Issued: 7:04 AM PDT Tuesday, March 21, 2023
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

The first two days of spring will give us a taste of the spring-like weather. The remnants of a NW-SE oriented trough start the day mostly cloudy, but expect increasing influence from a weak high pressure over British Columbia to bring partly to mostly sunny skies by the afternoon. Mountain temperatures started cooler in southern portions of the forecast region with freezing levels around 3500-4000 ft in the central and northern Washington Cascades. A weak low over SE Washington could rotate some very light precipitation into the Mission Ridge and some weak convergence in the NE Olympics could bring some lingering showers through mid-morning, before the high gains full traction. Freezing levels rise to around 5000-5500 ft across the region by the afternoon, but there's a 20% chance of isolated showers south of the I-90 corridor in the afternoon associated with a weak surface trough extending northward from California.

The surface trough dissipates by the evening, leaving mostly clear skies Tuesday night. Temperatures remain mild with clear skies getting the freezing levels down to 3000 ft in some areas. Freezing levels rise back up to around 5500 ft by Wednesday afternoon with another chance for isolated showers as a weak shortwave trough approaches.

Expect light E winds Tuesday and Tuesday night with a shift back westerly early Wednesday.

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
Tuesday Isolated rain/snow showers before 8 AM, then decreasing clouds with mostly sunny skies in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy to start, then becoming partly to mostly sunny by the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy in the morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny by the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear.
Tuesday Partly cloudy with isolated afternoon rain/snow showers possible over the higher terrain.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy skies give way to partial sunshine. Light ridgeline winds. W winds switch E by mid-morning at the Pass.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy skies give way to partial sunshine. A slight chance of an afternoon rain/snow shower. Light ridgeline winds. W winds switch E by mid-morning at the Pass.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Mostly sunny.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy skies give way to mostly sunny skies.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy skies to start, then becoming partly cloudy. A chance of very isolated rain/snow showers over the higher terrain in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear.
Tuesday Mostly clear. A chance of very isolated rain/snow showers in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

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

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Tuesday Tuesday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 35 / 28 34 / 28
West North 37 / 30 36 / 29
West Central 38 / 30 35 / 26
West South 38 / 24 37 / 23
Stevens Pass 38 / 30 36 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 37 / 28 35 / 23
East North 38 / 26 36 / 24
East Central 37 / 28 35 / 25
East South 37 / 27 34 / 24
Mt. Hood 37 / 23 34 / 29
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 35 / 28
Tuesday Night 34 / 28
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 37 / 30
Tuesday Night 36 / 29
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 38 / 30
Tuesday Night 35 / 26
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 38 / 24
Tuesday Night 37 / 23
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 38 / 30
Tuesday Night 36 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 37 / 28
Tuesday Night 35 / 23
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 38 / 26
Tuesday Night 36 / 24
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 37 / 28
Tuesday Night 35 / 25
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 37 / 27
Tuesday Night 34 / 24
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 37 / 23
Tuesday Night 34 / 29

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

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

Previous forecast from Mar 20, 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’.