Issued: 2:00 PM PST Sunday, February 26, 2023
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

Post-frontal showers and a Puget Sound Convergence Zone continue to take aim at the mountains this afternoon. So far, many locations near and west of the Cascade crest have received 6-18" of very light fluffy snow, with 2-6" further east. This evening you could encounter locally heavier precipitation if you find yourself under the Convergence Zone or one of the more intense snow showers. However, any lingering precipitation should generally come to an end before midnight. A dry pocket of air out ahead of our next weather feature could lead to some breaks in the clouds and may even give you a glimpse of the stars. 

A strengthening low pressure will approach the Oregon coast Monday morning. As it does so, it will have two big effects on our weather. Expect easterly winds to develop across the Cascade crest and mountain Passes. While everywhere will see E-SSE winds, they should be strongest near Snoqualmie Pass, Crystal Mt, White Pass, and Ahtanum Meadows. Bands of showers rotating around the low will spin up into the mountains from the S-SE. Locations in the southern and eastern portions of the forecast areas should receive the most snow. While this doesn't look like a major, upslope easterly storm, low-level moisture and easterly winds will combine to wring out a few inches, particularly from Leavenworth south to Darland Mt. 

As the low pressure shifts inland, a secondary feature arrives from the NW to reinvigorate snow shower activity Monday night into Tuesday. With an unstable trough over our heads and plenty of low-level moisture, this should result in continued snow showers for the Olympics, WA Cascades, and Mt Hood. 

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 Becoming mostly cloudy with a few isolated snow showers.
Monday Cloudy with the possibility for a few sun break. Isolated snow showers.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers. Light to moderate W winds decreasing and turning south.
Monday Increasing clouds throughout the day. Sun breaks possible in the morning. Scattered showers particularly in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. A Puget Sound Convergence Zone will bring locally heavier precipitation to the Mt Loop Hwy area in the evening. Light to moderate W winds decreasing and turning S.
Monday Mostly cloudy with showers primarily in the afternoon. a few sun breaks possible. SE winds increasing slightly and becoming light to moderate.
Sunday Night Increasing clouds, becoming overcast. Scattered showers. Winds turning S and becoming moderate.
Monday Cloudy with generally light snow showers. Moderate SE winds decreasing slightly in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with increasing high clouds. Isolated showers possible in the evening. Light to moderate W winds decreasing and turning SSE. Light E flow developing at Pass level.
Monday Mostly cloudy with showers developing mainly in the afternoon. E winds becoming light to moderate.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with showers mainly in the evening. Moderate W winds decreasing and turning S. Light E flow developing at Pass level.
Monday Cloudy with a few light showers developing mid-day. E winds becoming moderate in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy with a few stray showers near the crest. Moderate W winds decreasing and turning SW.
Monday Increasing clouds throughout the day. A few showers possible especially further south in the zone.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy to mostly clear with a few stray showers possible in the evening. Moderate to strong W winds decreasing.
Monday Increasing clouds in the morning, becoming cloudy with generally light snow. SSE winds becoming light to moderate.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy with a few stray showers in the evening. Moderate to strong W winds decreasing slightly and turning SW.
Monday Cloudy with generally light snow developing in the morning. Light to moderate southerly winds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with increasing high clouds. Snow showers continuing into the evening, could be locally heavy. Moderate to strong W winds turning SW.
Monday Cloudy with bands of snow showers which could be heavy at times. Moderate to strong SW winds decreasing slightly in the afternoon.

Issued: 2:00 PM PST Sunday, February 26, 2023

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 2:00 PM PST Sunday, February 26, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon* Monday Evening* Monday Night* Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 0 0 0 1000' 500' 500' 500' 500'
West North 0 0 0 500' 0 0 0 500'
West Central 500' 0 0 500' 0 0 0 500'
West South 500' 0 0 1000' 500' 500' 500' 500'
Stevens Pass 500' 0 0 500' 0 0 0 500'
Snoqualmie Pass 500' 0 0 1000' 500' 500' 0 500'
East North 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 500'
East Central 0 0 0 500' 500' 0 0 500'
East South 500' 0 0 1000' 1000' 500' 0 500'
Mt. Hood 500' 500' 500' 1500' 1000' 500' 500' 500'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 1000'
Monday Evening* 500'
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 500'
Monday Evening* 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 500'
Monday Evening* 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 1000'
Monday Evening* 500'
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 500'
Monday Evening* 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 1000'
Monday Evening* 500'
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 0'
Monday Evening* 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 500'
Monday Evening* 500'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 1000'
Monday Evening* 1000'
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night* 500'
Monday Morning* 500'
Monday Afternoon* 1500'
Monday Evening* 1000'
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'

Issued: 2:00 PM PST Sunday, February 26, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 23 / 16 25 / 17
West North 21 / 19 26 / 17
West Central 23 / 20 25 / 19
West South 21 / 16 25 / 16
Stevens Pass 21 / 16 23 / 17
Snoqualmie Pass 25 / 19 26 / 17
East North 14 / 8 17 / 10
East Central 19 / 14 21 / 16
East South 19 / 14 25 / 16
Mt. Hood 21 / 19 26 / 17
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 23 / 16
Monday 25 / 17
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 21 / 19
Monday 26 / 17
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 23 / 20
Monday 25 / 19
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 21 / 16
Monday 25 / 16
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 21 / 16
Monday 23 / 17
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 25 / 19
Monday 26 / 17
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 14 / 8
Monday 17 / 10
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 19 / 14
Monday 21 / 16
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 19 / 14
Monday 25 / 16
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 21 / 19
Monday 26 / 17

Issued: 2:00 PM PST Sunday, February 26, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:00 PM PST Sunday, February 26, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

The deep trough over the Pacific Northwest will push eastward Tuesday night. As it does so, upper level winds will turn more northerly and usher in much drier air. This will bring any lingering showers to an end and give our region a  roughly 24hr break in the precipitation. A high pressure ridge will try to establish itself in the eastern Pacific, but won't make much headway. A well developed frontal system appears to travel along the ridge and approach from NW. Snow arrives back in the mountains Wednesday night with heavier precipitation on tap for Thursday. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
West North 0 500' 0 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass 500' 1000' 500' 1500'
Mt. Hood 500' 1000' 500' 1500'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 0'
Wednesday 500'
Wednesday Night 0'
Thursday 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 500'
Wednesday 1000'
Wednesday Night 500'
Thursday 1500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 500'
Wednesday 1000'
Wednesday Night 500'
Thursday 1500'

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

Previous forecast from Feb 26, 2023

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’.