Issued: 7:10 AM PST Saturday, March 12, 2022
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

A low pressure system positioned offshore lifted a warm front over our region last night, bringing mostly high clouds into the area and locally some light snow and gusty winds for the Mt Baker area. We'll see a mix of high clouds this morning give way to something between filtered sunshine and sunny skies later this morning through early afternoon. Snow/freezing levels will be quite warm ahead of the frontal system, with freezing levels ranging from 5500-8000' (warmest south).  A slow moving and N-S oriented occluded front will approach the coast later today, increasing high clouds for the Olympics, Mt Hood, and areas further west of the Cascade crest.  

Light precipitation will move inland with the front Saturday night. However, it will be the trailing upper level shortwave trough that passes through southern WA/northern OR on Sunday morning that delivers more moderate precipitation for the Mt. Hood area, and much lighter showers for areas further north. 

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
Saturday Mostly cloudy with periods of filtered sunshine. Chance or light rain or snow late. Winds becoming strong in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light rain or snow developing in the evening.
Saturday Cloudy in the morning with a chance of light rain or snow, then mostly cloudy with periods of filtered sunshine in the afternoon. Strong ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain or snow developing overnight.
Saturday Mostly cloudy in the morning, becoming partly sunny in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light rain or snow developing overnight.
Saturday Partly sunny with periods of filtered sunshine, then clouds increasing late in the afternoon. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain or snow developing overnight.
Saturday Mostly cloudy in the morning, becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. Light west winds at Pass level.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light rain or snow developing overnight. Light east winds at Pass level.
Saturday Mostly cloudy in the morning, becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. Light west winds at Pass level.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light rain or snow developing overnight. Light east winds at Pass level.
Saturday Mostly cloudy in the morning with filtered sunshine, then partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light rain or snow developing overnight.
Saturday Partly to mostly cloudy in the morning with filtered sunshine, then partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light rain or snow developing overnight.
Saturday Mostly sunny with periods of filtered sunshine in the morning.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light rain or snow developing overnight.
Saturday Partly sunny with periods of filtered sunshine, then clouds increasing late in the afternoon. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow developing. Strong ridgeline winds.

Precipitation (in)

Saturday Saturday Night Sunday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Stevens Pass 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt 0 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Paradise 0 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass 0 0.25 LT 0.25
Washington Pass 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge 0 LT 0.10 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 -1.00
Timberline 0 0.50 1.00
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.75 -1.00
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 1.00

Snow Level (ft)

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

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Saturday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 35 / 29 30 / 22
West North 35 / 28 34 / 25
West Central 39 / 28 36 / 24
West South 42 / 30 36 / 24
Stevens Pass 43 / 29 38 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 41 / 29 37 / 23
East North 39 / 26 33 / 24
East Central 41 / 31 37 / 23
East South 43 / 32 38 / 22
Mt. Hood 47 / 35 32 / 25
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 35 / 29
Saturday Night 30 / 22
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 35 / 28
Saturday Night 34 / 25
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 39 / 28
Saturday Night 36 / 24
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 42 / 30
Saturday Night 36 / 24
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 43 / 29
Saturday Night 38 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 41 / 29
Saturday Night 37 / 23
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 39 / 26
Saturday Night 33 / 24
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 41 / 31
Saturday Night 37 / 23
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 43 / 32
Saturday Night 38 / 22
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 47 / 35
Saturday Night 32 / 25

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon Saturday Evening Saturday Night
Olympics S 10-20 S 20-30 S 25-35 SE 10-20
West North S 20-30 S 25-35 S 20-30 S 10-20
West Central SW 10-20 SSW 15-25 S 15-25 S 10-20
West South SW 20-30 SSW 20-30 SSW S 15-25
Stevens Pass WSW 10-20 SW 5-15 S 10-20 S 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass WSW 15-25 SW 5-15 S 10-20 S 5-15
East North WSW 15-25 SW 5-15 S 5-15 SSW 5-15
East Central WSW 15-25 S 5-15 SSW 5-15 SW 5-15
East South WSW 15-25 S 5-15 SSW 10-20 SW 15-25
Mt. Hood SW 20-30 SW 15-25 SW 15-25 SW 20-30
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning S 10-20
Saturday Afternoon S 20-30
Saturday Evening S 25-35
Saturday Night SE 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning S 20-30
Saturday Afternoon S 25-35
Saturday Evening S 20-30
Saturday Night S 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning SW 10-20
Saturday Afternoon SSW 15-25
Saturday Evening S 15-25
Saturday Night S 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning SW 20-30
Saturday Afternoon SSW 20-30
Saturday Evening SSW
Saturday Night S 15-25
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning WSW 10-20
Saturday Afternoon SW 5-15
Saturday Evening S 10-20
Saturday Night S 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning WSW 15-25
Saturday Afternoon SW 5-15
Saturday Evening S 10-20
Saturday Night S 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning WSW 15-25
Saturday Afternoon SW 5-15
Saturday Evening S 5-15
Saturday Night SSW 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning WSW 15-25
Saturday Afternoon S 5-15
Saturday Evening SSW 5-15
Saturday Night SW 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning WSW 15-25
Saturday Afternoon S 5-15
Saturday Evening SSW 10-20
Saturday Night SW 15-25
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning SW 20-30
Saturday Afternoon SW 15-25
Saturday Evening SW 15-25
Saturday Night SW 20-30

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

Previous forecast from Mar 12, 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’.