Issued: 2:17 PM PDT Monday, March 21, 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

Waning moisture from the dregs of a warm front will continue on and off overnight, with slightly wetter conditions down in the Mt Hood area. Snow levels will continue their slow and steady march higher overnight as well. The drip of warm frontal moisture will end from south to north across the area on Tuesday, as strong upper level ridging noses from along the coast to the inland NW during the day. Light rain or snow may linger into Tuesday morning for the northwest Cascades.

A clearing trend will accompany the high freezing levels in varying forms on Tuesday afternoon, with more sunshine for the south Washington Cascades transitioning to broken skies (mostly cloudy) further north. The upper level ridge will help squash and trap some of the low level moisture Tuesday, preventing a full-break out in some areas. 5000' afternoon mountain high temps will be in the 40s across the region. 

Tuesday night will be dry as we wait for a quick moving and sharp front to arrive. Freezing levels will peak in the 7000'-10,000' range Tuesday night. Clouds will increase on Wednesday with light precipitation beginning late morning or mid-day.  A sharp front will pass through during the afternoon hours bringing a short burst of moderate rain and snow, cooling temperatures and strong westerly winds.   

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
Monday Night Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow.
Tuesday Cloudy in the morning, then partly sunny in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow.
Tuesday Cloudy in the morning with a chance of light or snow, then partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow.
Tuesday Cloudy in the morning with a chance of light or snow, then partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow.
Tuesday Cloudy in the morning, then partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. Light east winds at Pass level.
Tuesday Cloudy in the morning, then partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Light east winds at Pass level.
Monday Night Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. Light east winds at Pass level.
Tuesday Cloudy in the morning, then partly sunny in the afternoon. Light east winds at Pass level.
Monday Night Cloudy. Chance of light rain and snow near the Cascade crest.
Tuesday Cloudy in the morning, then partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy. Chance of light rain and snow near the Cascade crest.
Tuesday Cloudy in the morning, then partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy. Chance of light rain and snow near the Cascade crest.
Tuesday Cloudy in the morning, then partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with light rain and snow.
Tuesday Cloudy in the morning, then partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon.

Issued: 2:17 PM PDT Monday, March 21, 2022

Precipitation (in)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm 5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 0 0 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0.25
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 0 0 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 0 0 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 0 0 LT 0.10
Paradise LT 0.25 0 0 LT 0.25
White Pass LT 0.10 0 0 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.10 0 0 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge 0 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 0 0 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 0 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 0 0 LT 0.10
Timberline 0.25 - 0.50 0 0 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10

Issued: 2:17 PM PDT Monday, March 21, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon
Olympics 7000' 8000' 8000' 9000' 9000' 8000' 6500' 4000'
West North 5000' 6000' 7000' 8000' 8000' 7500' 6500' 4500'
West Central 5500' 6500' 7500' 9000' 9000' 8000' 7500' 5000'
West South 6000' 8000' 8000' 9500' 9000' 9000' 9000' 5500'
Stevens Pass 5000' 6500' 7500' 9000' 9000' 8000' 7500' 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass 6000' 7000' 8000' 9500' 9000' 8000' 7500' 5000'
East North 5000' 4000' 5000' 7000' 7000' 6000' 6000' 5500'
East Central 5500' 6000' 7000' 9000' 9000' 8500' 8000' 6000'
East South 5500' 8000' 8000' 9500' 9000' 8500' 8000' 6500'
Mt. Hood 8500' 8500' 10000' 10000' 9500' 9000' 9000' 6000'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening 7000'
Monday Night 8000'
Tuesday Morning 8000'
Tuesday Afternoon 9000'
Tuesday Evening 9000'
Tuesday Night 8000'
Wednesday Morning 6500'
Wednesday Afternoon 4000'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 6000'
Tuesday Morning 7000'
Tuesday Afternoon 8000'
Tuesday Evening 8000'
Tuesday Night 7500'
Wednesday Morning 6500'
Wednesday Afternoon 4500'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening 5500'
Monday Night 6500'
Tuesday Morning 7500'
Tuesday Afternoon 9000'
Tuesday Evening 9000'
Tuesday Night 8000'
Wednesday Morning 7500'
Wednesday Afternoon 5000'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening 6000'
Monday Night 8000'
Tuesday Morning 8000'
Tuesday Afternoon 9500'
Tuesday Evening 9000'
Tuesday Night 9000'
Wednesday Morning 9000'
Wednesday Afternoon 5500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 6500'
Tuesday Morning 7500'
Tuesday Afternoon 9000'
Tuesday Evening 9000'
Tuesday Night 8000'
Wednesday Morning 7500'
Wednesday Afternoon 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 6000'
Monday Night 7000'
Tuesday Morning 8000'
Tuesday Afternoon 9500'
Tuesday Evening 9000'
Tuesday Night 8000'
Wednesday Morning 7500'
Wednesday Afternoon 5000'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday Morning 5000'
Tuesday Afternoon 7000'
Tuesday Evening 7000'
Tuesday Night 6000'
Wednesday Morning 6000'
Wednesday Afternoon 5500'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening 5500'
Monday Night 6000'
Tuesday Morning 7000'
Tuesday Afternoon 9000'
Tuesday Evening 9000'
Tuesday Night 8500'
Wednesday Morning 8000'
Wednesday Afternoon 6000'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening 5500'
Monday Night 8000'
Tuesday Morning 8000'
Tuesday Afternoon 9500'
Tuesday Evening 9000'
Tuesday Night 8500'
Wednesday Morning 8000'
Wednesday Afternoon 6500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening 8500'
Monday Night 8500'
Tuesday Morning 10000'
Tuesday Afternoon 10000'
Tuesday Evening 9500'
Tuesday Night 9000'
Wednesday Morning 9000'
Wednesday Afternoon 6000'

Issued: 2:17 PM PDT Monday, March 21, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 40 / 36 44 / 40
West North 35 / 32 43 / 35
West Central 36 / 32 43 / 37
West South 37 / 33 46 / 38
Stevens Pass 37 / 32 43 / 37
Snoqualmie Pass 37 / 32 42 / 37
East North 34 / 30 42 / 34
East Central 36 / 32 43 / 37
East South 38 / 34 46 / 38
Mt. Hood 40 / 36 47 / 40
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 40 / 36
Tuesday 44 / 40
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 35 / 32
Tuesday 43 / 35
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 36 / 32
Tuesday 43 / 37
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 37 / 33
Tuesday 46 / 38
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 37 / 32
Tuesday 43 / 37
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 37 / 32
Tuesday 42 / 37
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 34 / 30
Tuesday 42 / 34
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 36 / 32
Tuesday 43 / 37
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 38 / 34
Tuesday 46 / 38
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 40 / 36
Tuesday 47 / 40

Issued: 2:17 PM PDT Monday, March 21, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics SW 5-15 WSW 10-20 WSW 5-15 SW 0-10
West North SW 0-10 SSW 10-20 SSW 10-20 SW 5-15
West Central SW 0-10 SW 5-15 WSW 5-15 SW 0-10
West South W 5-15 WSW 10-20 W 10-20 SSW 0-10
Stevens Pass W 0-10 W 5-15 W 5-15 SW 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass W 5-15 W 10-20 W 10-20 SW 0-10
East North W 5-15 WSW 5-15 W 10-20 W 5-15
East Central W 5-15 W 10-20 WNW 10-20 WSW 5-15
East South W 0-10 WNW 5-15 WNW 10-20 SW 5-15
Mt. Hood W 15-25 WNW 15-25 NW 10-20 S 5-15
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SW 5-15
Monday Night WSW 10-20
Tuesday Morning WSW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon SW 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SW 0-10
Monday Night SSW 10-20
Tuesday Morning SSW 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SW 0-10
Monday Night SW 5-15
Tuesday Morning WSW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon SW 0-10
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 5-15
Monday Night WSW 10-20
Tuesday Morning W 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 0-10
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 0-10
Monday Night W 5-15
Tuesday Morning W 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon SW 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 5-15
Monday Night W 10-20
Tuesday Morning W 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 0-10
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 5-15
Monday Night WSW 5-15
Tuesday Morning W 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon W 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 5-15
Monday Night W 10-20
Tuesday Morning WNW 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 0-10
Monday Night WNW 5-15
Tuesday Morning WNW 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 15-25
Monday Night WNW 15-25
Tuesday Morning NW 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon S 5-15

Issued: 2:17 PM PDT Monday, March 21, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

Post-frontal showers and brisk westerly winds will taper off quickly Wednesday night.  Colder air won't have much time to settle into the region as a new upper level ridge builds over the West Coast on Thursday. Thursday should be a fair early spring day with periods of high clouds and moderating temperatures. While we don't have any massive storms on tap, we'll be in a progressive weather pattern with another frontal system approaching the coastline on Friday. We can expect increasing clouds on Friday as well as increasing alpine winds ahead of the next weather system. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night Thursday Thursday Night Friday
West North 2500' 5000' 6000' 5500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 5500' 6500' 5500'
Mt. Hood 5500' 9000' 8000' 7500'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday 5000'
Thursday Night 6000'
Friday 5500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday 5500'
Thursday Night 6500'
Friday 5500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night 5500'
Thursday 9000'
Thursday Night 8000'
Friday 7500'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 21, 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’.