Issued: 2:48 PM PDT Sunday, March 27, 2022
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

The Pacific Northwest remains in the warm sector of a well-developed cutoff low drifting SE towards the California coastline today. The attached warm front remains NW of the region, relatively stationary and draped SW to NE across the tip of the Olympic Peninsula Sunday afternoon.

Moisture spinning around the cutoff low should make it into the Mt. Hood area Sunday night with light rain and highest elevation snow continuing on Monday. There's a slight chance of isolated convective showers forming over the higher terrain of southern Washington Sunday evening. Any weak storm cells may expand as they track NE. Expect heavy rainfall and perhaps a few lightning strikes. Most locations remain dry during the evening hours. A weak trough brings the offshore front back onshore with light rain and high elevation snow spreading into the Mt. Baker area. In between, expect mostly dry, mild weather until the trough brings some light precipitation southward on Monday along the west slopes of the Cascades. Don't expect much spillover onto the east slopes. Snow levels gradually lower into the 5000-6000 range by the end of the day.

The weak trough slides eas of the region Monday night with drying northerly flow rapidly bringing an end to any light lingering precipitation. Low clouds should remain somewhat banked against the west slopes of the Cascades.

A ridge of high pressure should bring more sun than clouds to the region on Tuesday with 7500-10000 ft freezing levels. Trapped low-level clouds may linger through some mountain gaps.

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 Mostly cloudy. Mild.
Monday Partly cloudy to mostly cloudy.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening with a chance of rain and high elevation snow overnight. Mild.
Monday Light rain and high elevation snow.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy. Mild.
Monday Periods of light rain and high elevation snow.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of isolated thunderstorms in the evening. Mild.
Monday Periods of light rain and high elevation snow.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of isolated thunderstorms in the evening. Mild. Light W wind at the Pass.
Monday Periods of light rain and high elevation snow. Light W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of isolated thunderstorms in the evening. Mild. Light W wind at the Pass.
Monday Periods of light rain and high elevation snow. Light W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy. Mild.
Monday Mostly cloudy to start with decreasing clouds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of isolated thunderstorms in the evening. Mild.
Monday Mostly cloudy to start with decreasing clouds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of isolated thunderstorms in the evening. Mild.
Monday Mostly cloudy to start with decreasing clouds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of isolated rain/thunder showers.
Monday Light rain and highest elevation snow showers.

Issued: 2:48 PM PDT Sunday, March 27, 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 0 0 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 0.25 0 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 LT 0.10 0 0
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0
Paradise 0 LT 0.10 0 0
White Pass 0 LT 0.10 0 0
Washington Pass 0 0 0 0
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 0 0 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 LT 0.10 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0 0
Timberline LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0

Issued: 2:48 PM PDT Sunday, March 27, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 7500' 7000' 6500' 6000' 6500' 7000' 10000' 8000'
West North 7500' 6000' 5500' 5000' 6000' 6500' 7500' 7000'
West Central 8000' 7500' 6000' 5500' 6500' 6500' 6500' 6500'
West South 7500' 7500' 6500' 6500' 7000' 6500' 7500' 8000'
Stevens Pass 7000' 7500' 6500' 6000' 6500' 6500' 7000' 7500'
Snoqualmie Pass 7000' 7500' 6500' 6000' 6500' 6500' 6500' 7000'
East North 8000' 6000' 6000' 6500' 6500' 6000' 5500' 9000'
East Central 7500' 8000' 7600' 7000' 7000' 7000' 7500' 8500'
East South 8000' 7500' 7000' 7000' 7500' 8000' 8000' 9500'
Mt. Hood 8000' 7500' 7000' 7000' 6500' 7500' 7000' 8000'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening 7500'
Sunday Night 7000'
Monday Morning 6500'
Monday Afternoon 6000'
Monday Evening 6500'
Monday Night 7000'
Tuesday Morning 10000'
Tuesday Afternoon 8000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening 7500'
Sunday Night 6000'
Monday Morning 5500'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
Monday Evening 6000'
Monday Night 6500'
Tuesday Morning 7500'
Tuesday Afternoon 7000'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 8000'
Sunday Night 7500'
Monday Morning 6000'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening 6500'
Monday Night 6500'
Tuesday Morning 6500'
Tuesday Afternoon 6500'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening 7500'
Sunday Night 7500'
Monday Morning 6500'
Monday Afternoon 6500'
Monday Evening 7000'
Monday Night 6500'
Tuesday Morning 7500'
Tuesday Afternoon 8000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 7000'
Sunday Night 7500'
Monday Morning 6500'
Monday Afternoon 6000'
Monday Evening 6500'
Monday Night 6500'
Tuesday Morning 7000'
Tuesday Afternoon 7500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 7000'
Sunday Night 7500'
Monday Morning 6500'
Monday Afternoon 6000'
Monday Evening 6500'
Monday Night 6500'
Tuesday Morning 6500'
Tuesday Afternoon 7000'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening 8000'
Sunday Night 6000'
Monday Morning 6000'
Monday Afternoon 6500'
Monday Evening 6500'
Monday Night 6000'
Tuesday Morning 5500'
Tuesday Afternoon 9000'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 7500'
Sunday Night 8000'
Monday Morning 7600'
Monday Afternoon 7000'
Monday Evening 7000'
Monday Night 7000'
Tuesday Morning 7500'
Tuesday Afternoon 8500'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening 8000'
Sunday Night 7500'
Monday Morning 7000'
Monday Afternoon 7000'
Monday Evening 7500'
Monday Night 8000'
Tuesday Morning 8000'
Tuesday Afternoon 9500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening 8000'
Sunday Night 7500'
Monday Morning 7000'
Monday Afternoon 7000'
Monday Evening 6500'
Monday Night 7500'
Tuesday Morning 7000'
Tuesday Afternoon 8000'

Issued: 2:48 PM PDT Sunday, March 27, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 41 / 32 38 / 32
West North 42 / 34 37 / 33
West Central 41 / 34 39 / 33
West South 45 / 35 43 / 34
Stevens Pass 43 / 34 41 / 33
Snoqualmie Pass 41 / 35 40 / 33
East North 45 / 34 41 / 34
East Central 41 / 36 42 / 35
East South 46 / 37 44 / 35
Mt. Hood 47 / 37 42 / 36
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 41 / 32
Monday 38 / 32
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 42 / 34
Monday 37 / 33
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 41 / 34
Monday 39 / 33
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 45 / 35
Monday 43 / 34
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 43 / 34
Monday 41 / 33
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 41 / 35
Monday 40 / 33
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 45 / 34
Monday 41 / 34
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 41 / 36
Monday 42 / 35
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 46 / 37
Monday 44 / 35
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 47 / 37
Monday 42 / 36

Issued: 2:48 PM PDT Sunday, March 27, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:48 PM PDT Sunday, March 27, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

The ridge slides east and very light rain and snow return to Western Washington Tuesday night. Snow levels drop rapidly down to around 3000-3500 ft on Wednesday with  a sharp trough bringing some light snowfall, accumulating snow near and west of the Cascade Crest. Snow showers should linger through Wednesday as the trough exits to our east and another ridge gradually moves in.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
West North 5000' 3000' 2500' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 5500' 3000' 2500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 7500' 3000' 3000' 3000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 5000'
Wednesday 3000'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 5500'
Wednesday 3000'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 7500'
Wednesday 3000'
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday 3000'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 27, 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’.