Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, March 6, 2023
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

A cold upper level trough offshore will continue to deliver cool temperatures and scattered snow showers that are more widespread and intense in the afternoon and early evening hours over the next few days.  

Mountain showers are beginning to pick up this afternoon as the March sun and a cold unstable air mass overhead combine forces and lead to increased showers over the area. Showers that pop this afternoon will largely drift from south to north.  Weak low-level E-SE flow along the east slopes of the Cascades is helping with some light upslope and contributing to additional cloud cover. Showers will continue through this evening and decrease after midnight. 

On Tuesday, we can expect a similar forecast except for the position of the upper low offshore will lead to a slight uptick in E-SE winds and showers should track from SE to NW in the afternoon and early evening hours. The northwest Cascades may escape the showers the longest tomorrow and see the greatest bump in temperatures through mid-day temperatures before clouds increase in the afternoon.  A similar pattern with showers easing after midnight will continue Tuesday night. 

On Wednesday, yet another day with a cold unstable air mass and showers are in the forecast. The air mass looks slightly more unstable and we may see more intense and widespread showers Wednesday afternoon.  E-SE winds will continue on Wednesday as well. In more intense showers, you may see periods of graupel mixed in along with snow. 

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 Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers in the evening, then partly cloudy with isolated snow showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Partly sunny in the morning, becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon with a chance of snow showers.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers in the evening, then partly cloudy with isolated snow showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Partly to mostly sunny in the morning, becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon with a chance of snow showers.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers in the evening, then partly cloudy with isolated snow showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Partly to mostly sunny in the morning, becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon with a chance of snow showers.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the evening, then partly cloudy with isolated snow showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Partly to mostly cloudy in the morning with a chance of snow showers, then cloudy in the afternoon with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Light to moderate east winds at Pass level and ridgeline.
Tuesday Partly to mostly cloudy in the morning with a chance of snow showers, then cloudy in the afternoon with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Light to moderate east Pass level and ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Moderate east winds at Pass level and ridgeline.
Tuesday Partly to mostly cloudy in the morning with a chance of snow showers, then cloudy in the afternoon with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate east Pass level and ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers.
Tuesday Cloudy with light snow showers.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Cloudy with light snow showers.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Cloudy with light snow showers.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Cloudy with light snow showers.

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, March 6, 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 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Timberline LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, March 6, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening* Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon* Tuesday Evening* Tuesday Night* Wednesday Morning* Wednesday Afternoon*
Olympics 1500' 1000' 1500' 3000' 1500' 1000' 1500' 3000'
West North 1500' 1000' 1500' 3500' 1500' 1000' 1500' 3500'
West Central 1500' 1000' 1500' 3000' 1500' 1000' 1500' 3500'
West South 1500' 1000' 1500' 3000' 1500' 1000' 1500' 3500'
Stevens Pass 1500' 500' 1500' 3000' 1500' 500' 1500' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 1000' 1500' 3000' 1500' 1000' 1500' 3000'
East North 1500' 0 1500' 3000' 1500' 0 1500' 3500'
East Central 1500' 0 1500' 3000' 1500' 500' 1500' 3000'
East South 1500' 1000' 1500' 3000' 1500' 1000' 1500' 3000'
Mt. Hood 1500' 1000' 1500' 3000' 1500' 1000' 1500' 3000'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night* 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
Tuesday Evening* 1500'
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday Morning* 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3000'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night* 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3500'
Tuesday Evening* 1500'
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday Morning* 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3500'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night* 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
Tuesday Evening* 1500'
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday Morning* 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3500'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night* 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
Tuesday Evening* 1500'
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday Morning* 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday Morning* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
Tuesday Evening* 1500'
Tuesday Night* 500'
Wednesday Morning* 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night* 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
Tuesday Evening* 1500'
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday Morning* 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3000'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
Tuesday Evening* 1500'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3500'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
Tuesday Evening* 1500'
Tuesday Night* 500'
Wednesday Morning* 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3000'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night* 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
Tuesday Evening* 1500'
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday Morning* 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night* 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
Tuesday Evening* 1500'
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday Morning* 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3000'

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, March 6, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 22 / 19 26 / 19
West North 26 / 18 27 / 17
West Central 24 / 17 25 / 17
West South 25 / 17 27 / 16
Stevens Pass 24 / 17 26 / 16
Snoqualmie Pass 25 / 19 24 / 20
East North 24 / 14 25 / 15
East Central 25 / 18 24 / 19
East South 25 / 17 24 / 18
Mt. Hood 25 / 18 26 / 17
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 22 / 19
Tuesday 26 / 19
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 26 / 18
Tuesday 27 / 17
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 24 / 17
Tuesday 25 / 17
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 25 / 17
Tuesday 27 / 16
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 24 / 17
Tuesday 26 / 16
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 25 / 19
Tuesday 24 / 20
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 24 / 14
Tuesday 25 / 15
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 25 / 18
Tuesday 24 / 19
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 25 / 17
Tuesday 24 / 18
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 25 / 18
Tuesday 26 / 17

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, March 6, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, March 6, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

On Thursday, look for increasing E-SE winds, and light upslope snows along the east slopes of the Cascades as a storm system begins to develop offshore.  The jet stream which has been pointed into California will begin to lift north Thursday night. Stormy conditions are likely to develop late Thursday night through Friday.  While there's much to be determined regarding the storm track, it's possible that we'll see the biggest bump in temperatures/snow levels than we've seen in some time during this storm. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night* Thursday * Thursday Night* Friday
West North 1000' 3500' 1500' 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1000' 3000' 1500' 3000'
Mt. Hood 1000' 3000' 2000' 5500'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night* 1000'
Thursday * 3500'
Thursday Night* 1500'
Friday 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night* 1000'
Thursday * 3000'
Thursday Night* 1500'
Friday 3000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night* 1000'
Thursday * 3000'
Thursday Night* 2000'
Friday 5500'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 6, 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’.