Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis
A significant winter storm is on our doorstep this afternoon. A warm front lifting northward from Oregon has spread rain and snow up into the mountains. As it continues to push further north, snow levels will creep up the mountainsides and should peak for most locations in the early morning hours. While not a particularly warm storm, these are the highest snow levels we've seen in quite some time. Easterly flow in the Passes should help moderate the effects of the warmer temperatures. However, there just isn't that much cold air east of the Cascades to help. As a result, snow should turn to rain at Snoqualmie overnight, with mixed precipitation possible at Stevens and White Passes.
A trailing cold front will follow close behind. This will have three major impacts. Winds Sunday night will increase significantly ahead of the front. Look for strong and gusty winds in places like Mt Baker, Mission Ridge, Ahutanum Meadows, and Mt Hood. Precipitation should intensify overnight and into Monday morning. This could result in periods of heavy rain and snow near the volcanoes. It will also be associated with better spillover, carrying precipitation to areas further east. As the cold air finally arrives, snow levels will fall. This should help snow return to the Cascade Passes and most trailhead locations by mid-morning.
Westerly winds will indicate a transition to a more showery pattern Monday. Given the time of year, this could include brief periods of locally intense showers and/or graupel. It could also mean sun breaks. You're most likely to see the sun south of I90 and east of the Cascade crest. The most interesting weather features Monday could be a convergence zone aimed at Mt Baker. This could focus a narrow band of heavier precipitation in that area.
Showers should gradually decrease Monday night as the upper air mass dries out and we enjoy a short break in the action. While many areas could see a bit of blue sky Tuesday morning, clouds will start to increase ahead of our next weather system. Right now, the next wave of precipitation appears to hold off until Tuesday night for most areas.
Weather Forecast
| Sunday Night | Rain and snow. Heaviest in the southern Olympics. Moderate SW winds. |
|---|---|
| Monday | Showers in the morning with cooling. Sun breaks in the afternoon. |
| Sunday Night | Stormy. Rain and snow could be heavy at times. Moderate to strong and gusty S winds, decreasing slightly overnight. |
|---|---|
| Monday | Raun and snow showers could be heavy at times. Light to moderate SW winds turning W and decreasing. A few sun breaks possible late in the day. |
| Sunday Night | Stormy. Rain and snow could be heavy at times. Moderate to strong and gusty S winds turning SW and decreasing. |
|---|---|
| Monday | Rain and snow showers could be heavy at times. Light to moderate SW winds turning W. |
| Sunday Night | Stormy. Rain and snow could be heavy at times. Moderate to strong and gusty SW winds decreasing slightly. |
|---|---|
| Monday | Rain and snow showers. Heaviest near the volcanoes. Light to moderate SW winds turning W. A few sun breaks possible in the afternoon. |
| Sunday Night | Rain and snow could be locally heavy at times. Light to moderate E flow at Pass level with mixed precipitation expected. Light to moderate S ridgetop winds turning SW. |
|---|---|
| Monday | Rain and snow showers with cooling. SW winds becoming light to moderate W. |
| Sunday Night | Rain and snow could be locally heavy at times. Mixed precipitation and rain expected at Pass level. Light to moderate E flow. Ridgetop winds moderate to strong and gusty SSW, decreasing slightly and turning SW. |
|---|---|
| Monday | Rain and snow becoming showery. Cooling. SW winds turning W and becoming light to moderate. |
| Sunday Night | Rain and snow. Moderate S winds turning SW. |
|---|---|
| Monday | Rain and snow showers. Winds becoming W moderate. A few sun breaks possible in the afternoon. |
| Sunday Night | Rain and snow. Moderate to strong and gusty SW winds. |
|---|---|
| Monday | Rain and snow showers. SW winds turning W and becoming moderate to strong and gusty. Sun breaks possible in the afternoon. |
| Sunday Night | Rain and snow. Moderate to strong and gusty SW winds. |
|---|---|
| Monday | Rain and snow showers. Moderate to strong and gusty SW winds turning W and increasing in the afternoon. A few sun breaks possible. |
| Sunday Night | Stormy. Rain and snow with warming temperatures. Precipitation could be heavy at times. Strong and gusty SW winds. |
|---|---|
| Monday | Stormy. Rain and snow could be heavy at times. Very strong and gusty SW winds turning W and decreasing slightly. |
Issued: 2:25 PM PDT Sunday, March 12, 2023
Precipitation (in)
| Sunday Night | Monday | Monday Night | Tuesday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 1.50 - 2.00 | 0.75 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | 1.00 | 0.50 | 0.25 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | 0.75 | 0.50 | LT 0.25 | 0 |
| Paradise | 1.00 | 0.75 | LT 0.25 | 0 |
| White Pass | 0.25 | 0.50 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Washington Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | 0 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | 0.25 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | 0.75 | 0.75 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 |
| Monday | LT 0.25 |
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 1.50 - 2.00 |
| Monday | 0.75 |
| Monday Night | 0.25 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 1.00 |
| Monday | 0.50 |
| Monday Night | 0.25 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Monday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Monday Night | 0.25 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Monday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Monday Night | 0.25 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.75 |
| Monday | 0.50 |
| Monday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 1.00 |
| Monday | 0.75 |
| Monday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| White Pass | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 |
| Monday | 0.50 |
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Monday | 0.25 |
| Monday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Monday | LT 0.25 |
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Monday | 0.25 |
| Monday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tieton River - Darland Mt. | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 |
| Monday | 0.25 |
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Monday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Monday Night | 0.25 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.75 |
| Monday | 0.75 |
| Monday Night | 0.25 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
Issued: 2:25 PM PDT Sunday, March 12, 2023
Snow Level (ft)
| Sunday Evening* | Sunday Night* | Monday Morning | Monday Afternoon | Monday Evening | Monday Night | Tuesday Morning* | Tuesday Afternoon* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympics | 4000' | 3500' | 3000' | 2500' | 1000' | 500' | 1500' | 2000' |
| West North | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' | 3000' | 1000' | 500' | 1500' | 2000' |
| West Central | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | 3000' | 1500' | 500' | 1500' | 2500' |
| West South | 4000' | 4500' | 4500' | 4000' | 1000' | 500' | 1500' | 2500' |
| Stevens Pass | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 1500' | 500' | 1500' | 2500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | 3000' | 1500' | 500' | 1500' | 2500' |
| East North | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' | 1000' | 0 | 1000' | 2000' |
| East Central | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | 3000' | 1500' | 0 | 1500' | 2000' |
| East South | 4000' | 4500' | 4500' | 4500' | 1500' | 500' | 1500' | 2500' |
| Mt. Hood | 4500' | 5500' | 5000' | 4000' | 2000' | 500' | 2000' | 2500' |
| Olympics | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening* | 4000' |
| Sunday Night* | 3500' |
| Monday Morning | 3000' |
| Monday Afternoon | 2500' |
| Monday Evening | 1000' |
| Monday Night | 500' |
| Tuesday Morning* | 1500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon* | 2000' |
| West North | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening* | 3000' |
| Sunday Night* | 3000' |
| Monday Morning | 3500' |
| Monday Afternoon | 3000' |
| Monday Evening | 1000' |
| Monday Night | 500' |
| Tuesday Morning* | 1500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon* | 2000' |
| West Central | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening* | 3000' |
| Sunday Night* | 3500' |
| Monday Morning | 3500' |
| Monday Afternoon | 3000' |
| Monday Evening | 1500' |
| Monday Night | 500' |
| Tuesday Morning* | 1500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon* | 2500' |
| West South | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening* | 4000' |
| Sunday Night* | 4500' |
| Monday Morning | 4500' |
| Monday Afternoon | 4000' |
| Monday Evening | 1000' |
| Monday Night | 500' |
| Tuesday Morning* | 1500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon* | 2500' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening* | 3000' |
| Sunday Night* | 3500' |
| Monday Morning | 3500' |
| Monday Afternoon | 3500' |
| Monday Evening | 1500' |
| Monday Night | 500' |
| Tuesday Morning* | 1500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon* | 2500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening* | 3000' |
| Sunday Night* | 3500' |
| Monday Morning | 3500' |
| Monday Afternoon | 3000' |
| Monday Evening | 1500' |
| Monday Night | 500' |
| Tuesday Morning* | 1500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon* | 2500' |
| East North | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening* | 2500' |
| Sunday Night* | 3000' |
| Monday Morning | 3000' |
| Monday Afternoon | 3500' |
| Monday Evening | 1000' |
| Monday Night | 0' |
| Tuesday Morning* | 1000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon* | 2000' |
| East Central | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening* | 3000' |
| Sunday Night* | 3500' |
| Monday Morning | 3500' |
| Monday Afternoon | 3000' |
| Monday Evening | 1500' |
| Monday Night | 0' |
| Tuesday Morning* | 1500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon* | 2000' |
| East South | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening* | 4000' |
| Sunday Night* | 4500' |
| Monday Morning | 4500' |
| Monday Afternoon | 4500' |
| Monday Evening | 1500' |
| Monday Night | 500' |
| Tuesday Morning* | 1500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon* | 2500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening* | 4500' |
| Sunday Night* | 5500' |
| Monday Morning | 5000' |
| Monday Afternoon | 4000' |
| Monday Evening | 2000' |
| Monday Night | 500' |
| Tuesday Morning* | 2000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon* | 2500' |
Issued: 2:25 PM PDT Sunday, March 12, 2023
5000' Temperatures (°F)
| Sunday Night | Monday | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Max / Min | Max / Min | ||
| Olympics | 30 / 27 | 28 / 21 | |
| West North | 34 / 30 | 34 / 28 | |
| West Central | 33 / 30 | 34 / 28 | |
| West South | 35 / 30 | 34 / 26 | |
| Stevens Pass | 31 / 28 | 31 / 26 | |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 30 / 29 | 30 / 28 | |
| East North | 27 / 23 | 29 / 26 | |
| East Central | 36 / 28 | 34 / 28 | |
| East South | 32 / 28 | 34 / 30 | |
| Mt. Hood | 34 / 30 | 33 / 28 |
| Olympics | 5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 30 / 27 |
| Monday | 28 / 21 |
| West North | 5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 34 / 30 |
| Monday | 34 / 28 |
| West Central | 5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 33 / 30 |
| Monday | 34 / 28 |
| West South | 5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 35 / 30 |
| Monday | 34 / 26 |
| Stevens Pass | 5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 31 / 28 |
| Monday | 31 / 26 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 30 / 29 |
| Monday | 30 / 28 |
| East North | 5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 27 / 23 |
| Monday | 29 / 26 |
| East Central | 5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 36 / 28 |
| Monday | 34 / 28 |
| East South | 5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 32 / 28 |
| Monday | 34 / 30 |
| Mt. Hood | 5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 34 / 30 |
| Monday | 33 / 28 |
Issued: 2:25 PM PDT Sunday, March 12, 2023
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
| Sunday Evening | Sunday Night | Monday Morning | Monday Afternoon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympics | SW 15-25 | SW 15-25 | SW 5-15 | W 5-15 |
| West North | S 20-30 | SW 15-25 | SW 10-20 | W 5-15 |
| West Central | S 20-30 | SW 15-25 | SW 10-20 | W 10-20 |
| West South | SW 20-30 | SW 15-25 | SW 10-20 | W 10-20 |
| Stevens Pass | S 10-20 | SW 10-20 | SW 5-15 | W 10-20 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | SSW 20-30 | SW 15-25 | SW 5-15 | W 10-20 |
| East North | S 15-25 | SW 15-25 | SW 5-15 | W 15-25 |
| East Central | SW 20-30 | SW 20-30 | SW 15-25 | W 20-30 |
| East South | SW 20-30 | SW 20-30 | SW 20-30 | W 25-35 |
| Mt. Hood | SW 25-35 | SW 25-35 | SW 35-50 | W 30-40 |
| Olympics | Ridgeline Winds (mph) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 15-25 |
| Sunday Night | SW 15-25 |
| Monday Morning | SW 5-15 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 5-15 |
| West North | Ridgeline Winds (mph) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | S 20-30 |
| Sunday Night | SW 15-25 |
| Monday Morning | SW 10-20 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 5-15 |
| West Central | Ridgeline Winds (mph) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | S 20-30 |
| Sunday Night | SW 15-25 |
| Monday Morning | SW 10-20 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 10-20 |
| West South | Ridgeline Winds (mph) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 20-30 |
| Sunday Night | SW 15-25 |
| Monday Morning | SW 10-20 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 10-20 |
| Stevens Pass | Ridgeline Winds (mph) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | S 10-20 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10-20 |
| Monday Morning | SW 5-15 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 10-20 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Ridgeline Winds (mph) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SSW 20-30 |
| Sunday Night | SW 15-25 |
| Monday Morning | SW 5-15 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 10-20 |
| East North | Ridgeline Winds (mph) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | S 15-25 |
| Sunday Night | SW 15-25 |
| Monday Morning | SW 5-15 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 15-25 |
| East Central | Ridgeline Winds (mph) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 20-30 |
| Sunday Night | SW 20-30 |
| Monday Morning | SW 15-25 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 20-30 |
| East South | Ridgeline Winds (mph) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 20-30 |
| Sunday Night | SW 20-30 |
| Monday Morning | SW 20-30 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 25-35 |
| Mt. Hood | Ridgeline Winds (mph) |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 25-35 |
| Sunday Night | SW 25-35 |
| Monday Morning | SW 35-50 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 30-40 |
Issued: 2:25 PM PDT Sunday, March 12, 2023
Extended Weather Synopsis
A short wave system should arrive in the Pacific Northwest Tuesday night and once again bring precipitation to the mountains. The associated low pressure will quickly swing over the area bringing about 12hrs of rain and snow. Without a significant moisture tap, this storm doesn't look that impressive. However, with cold air already in place, this should be an all snow event. The storm quickly exists Wednesday night and a high pressure ridge will start to build over the region. Expect dry weather with generally warm mostly sunny days and cold clear nights.
Extended Snow Level (ft)
| Tuesday Night | Wednesday | Wednesday Night | Thursday * | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West North | 0 | 1500' | 500' | 3500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 500' | 2000' | 1000' | 3500' |
| Mt. Hood | 1500' | 2500' | 1000' | 3500' |
| West North | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0' |
| Wednesday | 1500' |
| Wednesday Night | 500' |
| Thursday * | 3500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 500' |
| Wednesday | 2000' |
| Wednesday Night | 1000' |
| Thursday * | 3500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 1500' |
| Wednesday | 2500' |
| Wednesday Night | 1000' |
| Thursday * | 3500' |
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I Extended Weather
Previous forecast from Mar 12, 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.