Issued: 2:01 PM PST Thursday, March 2, 2023
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

Moderate to strong post-frontal westerly flow keeps going as a trough maintains an unstable air mass over the region. Moderate snow shower activity gradually decreases, but may be locally intense as heavier showers move through or within strong convergence. A Puget Sound Convergence Zone sets up late morning on Thursday and should continue to bring high snowfall rates to the central Washington Cascades, targeting the Stevens Pass area during the evening hours. High-resolution models show fairly good agreement that convergence may relocate to the Skagit-Watcom county line in the early morning hours. Expect the potential for heavier snow at times for Mt. Baker as well. Snow levels remain below 1500 ft and decrease to near sea level. Moderate westerly winds will accelerate and may be locally strong along the east slopes of the Cascades, through the mountain gaps, and for Mt. Hood. These winds should gradually decrease.

On Friday, a trough and associated upper-level low dig offshore with continued light to moderate snow showers focused on the west slopes of the Cascades. Westerly winds decrease into the light to moderate range in most areas and shift to the WSW or even SW later in the day. The re-orientation of the winds should favor Mt. St. Helens, Paradise, and Mt. Baker as the day progresses. Through Friday afternoon, expect snow totals in the 8-14" range of the west slopes of the Olympics, the Cascades, and with convergence spillover around Salmon La Sac. Other areas can expect 2-6".

The upper-level low cuts off and moves into our near-shore waters spinning moisture into our region. Moderate winds turn southerly Friday night, with moderate snow showers focusing more heavily on the volcanoes. Easterly low-level winds develop and become moderate by morning. Light to moderate snow shower activity focuses on the southern Cascades on Saturday. With gradually decreasing moderate to occasionally E winds through the mountain gaps and moderate SE wins accelerating on the west slopes of the Cascades.

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
Thursday Night Light snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Increasing light snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Increasing light to moderate snow showers. Snow may become locally heavy if a convergence lifts into the southern part of the region in the early morning hours. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Light to moderate snow showers becoming steadier in the afternoon. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Moderate snow showers, locally heavy in convergence. Convergence may shift from the southern part in the evening to the Skagit area in the early morning hours. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Moderate snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Light to moderate snow showers, heaviest at Paradise. Strong ridgeline winds near the Cascade Crest.
Friday Light to moderate snow showers for Crystal and White Pass. Moderate to heavy snow showers at Paradise and Mt St Helens. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Decreasing moderate to occasionally heavy snow showers, heaviest in convergence during the evening hours. Moderate ridgeline and light to occasionally moderate W wind at the pass.
Friday Decreasing light to moderate snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W winds at the Pass.
Thursday Night Decreasing moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline and light to moderate W wind at the pass.
Friday Moderate snow showers decrease in the afternoon. Decreasing moderate ridgeline and mostly light W wind at the Pass.
Thursday Night Light to moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Decreasing mostly light snow showers. Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Light to moderate snow showers, heaviest in convergence spillover during the evening hours. Strong ridgeline winds.
Friday Mostly light snow showers. Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts.
Thursday Night Light snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts.
Friday Light snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Moderate snow showers. Strong ridgeline winds.
Friday Light to moderate snow showers. Decreasing moderate to occasionally strong ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:01 PM PST Thursday, March 2, 2023

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 2:01 PM PST Thursday, March 2, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Evening Thursday Night Friday Morning Friday Afternoon Friday Evening Friday Night* Saturday Morning* Saturday Afternoon*
Olympics 500' 500' 500' 1000' 1000' 500' 500' 1500'
West North 500' 0 0 500' 500' 0 0 1500'
West Central 500' 500' 0 1000' 1000' 500' 0 1500'
West South 1000' 500' 0 1500' 1000' 500' 500' 1500'
Stevens Pass 1000' 0 0 1000' 1000' 0 0 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1000' 500' 0 1000' 1000' 500' 0 1000'
East North 500' 0 0 1000' 500' 0 0 1000'
East Central 1500' 500' 0 1500' 1000' 0 0 1000'
East South 1500' 500' 0 1500' 1000' 0 0 1000'
Mt. Hood 1500' 1000' 500' 1500' 1000' 500' 500' 1500'
Olympics Elevation
Thursday Evening 500'
Thursday Night 500'
Friday Morning 500'
Friday Afternoon 1000'
Friday Evening 1000'
Friday Night* 500'
Saturday Morning* 500'
Saturday Afternoon* 1500'
West North Elevation
Thursday Evening 500'
Thursday Night 0'
Friday Morning 0'
Friday Afternoon 500'
Friday Evening 500'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 1500'
West Central Elevation
Thursday Evening 500'
Thursday Night 500'
Friday Morning 0'
Friday Afternoon 1000'
Friday Evening 1000'
Friday Night* 500'
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 1500'
West South Elevation
Thursday Evening 1000'
Thursday Night 500'
Friday Morning 0'
Friday Afternoon 1500'
Friday Evening 1000'
Friday Night* 500'
Saturday Morning* 500'
Saturday Afternoon* 1500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening 1000'
Thursday Night 0'
Friday Morning 0'
Friday Afternoon 1000'
Friday Evening 1000'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening 1000'
Thursday Night 500'
Friday Morning 0'
Friday Afternoon 1000'
Friday Evening 1000'
Friday Night* 500'
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 1000'
East North Elevation
Thursday Evening 500'
Thursday Night 0'
Friday Morning 0'
Friday Afternoon 1000'
Friday Evening 500'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 1000'
East Central Elevation
Thursday Evening 1500'
Thursday Night 500'
Friday Morning 0'
Friday Afternoon 1500'
Friday Evening 1000'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 1000'
East South Elevation
Thursday Evening 1500'
Thursday Night 500'
Friday Morning 0'
Friday Afternoon 1500'
Friday Evening 1000'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening 1500'
Thursday Night 1000'
Friday Morning 500'
Friday Afternoon 1500'
Friday Evening 1000'
Friday Night* 500'
Saturday Morning* 500'
Saturday Afternoon* 1500'

Issued: 2:01 PM PST Thursday, March 2, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Thursday Night Friday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 20 / 16 24 / 16
West North 21 / 16 23 / 16
West Central 21 / 18 24 / 18
West South 22 / 17 24 / 17
Stevens Pass 22 / 18 25 / 18
Snoqualmie Pass 22 / 18 23 / 18
East North 16 / 11 22 / 11
East Central 22 / 17 26 / 16
East South 22 / 17 26 / 16
Mt. Hood 25 / 18 26 / 18
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 20 / 16
Friday 24 / 16
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 21 / 16
Friday 23 / 16
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 21 / 18
Friday 24 / 18
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 22 / 17
Friday 24 / 17
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 22 / 18
Friday 25 / 18
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 22 / 18
Friday 23 / 18
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 16 / 11
Friday 22 / 11
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 22 / 17
Friday 26 / 16
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 22 / 17
Friday 26 / 16
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 25 / 18
Friday 26 / 18

Issued: 2:01 PM PST Thursday, March 2, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Thursday Evening Thursday Night Friday Morning Friday Afternoon
Olympics W 10-20 WSW 10-20 SW 10-20 SW 10-20
West North W 10-20 WSW 10-20 SW 10-20 SSW 10-20
West Central WNW 15-25 W 15-25 WSW 10-20 SW 10-20
West South W 20-30 W 15-25 WSW 10-20 SW 10-20
Stevens Pass W 15-25 W 15-25 W 10-20 WSW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass W 20-30 W 20-30 W 15-25 W 10-20
East North W 20-30 W 20-30 WSW 15-25 SW 10-20
East Central W 25-35 W 25-35 W 20-30 WSW 15-25
East South W 15-25 W 15-25 W 10-20 WSW 10-20
Mt. Hood W 30-40 W 25-35 WSW 25-35 WSW 20-30
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening W 10-20
Thursday Night WSW 10-20
Friday Morning SW 10-20
Friday Afternoon SW 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening W 10-20
Thursday Night WSW 10-20
Friday Morning SW 10-20
Friday Afternoon SSW 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening WNW 15-25
Thursday Night W 15-25
Friday Morning WSW 10-20
Friday Afternoon SW 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening W 20-30
Thursday Night W 15-25
Friday Morning WSW 10-20
Friday Afternoon SW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening W 15-25
Thursday Night W 15-25
Friday Morning W 10-20
Friday Afternoon WSW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening W 20-30
Thursday Night W 20-30
Friday Morning W 15-25
Friday Afternoon W 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening W 20-30
Thursday Night W 20-30
Friday Morning WSW 15-25
Friday Afternoon SW 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening W 25-35
Thursday Night W 25-35
Friday Morning W 20-30
Friday Afternoon WSW 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening W 15-25
Thursday Night W 15-25
Friday Morning W 10-20
Friday Afternoon WSW 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening W 30-40
Thursday Night W 25-35
Friday Morning WSW 25-35
Friday Afternoon WSW 20-30

Issued: 2:01 PM PST Thursday, March 2, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

Cold weather and low snow levels continue with upper level and surface lows just offshore keeping our region cool and unstable. Light E flow maintains more clouds along the east slopes and bands of mostly light shower activity sift into the region.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Night* Sunday * Sunday Night* Monday *
West North 1000' 1000' 1000' 500'
Snoqualmie Pass 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000'
Mt. Hood 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday * 1000'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday * 500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday * 1000'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday * 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday * 1000'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday * 1000'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 2, 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’.