Issued: 6:57 AM PST Monday, February 27, 2023
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

A low pressure system sitting near the mouth of the Columbia River will bring snow showers to the mountains Monday. Look for precipitation to slowly spread from SW to NE through the day. While this isn't a very big storm, it has a few unique characteristics. Because of the low's position, Mt Hood and Mt St Helens will stay squarely in the bullseye. Look for more constant and slightly heavier snowfall in these areas. Southeasterly winds from this system should be felt in most locations but will be the strongest near the crest from I90 southward. With a more easterly flow direction and plenty of moisture, this will push light snowfall up along the eastern side of the mountains. This could produce several inches of light fluffy snow for locations like Leavenworth, Mission Ridge, the Teanaway River, and Ahtanum Meadows. 

As the low drifts inland Monday night, a secondary feature arrives to give the snowfall a kick. This should help enhance shower activity in the early morning hours on Tuesday. Right now the weather models are really struggling to agree on exactly how much moisture (and thus precipitation) this secondary feature will contribute to the storm. So, there's a lot of uncertainty about Tuesday's weather. However, with such a cold air mass in place, it's safe to say, any precipitation will translate into nice low-density powder. 

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 Becoming cloudy with snow showers, heaviest in the southern Olympics. Winds becoming S light to moderate.
Monday Night Cloudy with snow showers.
Monday Clouds increasing with showers developing in the afternoon. Winds turning SSE and becoming light to moderate.
Monday Night Cloudy with scattered snow showers. Winds turning S and becoming light to moderate.
Monday Clouds increasing with snow showers developing by late morning. Light to moderate SE winds.
Monday Night Cloudy with scattered snow showers. Light to moderate SE winds decreasing.
Monday Cloudy with snow showers. Light to moderate SE winds slightly stronger near the crest.
Monday Night Cloudy with scattered snow showers. SE winds turning SW and becoming moderate.
Monday Cloudy with isolated light snow showers developing mid-day. Light to moderate easterly winds increasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with isolated light snow showers. Light easterly flow.
Monday Cloudy with isolated light snow showers developing mid-day. Light to moderate easterly winds increasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with isolated light snow showers. Light easterly flow.
Monday Clouds increasing and becoming mostly cloudy. Light snow showers developing mid-day. Heaviest in the southern portion of the zone. SE winds becoming light to moderate.
Monday Night Cloudy with generally light snowfall. Showers could be heaviest in the eastern mountains.
Monday Becoming cloudy with light snow showers developing. Snow could be heaviest in the Wenatchee Mts and areas near Hwy 97. Winds becoming SE moderate.
Monday Night Cloudy with light snowfall. Accumulations could be heaviest for the Wenatchee Mts and eastern foothills.
Monday Cloudy with light snow showers. Accumulations could be heaviest near Ahtanum Meadows. Light to moderate SE winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with light snow showers. SE winds becoming SW and increasing.
Monday Cloudy with light to moderate snow throughout the day. Winds increasing and becoming S moderate to strong.
Monday Night Cloudy with moderate snow. S winds turning W and becoming strong and gusty.

Issued: 6:57 AM PST Monday, February 27, 2023

Precipitation (in)

Monday Monday Night Tuesday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.25
Crystal Mt 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Paradise 0.25 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass LT 0.25 0.25 0.25
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 0.50 0.50 - 0.75
Timberline 0.25 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 - 0.75
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 0.50
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75

Issued: 6:57 AM PST Monday, February 27, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 6:57 AM PST Monday, February 27, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Monday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 26 / 16 23 / 18
West North 25 / 16 23 / 17
West Central 23 / 15 24 / 16
West South 25 / 15 25 / 16
Stevens Pass 24 / 15 23 / 16
Snoqualmie Pass 24 / 16 24 / 15
East North 17 / 7 18 / 9
East Central 22 / 13 22 / 15
East South 25 / 15 24 / 16
Mt. Hood 27 / 18 24 / 19
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 26 / 16
Monday Night 23 / 18
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 25 / 16
Monday Night 23 / 17
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 23 / 15
Monday Night 24 / 16
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 25 / 15
Monday Night 25 / 16
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 24 / 15
Monday Night 23 / 16
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 24 / 16
Monday Night 24 / 15
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 17 / 7
Monday Night 18 / 9
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 22 / 13
Monday Night 22 / 15
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 25 / 15
Monday Night 24 / 16
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 27 / 18
Monday Night 24 / 19

Issued: 6:57 AM PST Monday, February 27, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Monday Morning Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night
Olympics SE 5-15 S 10-20 VAR 0-10 W 5-15
West North SSE 5-15 SSE 10-20 SSE 5-15 S 10-20
West Central SSE 10-20 SE 10-20 SE 10-20 S 5-15
West South SE 10-20 SE 10-20 SE 5-15 SW 10-20
Stevens Pass ESE 10-20 ESE 15-25 ESE 5-15 ESE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass ESE 10-20 ESE 15-25 ESE 5-15 ESE 5-15
East North SE 5-15 SE 10-20 SE 5-15 S 5-15
East Central S 10-20 SE 15-25 S 5-15 S 5-15
East South SE 10-20 SE 5-15 S 5-15 SW 15-25
Mt. Hood S 20-30 S 20-30 S 20-30 W 30-40
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning SE 5-15
Monday Afternoon S 10-20
Monday Evening VAR 0-10
Monday Night W 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning SSE 5-15
Monday Afternoon SSE 10-20
Monday Evening SSE 5-15
Monday Night S 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning SSE 10-20
Monday Afternoon SE 10-20
Monday Evening SE 10-20
Monday Night S 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning SE 10-20
Monday Afternoon SE 10-20
Monday Evening SE 5-15
Monday Night SW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning ESE 10-20
Monday Afternoon ESE 15-25
Monday Evening ESE 5-15
Monday Night ESE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning ESE 10-20
Monday Afternoon ESE 15-25
Monday Evening ESE 5-15
Monday Night ESE 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning SE 5-15
Monday Afternoon SE 10-20
Monday Evening SE 5-15
Monday Night S 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning S 10-20
Monday Afternoon SE 15-25
Monday Evening S 5-15
Monday Night S 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning SE 10-20
Monday Afternoon SE 5-15
Monday Evening S 5-15
Monday Night SW 15-25
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning S 20-30
Monday Afternoon S 20-30
Monday Evening S 20-30
Monday Night W 30-40

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

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’.