Issued: 6:57 AM PST Thursday, March 3, 2022
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

A deep Pacific trough and associated surface low will slide over the region today maintaining light showers for areas near and west of the Cascade crest. Without a significant source of moisture for this system, precipitation totals should remain very modest. Onshore flow will keep low-level clouds banked up against the mountains and pushing into the passes. As the trough shifts overhead, the mid and upper atmosphere will dry significantly allowing skies to clear. This could result in mostly sunny skies along the eastern slopes of the Cascades by the afternoon. 

A few lingering showers may hang around into the evening hours, but generally, the trend will be for clearing and drying. Low clouds west of the crest should start to break allowing for colder temperatures than we've seen recently. East of the crest, mostly clear skies may cause temperature inversions along with low clouds and valley fog to form by Friday morning. 

A compact weak storm passes just off the Washington coast Friday. While this won't result in any precipitation for the mountains, it should keep just enough low-level moisture in place to form clouds along the western side of the Cascades. Areas closer to the Canadian border and east of the Crest should enjoy a beautiful sunny day with temperatures warming in the afternoon. 

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
Thursday Mostly cloudy with isolated snow showers.
Thursday Night Partly cloudy with some clearing overnight.
Thursday Cloudy with scattered light showers.
Thursday Night Cloudy with isolated showers in the evening. Then some clearing overnight.
Thursday Cloudy with scattered light showers. A weak Puget Sound Convergence Zone may bring locally heavier rain and snow during the morning to areas between Hwy 2 and I90.
Thursday Night Cloudy with isolated showers in the evening. Then some clearing overnight.
Thursday Cloudy is isolated showers. Light to moderate NW winds in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Mostly cloudy, with a few flurries possible. Some clearing possible overnight.
Thursday Cloudy with isolated showers. Winds becoming WNW light to moderate.
Thursday Night Cloudy with isolated showers possible in the evening. Then drying with some clearing possible. Light NW winds.
Thursday Cloudy with isolated showers. Winds becoming WNW light to moderate.
Thursday Night Cloudy with isolated showers in the evening. Then drying with some clearing possible. Light to moderate NW winds.
Thursday Mostly cloudy with isolated showers possible. Becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Partly to mostly clear with some valley fog and low clouds.
Thursday Mostly cloudy with isolated showers near the crest. Becoming partly to mostly sunny. Light to moderate W winds becoming NW.
Thursday Night Partly to mostly clear with some valley fog and low clouds.
Thursday Mostly cloudy with a few flurries possible near Hwy 410. Light to moderate W winds. Clearing skies possible in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Partly to mostly clear with some valley fog and low clouds. Light to moderate NW winds becoming calm overnight.
Thursday Mostly cloudy with mid to high clouds. Light NW winds becoming moderate in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Low clouds and valley fog. Mostly clear above.

Precipitation (in)

Thursday Thursday Night Friday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 0 0
Paradise LT 0.10 0 0
White Pass LT 0.10 0 0
Washington Pass LT 0.10 0 0
Mission Ridge 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 0 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 0
Timberline 0 0 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0

Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon Thursday Evening Thursday Night Friday Morning Friday Afternoon
Olympics 2000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 2500' 3500'
West North 3000' 2500' 3000' 2500' 2000' 4000'
West Central 3000' 2500' 3000' 2500' 2000' 4000'
West South 3000' 2500' 3000' 2500' 2000' 4500'
Stevens Pass 3000' 2500' 3000' 2500' 2000' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 2500' 3000' 2500' 2000' 4000'
East North 3000' 3000' 3000' 2000' 2000' 4500'
East Central 3000' 3000' 3000' 2000' 2000' 4500'
East South 3500' 3000' 3000' 2500' 2500' 5000'
Mt. Hood 3500' 3000' 3500' 3000' 2500' 4500'
Olympics Elevation
Thursday Morning 2000'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 2500'
Friday Afternoon 3500'
West North Elevation
Thursday Morning 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 2500'
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 2000'
Friday Afternoon 4000'
West Central Elevation
Thursday Morning 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 2500'
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 2000'
Friday Afternoon 4000'
West South Elevation
Thursday Morning 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 2500'
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 2000'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 2500'
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 2000'
Friday Afternoon 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 2500'
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 2000'
Friday Afternoon 4000'
East North Elevation
Thursday Morning 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2000'
Friday Morning 2000'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
East Central Elevation
Thursday Morning 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2000'
Friday Morning 2000'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
East South Elevation
Thursday Morning 3500'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'
Thursday Evening 3000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday Morning 2500'
Friday Afternoon 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Morning 3500'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 2500'
Friday Afternoon 4500'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Thursday Thursday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 34 / 25 30 / 28
West North 34 / 25 30 / 21
West Central 34 / 26 30 / 26
West South 30 / 25 28 / 23
Stevens Pass 30 / 27 30 / 23
Snoqualmie Pass 32 / 28 30 / 25
East North 28 / 26 26 / 20
East Central 30 / 28 28 / 21
East South 34 / 25 28 / 25
Mt. Hood 34 / 27 30 / 28
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 34 / 25
Thursday Night 30 / 28
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 34 / 25
Thursday Night 30 / 21
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 34 / 26
Thursday Night 30 / 26
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 30 / 25
Thursday Night 28 / 23
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 30 / 27
Thursday Night 30 / 23
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 32 / 28
Thursday Night 30 / 25
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 28 / 26
Thursday Night 26 / 20
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 30 / 28
Thursday Night 28 / 21
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 34 / 25
Thursday Night 28 / 25
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 34 / 27
Thursday Night 30 / 28

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon Thursday Evening Thursday Night
Olympics W 0-10 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10
West North W 0-10 W 5-15 NW 0-10 N 0-10
West Central W 5-15 WNW 5-15 NW 5-15 N 5-15
West South W 5-15 NW 10-20 NW 5-15 N 5-15
Stevens Pass W 5-15 WNW 10-20 NW 5-15 NW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass W 5-15 WNW 10-20 NW 10-20 NW 5-15
East North W 5-15 WNW 5-15 NNW 5-15 N 5-15
East Central W 10-20 NW 10-20 NW 5-15 VAR 0-10
East South W 10-20 W 10-20 NW 10-20 VAR 0-10
Mt. Hood NW 5-15 NW 10-20 NW 5-15 NNW 0-10
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning W 0-10
Thursday Afternoon VAR 0-10
Thursday Evening VAR 0-10
Thursday Night VAR 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning W 0-10
Thursday Afternoon W 5-15
Thursday Evening NW 0-10
Thursday Night N 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning W 5-15
Thursday Afternoon WNW 5-15
Thursday Evening NW 5-15
Thursday Night N 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning W 5-15
Thursday Afternoon NW 10-20
Thursday Evening NW 5-15
Thursday Night N 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning W 5-15
Thursday Afternoon WNW 10-20
Thursday Evening NW 5-15
Thursday Night NW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning W 5-15
Thursday Afternoon WNW 10-20
Thursday Evening NW 10-20
Thursday Night NW 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning W 5-15
Thursday Afternoon WNW 5-15
Thursday Evening NNW 5-15
Thursday Night N 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning W 10-20
Thursday Afternoon NW 10-20
Thursday Evening NW 5-15
Thursday Night VAR 0-10
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning W 10-20
Thursday Afternoon W 10-20
Thursday Evening NW 10-20
Thursday Night VAR 0-10
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning NW 5-15
Thursday Afternoon NW 10-20
Thursday Evening NW 5-15
Thursday Night NNW 0-10

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

Previous forecast from Mar 2, 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’.