Issued: 7:08 AM PDT Sunday, March 19, 2023
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

An upper trough slowly rotates toward the Pacific Northwest on Sunday, bringing increasingly cloudy weather and chances for light rain or snow in southern portions of the forecast region. Sunday started mild in most areas except locations east of the Cascade Crest, particularly valley locations where temperatures dropped below freezing.

Upper-level winds are southerly ahead in advance of trough with E low-level flow peaking during the morning hours. This should generate some periods of moderate E-SE winds for the Cascade Crest from around I-90 southward. Foothill locations west of the Crest could see moderate winds and strong gusts at times. With mild conditions already in place, these same locations experiencing downslope winds will also experience the mildest temperatures. Freezing levels should remain around 5000-6000 ft for most of the day, but as light rain/snow spreads into Mt Hood and then the southern Washington Cascades from mid-morning into the afternoon hours, snow levels should drop to around 4500-5000 ft.

Overnight, periods of increasing light rain/snow spread throughout the region from the SW as the trough axis moves into the near-shore waters. Snow levels gradually lower to around 3500-4000.

The trough moves onshore Monday with continued periods of light snow becoming slightly more showery as the trough moves overhead. Snow levels should be in the 3000-4000 ft range. Moderate WSW ridgeline winds peak in morning hours for southern portions of the forecast region with mostly light winds further north.

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
Sunday Mild. Mid-level clouds lower and thicken with a slight chance of light rain/snow late in the day.
Sunday Night Light rain/snow at times.
Sunday Mild. Mid-level clouds lower and thicken.
Sunday Night Increasing light rain/snow at times.
Sunday Mild. Mid-level clouds lower and thicken.
Sunday Night Increasing light rain/snow at times.
Sunday Mild. Mid-level clouds lower and thicken with increasing chances of light rain/snow from late morning onwards.
Sunday Night Increasing light rain/snow. Moderate ridgeline winds near the Cascade Crest.
Sunday Mild. Mid-level clouds lower and thicken. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Night Increasing light rain/snow at times. Light ridgeline and E wind becoming variable at the Pass.
Sunday Mild. Mid-level clouds lower and thicken. Light to moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Night Increasing light rain/snow at times. Light ridgeline and E wind becoming variable at the Pass.
Sunday Mild. Mid-level clouds lower and thicken.
Sunday Night Cloudy in the evening with periods of light rain/snow overnight.
Sunday Mild. Mid-level clouds lower and thicken.
Sunday Night Periods of light rain/snow.
Sunday Mild. Mid-level clouds lower and thicken with increasing chances of light rain/snow in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Periods of light rain/snow.
Sunday Lowering and thickening mid-level clouds with increasing light rain/snow from mid-morning onwards.
Sunday Night Increasing light rain/snow. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.

Issued: 7:08 AM PDT Sunday, March 19, 2023

Precipitation (in)

Sunday Sunday Night Monday
5 am - 5 pm 5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 LT 0.25 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 LT 0.10 0.25
Stevens Pass 0 LT 0.25 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0 LT 0.25 0.25
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Paradise LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Washington Pass 0 LT 0.10 0.25
Mission Ridge 0 0.25 LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 0.25 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 0.25 0.25
Timberline LT 0.25 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25 - 0.50

Issued: 7:08 AM PDT Sunday, March 19, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon* Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 6500' 6500' 5000' 4000' 3500' 3500'
West North 5500' 6500' 5500' 4000' 3500' 3500'
West Central 5500' 6500' 5000' 4000' 3500' 3000'
West South 5500' 6000' 4500' 3500' 3500' 3500'
Stevens Pass 4500' 5500' 4500' 3500' 3500' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' 6000' 4500' 4000' 3500' 3500'
East North 3500' 5500' 5000' 4000' 3500' 4000'
East Central 4500' 5500' 4500' 4000' 3500' 3500'
East South 5500' 5500' 4500' 3500' 3500' 3500'
Mt. Hood 6500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 3000' 3000'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Morning* 6500'
Sunday Afternoon* 6500'
Sunday Evening* 5000'
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
West North Elevation
Sunday Morning* 5500'
Sunday Afternoon* 6500'
Sunday Evening* 5500'
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Morning* 5500'
Sunday Afternoon* 6500'
Sunday Evening* 5000'
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
West South Elevation
Sunday Morning* 5500'
Sunday Afternoon* 6000'
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon* 5500'
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning* 5000'
Sunday Afternoon* 6000'
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
East North Elevation
Sunday Morning* 3500'
Sunday Afternoon* 5500'
Sunday Evening* 5000'
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon* 5500'
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
East South Elevation
Sunday Morning* 5500'
Sunday Afternoon* 5500'
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Morning* 6500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4500'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3000'

Issued: 7:08 AM PDT Sunday, March 19, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Sunday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 40 / 35 36 / 30
West North 40 / 37 37 / 30
West Central 39 / 32 35 / 31
West South 40 / 32 34 / 31
Stevens Pass 39 / 30 34 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass 39 / 32 34 / 30
East North 39 / 18 33 / 28
East Central 38 / 27 34 / 31
East South 38 / 28 34 / 30
Mt. Hood 37 / 34 35 / 30
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 40 / 35
Sunday Night 36 / 30
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 40 / 37
Sunday Night 37 / 30
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 39 / 32
Sunday Night 35 / 31
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 40 / 32
Sunday Night 34 / 31
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 39 / 30
Sunday Night 34 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 39 / 32
Sunday Night 34 / 30
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 39 / 18
Sunday Night 33 / 28
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 38 / 27
Sunday Night 34 / 31
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 38 / 28
Sunday Night 34 / 30
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 37 / 34
Sunday Night 35 / 30

Issued: 7:08 AM PDT Sunday, March 19, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night
Olympics SE 0-10 SE 5-15 SSE 0-10 SSW 5-15
West North SE 0-10 SE 10-20 SSE 5-15 SSE 5-15
West Central ESE 10-20 ESE 15-25 SE 10-20 SE 5-15
West South SE 5-15 SE 5-15 SSE 5-15 SSW 0-10
Stevens Pass ESE 10-20 ESE 15-25 ESE 10-20 SE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass ESE 10-20 SE 20-30 SE 10-20 SE 5-15
East North SE 5-15 SE 10-20 ESE 10-20 SE 5-15
East Central SE 5-15 ESE 10-20 ESE 15-25 SE 5-15
East South ESE 5-15 ESE 5-15 SE 0-10 WSW 5-15
Mt. Hood SSE 10-20 S 15-25 SW 10-20 WSW 25-35
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SE 0-10
Sunday Afternoon SE 5-15
Sunday Evening SSE 0-10
Sunday Night SSW 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SE 0-10
Sunday Afternoon SE 10-20
Sunday Evening SSE 5-15
Sunday Night SSE 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning ESE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon ESE 15-25
Sunday Evening SE 10-20
Sunday Night SE 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SE 5-15
Sunday Evening SSE 5-15
Sunday Night SSW 0-10
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning ESE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon ESE 15-25
Sunday Evening ESE 10-20
Sunday Night SE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning ESE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SE 20-30
Sunday Evening SE 10-20
Sunday Night SE 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SE 10-20
Sunday Evening ESE 10-20
Sunday Night SE 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon ESE 10-20
Sunday Evening ESE 15-25
Sunday Night SE 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning ESE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon ESE 5-15
Sunday Evening SE 0-10
Sunday Night WSW 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SSE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon S 15-25
Sunday Evening SW 10-20
Sunday Night WSW 25-35

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

Previous forecast from Mar 18, 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’.