Issued: 2:28 PM PDT Sunday, March 20, 2022
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

The first bands of precipitation associated with a warm front have started to arrive at the coast this afternoon. Light to moderate rain and snow will continue to spread inland eventually reaching all parts of our forecast area this evening. Just as the front arrives in the region, it stalls. This should allow for moisture to continue to spin into the mountains and maintain light to occasionally moderate precipitation for areas near and west of the Cascade crest. Exactly where this front stalls will have a big influence on how much rain and snow we receive. Weather models continue to disagree about the specifics. However, it appears the heaviest precipitation will occur late Sunday night and Monday morning. 

By the afternoon a growing high-pressure ridge in the eastern Pacific shoves the stalled warm from northward and pushes much warmer air into the region. While all areas will see a rise in snow levels throughout the day, locations near the Olympics, Mt Hood, and West South zone will feel the effects the most. Many trailheads may start the day as snow, but will likely end as rain. This includes the passes, where we expect snow to change to rain by early afternoon. 

As the ridge continues to grow, warmer and slightly drier air will pour into the area. This should help bring an end to most of the major shower activity. However, low-level moisture may still ring out a few sprinkles and create drippy conditions through Tuesday morning. While low clouds might continue to hang around the mountains, skies at mid and upper elevations should start to clear. Snow levels should peak for most locations Tuesday just as precipitation ends. 

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 Cloudy with light rain and snow. Moderate SW winds.
Monday Mostly cloudy with light showers. Light to moderate SW winds. Significant warming in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with rain and snow, moderate at times. Moderate SSW winds.
Monday Cloudy with rain and snow, heaviest in the morning. Light SW winds becoming moderate in the afternoon. Rising snow levels throughout the day.
Sunday Night Cloudy with rain and snow, moderate at times. Light to moderate SW winds increasing overnight.
Monday Cloudy with rain and snow, heaviest in the morning. Light to moderate SW winds. Rising snow levels throughout the day.
Sunday Night Cloudy with rain and snow. Heaviest near the volcanoes. Moderate SW winds turning WSW.
Monday Cloudy with rain and snow. Heaviest in the morning. Light to moderate WSW winds. Rising snow levels throughout the day.
Sunday Night Cloudy with rain and snow, moderate at times. Light to moderate W winds.
Monday Cloudy with rain and snow, heaviest in the morning. Light to moderate W winds. Rising snow levels throughout the day. Snow turning to rain at the Pass by the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with rain and snow, moderate to heavy at times. Light to moderate W winds increasing overnight.
Monday Cloudy with rain and snow, heaviest in the morning. Moderate W winds decreasing in the afternoon. Rising snow levels throughout the day. Snow turning to rain at the Pass late morning.
Sunday Night Overcast with showers heaviest near the crest. Light to moderate W winds.
Monday Overcast with light rain and snow near the crest, showers further east. Some sun breaks are possible. Light W winds. Snow levels rising throughout the day.
Sunday Night Overcast with showers near the crest. Moderate to strong WNW winds decreasing.
Monday Overcast with light rain and snow near the crest, showers further east. Some sun breaks are possible. Moderate WNW winds becoming strong and W in the afternoon. Snow levels rising throughout the day.
Sunday Night Overcast with occasional light showers near the crest. Moderate W winds decreasing overnight.
Monday Overcast with light rain and snow near the crest and showers further east. Light to moderate W winds increasing in the afternoon. Snow levels rising throughout the day.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light rain and snow developing. Showers could be moderate at times. Moderate W winds.
Monday Cloudy with light rain and snow that could be heavy at times. Moderate W winds becoming strong in the afternoon. Snow levels rising significantly during the day.

Issued: 2:28 PM PDT Sunday, March 20, 2022

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

Issued: 2:28 PM PDT Sunday, March 20, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon*
Olympics 3000' 3500' 5500' 7500' 8500' 9000' 8000' 8000'
West North 2500' 3000' 3000' 4500' 5500' 6500' 7000' 7500'
West Central 2500' 3000' 3000' 5000' 6000' 8000' 8000' 8000'
West South 3000' 3000' 4000' 6000' 7500' 8500' 8500' 8500'
Stevens Pass 2500' 3000' 3500' 5000' 6000' 8000' 8000' 8000'
Snoqualmie Pass 2500' 3000' 3500' 5500' 6500' 8500' 8500' 8000'
East North 2500' 2500' 3000' 4500' 5000' 6000' 7000' 7500'
East Central 2500' 3000' 3500' 5000' 6500' 8000' 8000' 8500'
East South 3000' 3000' 4000' 5500' 7500' 8500' 8500' 8500'
Mt. Hood 3000' 3500' 4500' 7500' 8500' 9000' 9000' 8500'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning 5500'
Monday Afternoon 7500'
Monday Evening 8500'
Monday Night 9000'
Tuesday Morning 8000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 8000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
Monday Evening 5500'
Monday Night 6500'
Tuesday Morning 7000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 7500'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
Monday Evening 6000'
Monday Night 8000'
Tuesday Morning 8000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 8000'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 6000'
Monday Evening 7500'
Monday Night 8500'
Tuesday Morning 8500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 8500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
Monday Evening 6000'
Monday Night 8000'
Tuesday Morning 8000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 8000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening 6500'
Monday Night 8500'
Tuesday Morning 8500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 8000'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 6000'
Tuesday Morning 7000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 7500'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
Monday Evening 6500'
Monday Night 8000'
Tuesday Morning 8000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 8500'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening 7500'
Monday Night 8500'
Tuesday Morning 8500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 8500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning 4500'
Monday Afternoon 7500'
Monday Evening 8500'
Monday Night 9000'
Tuesday Morning 9000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 8500'

Issued: 2:28 PM PDT Sunday, March 20, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 29 / 25 37 / 30
West North 26 / 24 33 / 26
West Central 26 / 24 33 / 26
West South 27 / 25 36 / 26
Stevens Pass 27 / 24 36 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 26 / 25 34 / 26
East North 27 / 22 37 / 26
East Central 27 / 24 36 / 26
East South 28 / 25 39 / 26
Mt. Hood 28 / 25 37 / 27
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 25
Monday 37 / 30
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 26 / 24
Monday 33 / 26
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 26 / 24
Monday 33 / 26
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 27 / 25
Monday 36 / 26
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 27 / 24
Monday 36 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 26 / 25
Monday 34 / 26
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 27 / 22
Monday 37 / 26
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 27 / 24
Monday 36 / 26
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 28 / 25
Monday 39 / 26
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 28 / 25
Monday 37 / 27

Issued: 2:28 PM PDT Sunday, March 20, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:28 PM PDT Sunday, March 20, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

The position of the Pacific high-pressure will drive our weather through the extended forecast. By late Tuesday afternoon and evening, the ridge axis starts to shift inland. As it does so, our atmospheric flow will turn more southwesterly and draw clouds into our area. This steers the tail end of a weakening storm over the Northwest Wednesday afternoon and evening. Even though snow levels drop significantly, the storm will only provide modest amounts of precipitation. As the ridge fully exits to the east Wednesday night, we're left with a more spring-like pattern for Thursday with plenty of sunshine and warming temperatures. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night* Wednesday * Wednesday Night Thursday
West North 7000' 5000' 3000' 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass 8000' 5500' 3500' 5000'
Mt. Hood 8500' 6500' 4500' 7500'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night* 7000'
Wednesday * 5000'
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night* 8000'
Wednesday * 5500'
Wednesday Night 3500'
Thursday 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night* 8500'
Wednesday * 6500'
Wednesday Night 4500'
Thursday 7500'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 20, 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’.