Issued: 1:59 PM PST Monday, February 27, 2023
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

A low-pressure off the WA/OR coast continues to rotate showers up into the mountains from the south this afternoon. This pattern is favoring Mt Hood, Mt St Helens, Ahtanum Meadows, White Pass, and Mission Ridge. It's also driving moderate to strong E-SE winds for areas near the crest from I90 southward. Similar conditions should continue into the evening as the low slowly meanders its way inland. 

A secondary short-wave feature will catch what's left of the low pressure late Monday night/very early Tuesday morning and give it a nice kick. This will shift the winds from SE to more SW-W. Look for moderate to strong winds to develop across the southern half of the forecast region. A return to more westerly flow will bring an end to showers along the east side of the crest and once again focus snow on the west slopes of the Cascades. While this system doesn't bring with it much in the way of moisture, cold temperatures should wring out several inches of very light fluffy powder. 

Tuesday night a high pressure ridge tries to build in over the Pacific Northwest. Northerly winds will usher in substantially drying air and should draw any lingering shower to a close. Under this pattern, skies will try and clear but patchy high clouds will keep us from going full bluebird. This will be the start of a roughly 24hr break in the precipitation ahead of our next weather system. 

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 isolated snow showers. Winds becoming SW light to moderate.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy in the morning becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. Isolated snow showers. Light to moderate W winds decreasing.
Monday Night Cloudy with a few isolated snow showers.
Tuesday Cloudy with a few sun breaks possible in the late afternoon. Scattered snow showers.
Monday Night Cloudy with a few isolated snow showers.
Tuesday Cloudy with a few sun breaks possible in the late afternoon. Scattered showers. Light to moderate SSW winds decreasing.
Monday Night Cloudy with light snow showers. Light to moderate SE winds turning SW. Winds stronger near Crystal Mt are possible.
Tuesday Cloudy in the morning with significant sun breaks and maybe some partial clearing in the afternoon. Scattered snow showers could be heavier at times. Moderate W winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with a few light snow showers. Light easterly flow decreasing.
Tuesday Cloudy in the morning with a few sun breaks possible in the afternoon. Isolated light snow showers. E flow turning W in the morning.
Monday Night Cloudy with a few isolated light snow showers. Light E flow decreasing.
Tuesday Cloudy in the morning with sun breaks possible in the afternoon. Scattered snow showers. E winds turning W and becoming light to moderate.
Monday Night Cloudy with a few light snow showers particularly in the southern half of the zone.
Tuesday Cloudy in the morning with sun breaks possible. Isolated snow showers.
Monday Night Cloudy with snow heaviest in the Wenatchee Mts. Light to moderate S winds.
Tuesday Cloudy in the morning with sun breaks and partial clearing possible later in the day. Isolated snow showers. Moderate W winds decreasing.
Monday Night Cloudy with light snow especially near Ahtanum Meadows. Light to moderate S winds becoming SW.
Tuesday Cloudy in the morning with partial clearing in the afternoon. Isolated snow showers could be heavier at times. Moderate to strong W winds decreasing.
Monday Night Cloudy with snow. Precipitation could be heavy at times. Moderate SW winds turning W and becoming strong.
Tuesday Cloudy in the morning, with significant sun breaks possible. Scattered snow showers could be locally heavy at times. Moderate W winds decreasing significantly.

Issued: 1:59 PM PST Monday, February 27, 2023

Precipitation (in)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Paradise 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10 0
White Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 0
Timberline 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.75
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0

Issued: 1:59 PM PST Monday, February 27, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening* Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon
Olympics 1000' 500' 0 500' 0 500' 1000' 2000'
West North 500' 0 0 500' 0 0 500' 1000'
West Central 500' 0 0 500' 0 0 500' 1000'
West South 500' 500' 0 500' 0 0 500' 1500'
Stevens Pass 500' 500' 0 500' 0 0 500' 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass 500' 500' 0 500' 0 0 500' 1500'
East North 0 0 0 500' 0 0 500' 500'
East Central 500' 500' 0 500' 0 0 500' 1500'
East South 1000' 500' 0 500' 0 0 500' 1500'
Mt. Hood 1500' 500' 0 500' 0 0 500' 2000'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening* 1000'
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Tuesday Evening 0'
Tuesday Night 500'
Wednesday Morning 1000'
Wednesday Afternoon 2000'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening* 500'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Tuesday Evening 0'
Tuesday Night 0'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 1000'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening* 500'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Tuesday Evening 0'
Tuesday Night 0'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 1000'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening* 500'
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Tuesday Evening 0'
Tuesday Night 0'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 1500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening* 500'
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Tuesday Evening 0'
Tuesday Night 0'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening* 500'
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Tuesday Evening 0'
Tuesday Night 0'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 1500'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening* 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Tuesday Evening 0'
Tuesday Night 0'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 500'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening* 500'
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Tuesday Evening 0'
Tuesday Night 0'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 1500'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening* 1000'
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Tuesday Evening 0'
Tuesday Night 0'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 1500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Tuesday Evening 0'
Tuesday Night 0'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 2000'

Issued: 1:59 PM PST Monday, February 27, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 25 / 21 25 / 19
West North 25 / 21 26 / 21
West Central 25 / 22 25 / 20
West South 25 / 17 25 / 17
Stevens Pass 23 / 17 25 / 17
Snoqualmie Pass 24 / 16 23 / 16
East North 14 / 10 19 / 12
East Central 21 / 15 20 / 16
East South 21 / 16 25 / 17
Mt. Hood 25 / 19 23 / 17
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 25 / 21
Tuesday 25 / 19
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 25 / 21
Tuesday 26 / 21
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 25 / 22
Tuesday 25 / 20
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 25 / 17
Tuesday 25 / 17
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 23 / 17
Tuesday 25 / 17
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 24 / 16
Tuesday 23 / 16
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 14 / 10
Tuesday 19 / 12
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 21 / 15
Tuesday 20 / 16
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 21 / 16
Tuesday 25 / 17
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 25 / 19
Tuesday 23 / 17

Issued: 1:59 PM PST Monday, February 27, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 1:59 PM PST Monday, February 27, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

A transient high-pressure ridge doesn't last long over the Northwest as our next storm system starts to bare down on the region Wednesday night. Increasing clouds and strengthening winds will let you know more snow is on the way. Even though this storm appears to draw in a bit of warmer air, it can't quite displace the very cold airmass parked over the area. So, while snow levels may creep up to 1000-2000ft to start the storm, they should once again drop back to near sea level as the snow gets going. After the cold front swings through, strong westerly winds and a solid moisture tap should help keep near-constant snow showers focused on the mountains through at least Friday. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night Thursday Thursday Night Friday
West North 500' 1000' 500' 500'
Snoqualmie Pass 500' 1500' 500' 1000'
Mt. Hood 1000' 2000' 500' 1500'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night 500'
Thursday 1000'
Thursday Night 500'
Friday 500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night 500'
Thursday 1500'
Thursday Night 500'
Friday 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night 1000'
Thursday 2000'
Thursday Night 500'
Friday 1500'

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

Previous forecast from Feb 27, 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’.