Issued: 2:33 PM PST Friday, March 3, 2023
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

Cold weather continues with snow levels fluctuating between sea level and 1500 ft each day. An upper low moves from near the Alaska Panhandle early Friday evening to our nearshore waters by morning. WSW winds will shift increasingly southerly and the low will begin to pull air through the mountain gaps. Convective showers continue spinning into the region, but will focus on areas of upslope flow: The SE Olympics (and Hood canal lowlands) along with southern Washington Volcanoes can all expect heavy snow to develop Friday evening. Other areas should expect decreasing light to moderate snow showers for the west slopes of the Cascades, flipping to the east slopes overnight as low-level winds switch E Friday night. Expect moderate SE ridgeline winds along the Cascade Crest with moderate winds extending to low levels through the mountain gaps. Snowfall eases in the SE Olympics Saturday evening, but not before the SE Olympics and Mt. St Helens pick up 1-2 ft of snow.

A secondary low forms in the Columbia basin Saturday evening, bringing NE winds and increasing light to moderate snowfall for the east slopes of the Cascades, particularly the mountains around Leavenworth and Wenatchee. This secondary surface low continues to spin alongside a weakened offshore low, maintaining the shower activity through Sunday. By the end of the weekend, most areas on the east slopes should pick up 2-8” of snow with higher totals possible for the Wenatchee Mountains.

2:32 PM: Adjusted Washington Pass Friday night precipitation.

 

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
Friday Night Decreasing light snow showers during the evening hours, then a chance of light snow overnight northern Olympics. Heavy snow developing for the southern and eastern Olympics.
Saturday Periods of light snow for the northern Olympics. Heavys now for the southern and eastern Olympics. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Moderate snow.
Saturday Decreasing light snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Decreasing light to moderate snow tapering overnight.
Saturday Decreasing chances of light snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Increasing heavy snow for Mt St Helens, moderate to heavy snow for Paradise, and light snow for Crystal and White Passes.
Saturday Decreasing heavy snow for Mt St Helens and moderate snow for Paradise. Light snow holding steady or increasing for Crystal and White Passes. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Decreasing light snow or snow showers. Light ridgeline winds. Light W winds shift E and become moderate by morning at the Pass.
Saturday Increasing light snow may be moderate at times east of the Pass proper. Moderate ridgeline and light to moderate E wind at the Pass.
Friday Night Decreasing light snow or snow showers. Light ridgeline winds. Light W winds shift E and become moderate by morning at the Pass.
Saturday Light snow. Moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Friday Night Periods of light snow.
Saturday Light snow. Ridgeline winds becoming moderate by the afternoon.
Friday Night Light snow at times.
Saturday Increasing light to moderate snow. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Light snow at times.
Saturday Light to occasionally moderate snow.
Friday Night Decreasing light snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Light snow. Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:33 PM PST Friday, March 3, 2023

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 2:33 PM PST Friday, March 3, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 2:33 PM PST Friday, March 3, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Friday Night Saturday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 22 / 19 27 / 20
West North 22 / 19 27 / 19
West Central 22 / 18 26 / 18
West South 23 / 20 26 / 20
Stevens Pass 22 / 16 24 / 16
Snoqualmie Pass 21 / 17 25 / 18
East North 19 / 14 21 / 14
East Central 22 / 16 25 / 18
East South 23 / 18 25 / 20
Mt. Hood 24 / 20 28 / 22
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 22 / 19
Saturday 27 / 20
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 22 / 19
Saturday 27 / 19
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 22 / 18
Saturday 26 / 18
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 23 / 20
Saturday 26 / 20
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 22 / 16
Saturday 24 / 16
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 21 / 17
Saturday 25 / 18
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 19 / 14
Saturday 21 / 14
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 22 / 16
Saturday 25 / 18
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 23 / 18
Saturday 25 / 20
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 24 / 20
Saturday 28 / 22

Issued: 2:33 PM PST Friday, March 3, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:33 PM PST Friday, March 3, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

The offshore low weakens in place Monday and Tuesday and snowfall becomes light and sporadic with increasing periods of sunshine. Snow levels fluctuate between sea level and around 1500 ft each day through Tuesday.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Night* Monday * Monday Night* Tuesday *
West North 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass 500' 1000' 1000' 1000'
Mt. Hood 1000' 1000' 1500' 1000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday * 1000'
Monday Night* 1000'
Tuesday * 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Night* 500'
Monday * 1000'
Monday Night* 1000'
Tuesday * 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday * 1000'
Monday Night* 1500'
Tuesday * 1000'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 3, 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’.