Issued: 2:22 PM PDT Saturday, March 25, 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

We're in for another cold night with a cold upper level trough parked over the region and mountain temperatures will once again fall into the teens and 20s. Scattered afternoon and evening snow showers should come to an end after midnight. Most areas will see a trace to an inch of new snow, with some slightly heavier showers and localized higher snowfall totals over the Olympic Mountains.  On the southside of the upper low, Snoqualmie Pass and south to Mt Hood will see periods of moderate W-NW ridgeline winds. Low clouds should generally hang around near and west of the Cascade crest overnight. On the east-side of the Cascades, there should be some clearing, but it's uncertain how much mid and high level cloud will obscure a fuller clearing.

On Sunday, we will likely see even fewer (isolated) afternoon and early evening showers than we did on Saturday. Once again, the Olympics are likely to see a bit more afternoon cloud and shower activity in the afternoon. Sunbreaks are most likely in the morning through mid-day before afternoon clouds begin to bubble up again.

After a partly to mostly clear Sunday night, we'll turn our attention to the next upper level low diving south off the western US coastline. As this low pressure pulls up off the OR/CA coast on Monday, we may see some cloud cover spread into the Mt Hood region with full sun as you transition closer to the Canadian border. We will likely see E-SE ridgeline winds begin to pick up for the southern/central WA Cascades and especially Mt Hood. Freezing levels will rise into the 4000-5000' range on Monday. 

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
Saturday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers tapering down overnight.
Sunday A mix of sun and clouds in the morning, then mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated scattered light snow showers tapering down overnight.
Sunday A mix of sun and clouds in the morning, then mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers tapering down overnight.
Sunday A mix of sun and clouds in the morning, then mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers tapering down overnight. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday A mix of sun and clouds in the morning, then mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers tapering down overnight. Light to moderate W-NW Pass level and ridgeline winds.
Sunday A mix of sun and clouds in the morning, then mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers in the afternoon. Light W Pass level and ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers tapering down overnight. Light to moderate W-NW Pass level and ridgeline winds.
Sunday A mix of sun and clouds in the morning, then mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers in the afternoon. Light to moderate W Pass level and ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers tapering off in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy.
Sunday A mix of sun and clouds in the morning, then mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers in the afternoon
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers tapering off in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday A mix of sun and clouds in the morning, then mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers in the afternoon
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers tapering off in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday A mix of sun and clouds in the morning, then mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers in the afternoon
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers tapering off in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy. More clouds and showers west side of the mountain. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday A mix of sun and clouds in the morning, then partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon with isolated snow showers.

Issued: 2:22 PM PDT Saturday, March 25, 2023

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 2:22 PM PDT Saturday, March 25, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon*
Olympics 1500' 500' 1500' 3000' 2000' 1000' 2500' 4000'
West North 1500' 500' 1500' 3500' 2000' 1000' 2500' 4500'
West Central 1500' 500' 1500' 3500' 2000' 1000' 2500' 4500'
West South 1500' 500' 1500' 3500' 2000' 1000' 2500' 4500'
Stevens Pass 1500' 500' 1500' 3500' 2000' 1000' 2500' 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 500' 1500' 3500' 2000' 1000' 2500' 4500'
East North 1500' 500' 1500' 4000' 2000' 1000' 2500' 4500'
East Central 1500' 500' 1500' 4000' 2000' 1000' 2500' 4500'
East South 1500' 500' 1500' 4000' 2000' 1000' 2500' 4500'
Mt. Hood 1500' 500' 1500' 3500' 2000' 1000' 3000' 5000'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 500'
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 500'
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 500'
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 500'
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 500'
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 500'
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 500'
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 500'
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 500'
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 500'
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon* 5000'

Issued: 2:22 PM PDT Saturday, March 25, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 23 / 17 27 / 18
West North 23 / 17 29 / 18
West Central 23 / 17 29 / 19
West South 25 / 16 29 / 19
Stevens Pass 25 / 18 29 / 20
Snoqualmie Pass 24 / 18 29 / 20
East North 25 / 16 30 / 17
East Central 25 / 17 29 / 18
East South 25 / 17 29 / 17
Mt. Hood 23 / 17 29 / 19
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 23 / 17
Sunday 27 / 18
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 23 / 17
Sunday 29 / 18
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 23 / 17
Sunday 29 / 19
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 25 / 16
Sunday 29 / 19
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 25 / 18
Sunday 29 / 20
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 24 / 18
Sunday 29 / 20
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 25 / 16
Sunday 30 / 17
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 25 / 17
Sunday 29 / 18
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 25 / 17
Sunday 29 / 17
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 23 / 17
Sunday 29 / 19

Issued: 2:22 PM PDT Saturday, March 25, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics NW 0-10 NW 0-10 W 0-10 SW 5-15
West North W 0-10 W 0-10 W 0-10 SW 5-15
West Central WNW 5-15 WNW 0-10 W 0-10 SW 5-15
West South WNW 10-20 W 10-20 W 5-15 WSW 5-15
Stevens Pass WNW 5-15 W 0-10 W 0-10 W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass WNW 10-20 W 5-15 WNW 5-15 W 5-15
East North WNW 5-15 NW 0-10 NW 0-10 W 0-10
East Central WNW 10-20 WNW 5-15 WNW 5-15 W 5-15
East South WNW 10-20 WNW 5-15 WNW 5-15 W 5-15
Mt. Hood NW 15-25 NW 15-25 WNW 10-20 W 5-15
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening NW 0-10
Saturday Night NW 0-10
Sunday Morning W 0-10
Sunday Afternoon SW 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 0-10
Saturday Night W 0-10
Sunday Morning W 0-10
Sunday Afternoon SW 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 5-15
Saturday Night WNW 0-10
Sunday Morning W 0-10
Sunday Afternoon SW 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 10-20
Saturday Night W 10-20
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon WSW 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 5-15
Saturday Night W 0-10
Sunday Morning W 0-10
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 10-20
Saturday Night W 5-15
Sunday Morning WNW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 5-15
Saturday Night NW 0-10
Sunday Morning NW 0-10
Sunday Afternoon W 0-10
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 10-20
Saturday Night WNW 5-15
Sunday Morning WNW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 10-20
Saturday Night WNW 5-15
Sunday Morning WNW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening NW 15-25
Saturday Night NW 15-25
Sunday Morning WNW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15

Issued: 2:22 PM PDT Saturday, March 25, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

The aforementioned upper level low will spread warm frontal moisture north towards Mt Hood Monday night and Tuesday. It's unclear how much of any light rain and snow will work its way north over the Washington Cascades. A better bet for clearer skies and warmer day-time temperatures will be found closer to the Canadian border, especially for the northwest Cascades. E-SE ridgeline winds will likely become strong for Mt Hood and north to Snoqualmie Pass in this pattern.

On Wednesday, the upper low will pull further south off the California coast and a shortwave upper level ridge will move in, leading to generally dry and sunny weather.  

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 3000' 5000' 4500' 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass 2500' 5000' 4500' 5000'
Mt. Hood 2500' 3500' 3500' 4500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday 5000'
Tuesday Night 4500'
Wednesday 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday 5000'
Tuesday Night 4500'
Wednesday 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday 3500'
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday 4500'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 25, 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’.