Night 3500'
Thursday 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 5500'
Wednesday 4500'
Wednesday Night 3500'
Thursday 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 6500'
Wednesday 5000'
Wednesday Night 4000'
Thursday 3000'

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

Previous forecast from Feb 27, 2022

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’.