Issued: 2:40 PM PDT Saturday, March 26, 2022
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

Cloudy, mild, and slightly damp weather continues through the weekend. A closed low cuts off from the jetstream off the California coast. Its influence lifts the remnants of Saturday's frontal system back north as a warm front with some additional moisture Saturday night. Most of the moisture should focus on the Olympics and northern Washington Cascades, but other areas of the Washington Cascades could see a bit of rain. Snow levels continue to increase to 6000-7500 ft as the warm front maintains light southerly winds. The front mostly exits north of the region as it rotates around the primary cutoff low, but some lingering light rain will fall in the Mt. Baker and Olympics areas during the early morning hours. Most areas should see mostly cloudy, dry, mild weather on Sunday. There's a very slight chance of an isolated convective shower over the Cascades in the afternoon.

A weak trough moves into the region late Sunday night through Monday, bringing light to occasionally moderate rain and snow from late Sunday night onward. Precipitation should be showery to start, but will increasingly focus on the west slopes of the Cascades on the tail end of the trough with some convergence likely. Snow levels should drop back down to 5000-6000 ft on Monday.

 

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 Light rain and high elevation snow.
Sunday Light rain and high elevation snow lingering into the morning hours, then becoming mostly cloudy.
Saturday Night Light rain and high elevation snow, steadier in the early morning hours.
Sunday Light rain and high elevation snow lingering into the morning hours, then becoming mostly cloudy.
Saturday Night Periods of light rain and high elevation snow.
Sunday Mostly cloudy.
Saturday Night Periods of light rain and high elevation snow in the evening, primarily at Paradise.
Sunday Mostly cloudy.
Saturday Night Periods of very light rain and high elevation snow. Light E winds at the Pass.
Sunday Mostly cloudy. Light E winds becoming variable by the afternoon at the Pass.
Saturday Night Periods of light rain and high elevation snow in the evening. Light E winds at the Pass.
Sunday Mostly cloudy. Light E winds becoming variable by the afternoon at the Pass.
Saturday Night Periods of light rain and high elevation snow.
Sunday Mostly cloudy.
Saturday Night Periods of light rain and high elevation snow near the Cascade Crest.
Sunday Mostly cloudy.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy.
Sunday Mostly to partly cloudy skies.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy.
Sunday Mostly to partly cloudy skies.

Issued: 2:40 PM PDT Saturday, March 26, 2022

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 2:40 PM PDT Saturday, March 26, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 2:40 PM PDT Saturday, March 26, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 37 / 34 45 / 37
West North 36 / 35 45 / 36
West Central 37 / 36 47 / 37
West South 42 / 38 53 / 39
Stevens Pass 41 / 36 50 / 37
Snoqualmie Pass 40 / 36 48 / 37
East North 40 / 35 48 / 35
East Central 42 / 37 49 / 37
East South 43 / 37 50 / 38
Mt. Hood 46 / 40 51 / 41
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 37 / 34
Sunday 45 / 37
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 36 / 35
Sunday 45 / 36
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 37 / 36
Sunday 47 / 37
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 42 / 38
Sunday 53 / 39
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 41 / 36
Sunday 50 / 37
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 40 / 36
Sunday 48 / 37
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 40 / 35
Sunday 48 / 35
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 42 / 37
Sunday 49 / 37
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 43 / 37
Sunday 50 / 38
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 46 / 40
Sunday 51 / 41

Issued: 2:40 PM PDT Saturday, March 26, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics SSW 5-15 SSW 5-15 SSW 5-15 WSW 5-15
West North S 5-15 S 5-15 SSW 5-15 SSW 5-15
West Central S 5-15 SSE 5-15 SE 5-15 WSW 0-10
West South S 5-15 SSE 0-10 SSE 0-10 W 0-10
Stevens Pass SSE 0-10 SSE 5-15 SSE 0-10 SE 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass SE 0-10 ESE 5-15 ESE 5-15 S 0-10
East North S 0-10 S 5-15 SSW 5-15 SSW 0-10
East Central S 5-15 SSW 5-15 S 5-15 SSW 0-10
East South SE 0-10 SE 0-10 SE 0-10 S 0-10
Mt. Hood SSW 5-15 SSW 0-10 SSW 5-15 WSW 5-15
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 5-15
Saturday Night SSW 5-15
Sunday Morning SSW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon WSW 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 5-15
Saturday Night S 5-15
Sunday Morning SSW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SSW 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 5-15
Saturday Night SSE 5-15
Sunday Morning SE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon WSW 0-10
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 5-15
Saturday Night SSE 0-10
Sunday Morning SSE 0-10
Sunday Afternoon W 0-10
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 0-10
Saturday Night SSE 5-15
Sunday Morning SSE 0-10
Sunday Afternoon SE 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 0-10
Saturday Night ESE 5-15
Sunday Morning ESE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon S 0-10
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 0-10
Saturday Night S 5-15
Sunday Morning SSW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SSW 0-10
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 5-15
Saturday Night SSW 5-15
Sunday Morning S 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SSW 0-10
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 0-10
Saturday Night SE 0-10
Sunday Morning SE 0-10
Sunday Afternoon S 0-10
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 5-15
Saturday Night SSW 0-10
Sunday Morning SSW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon WSW 5-15

Issued: 2:40 PM PDT Saturday, March 26, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

The trough exits east of the region Monday night. Very light lingering rain/snow showers taper early Monday evening as flow aloft turns northerly. A ridge of high pressure passes over the region on Tuesday, yielding a mostly sunny day. Low clouds may linger west of the Cascade Crest in the morning while high clouds will be increasing ahead of the next system. Clouds lower and thicken Thursday night. A sharp trough and associated cold front will bring light rain and snow to the region on Wednesday with snow levels generally hovering around 3500 ft.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 5500' 6500' 5000' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' 6000' 6000' 3500'
Mt. Hood 5000' 6000' 9000' 3500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 5500'
Tuesday 6500'
Tuesday Night 5000'
Wednesday 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 5000'
Tuesday 6000'
Tuesday Night 6000'
Wednesday 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 5000'
Tuesday 6000'
Tuesday Night 9000'
Wednesday 3500'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 26, 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’.