Issued: 4:10 PM 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 Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis

410 PM Update: Adjusted cloud forecast for northern zones on Sunday. 

An occluded front positioned along the Washington and Oregon coastline this afternoon will slowly rotate inland this afternoon, spreading clouds and then light to locally moderate precipitation to all areas this evening. Locally strong southerly ridgeline winds will continue overnight for areas west of the Cascade crest such as terrain near Crystal/Mt Rainier, the Olympics, and the Mt Baker area. 

The front will weaken as it crosses the Cascades tonight. However, the trailing low pressure and associated upper level trough will focus moderate precipitation on the far southwest Washington Cascades (for places like Mt St Helens and south of Hwy 12) and Mt Hood on Sunday.  Mt Hood in particular will be buffeted by strong to extreme SW-W winds on Sunday. Shower activity beginning Sunday morning should largely cut off for areas north of Mt Rainier until Sunday afternoon when a few light and scattered showers may pop-up.

An atmospheric river event will slowly begin Sunday night and increase on Monday. There is low confidence on the location and timing of the heaviest precipitation.  There's higher confidence that while snow levels will rise on Monday and Monday night, we'll be talking about more snow than rain at mid and upper elevations.    

Daylight Savings Schedule Change:  The afternoon mountain weather forecast will be issued at 230 PM starting Sunday, March 13th for the remainder of the season.  

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 Night Cloudy with light rain or snow developing in the evening. Strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Partly to mostly cloudy in the morning, then partly to mostly sunny mid-day. Slight chance of light rain or snow showers.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light to moderate rain or snow developing in the evening. Strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Partly sunny through early afternoon, then mostly cloudy. Chance of light rain or snow showers.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light rain or snow developing in the evening.
Sunday Cloudy early, then partly sunny through early afternoon, then mostly cloudy. Chance of light rain or snow showers.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain or snow developing in the evening. Strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Showers locally moderate south of Hwy 12. Strong ridgeline winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light rain or snow developing in the evening. Light east winds at Pass level.
Sunday Cloudy early, then partly sunny through early afternoon, then mostly cloudy. Chance of light rain or snow showers. Light west winds at Pass level.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light rain or snow developing in the evening. Light east winds at Pass level.
Sunday Cloudy early, then partly sunny through early afternoon, then mostly cloudy. Chance of light rain or snow showers. Light to moderate west winds at Pass level.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light rain or snow developing overnight.
Sunday Mostly cloudy in the morning, then partly sunny in the afternoon. Chance of light rain and snow showers near the Cascade crest in the morning.
Saturday Night Becoming cloudy with light rain or snow developing overnight.
Sunday Mostly cloudy in the morning, then partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon. Chance of light rain and snow showers near the Cascade crest in the morning.
Saturday Night Becoming cloudy with light rain or snow developing overnight.
Sunday Mostly cloudy in the morning, then partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon. Chance of light rain and snow showers near the Cascade crest in the morning. Moderate ridgeline winds in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow developing in the evening. Strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Moderate rain and snow showers. Strong to extreme winds.

Issued: 4:10 PM PST Saturday, March 12, 2022

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 4:10 PM PST Saturday, March 12, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 4:10 PM PST Saturday, March 12, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 32 / 27 34 / 28
West North 34 / 27 34 / 27
West Central 36 / 26 34 / 27
West South 34 / 26 35 / 27
Stevens Pass 37 / 26 36 / 27
Snoqualmie Pass 35 / 26 34 / 28
East North 33 / 25 38 / 27
East Central 36 / 26 36 / 27
East South 36 / 26 34 / 27
Mt. Hood 35 / 27 31 / 26
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 27
Sunday 34 / 28
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 34 / 27
Sunday 34 / 27
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 36 / 26
Sunday 34 / 27
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 34 / 26
Sunday 35 / 27
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 37 / 26
Sunday 36 / 27
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 35 / 26
Sunday 34 / 28
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 33 / 25
Sunday 38 / 27
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 36 / 26
Sunday 36 / 27
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 36 / 26
Sunday 34 / 27
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 35 / 27
Sunday 31 / 26

Issued: 4:10 PM PST Saturday, March 12, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics S 25-35 SE 10-20 VAR 5-15 S 10-20
West North S 20-30 S 10-20 S 5-15 SW 5-15
West Central S 15-25 S 10-20 S 5-15 SSW 15-25
West South SSW 30-40 S 15-25 S 20-30 SW 10-20
Stevens Pass S 10-20 S 0-10 VAR 5-15 WSW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass S 10-20 S 5-15 VAR 5-15 WSW 5-15
East North S 10-20 SSW 5-15 SW 0-10 SW 5-15
East Central SSW 15-25 SW 10-20 SW 5-15 W 10-20
East South SSW 10-20 SW 15-25 SW 5-15 W 15-25
Mt. Hood SW 25-35 SW 20-30 SW 25-35 WSW 35-50
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 25-35
Saturday Night SE 10-20
Sunday Morning VAR 5-15
Sunday Afternoon S 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 20-30
Saturday Night S 10-20
Sunday Morning S 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SW 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 15-25
Saturday Night S 10-20
Sunday Morning S 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SSW 15-25
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 30-40
Saturday Night S 15-25
Sunday Morning S 20-30
Sunday Afternoon SW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 10-20
Saturday Night S 0-10
Sunday Morning VAR 5-15
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 10-20
Saturday Night S 5-15
Sunday Morning VAR 5-15
Sunday Afternoon WSW 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 10-20
Saturday Night SSW 5-15
Sunday Morning SW 0-10
Sunday Afternoon SW 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 15-25
Saturday Night SW 10-20
Sunday Morning SW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 10-20
Saturday Night SW 15-25
Sunday Morning SW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 15-25
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 25-35
Saturday Night SW 20-30
Sunday Morning SW 25-35
Sunday Afternoon WSW 35-50

Issued: 4:10 PM PST Saturday, March 12, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

The atmospheric river event will wind down sometime Monday night into Tuesday, with post-frontal showers and cooling through mid-week. Depending on how long post-frontal westerly flow sticks around, there could be some decent snowfall accumulations associated with the cooling trend along the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt Hood. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 4500' 3500' 2000' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' 4000' 2500' 3000'
Mt. Hood 6000' 4000' 3000' 3500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday 3500'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 5000'
Tuesday 4000'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday 3000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 6000'
Tuesday 4000'
Tuesday Night 3000'
Wednesday 3500'

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

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’.