Issued: 2:10 PM PST Saturday, March 2, 2024
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

A deep, cold trough over the region remains centered just off the Washington Coastline. Pieces of energy continue to eject over the region on light WSW to SW flow aloft as the jetstream energy remains focused on California. The pattern features diurnal fluctuations in temperatures and snow shower activity. A combination of locally intense bands of showers and isolated cells over the region should continue to focus on the west slopes of the Cascades and SW slopes of the Olympics but expect the intensity to ease rapidly during the evening hours. Shower activity will become scattered to isolated through the morning hours on Sunday. As the day progresses on Sunday, snow levels rise from 500 ft to 1000 ft (freezing levels rise from 1000 ft to 2500 ft or higher in dry areas). Shower activity ramps up in concert, becoming more widespread over the west slopes of the central and southern Cascades by the afternoon. Snow showers may feature graupel and in isolated areas some small hail. Most areas feature light ridgeline winds, but Mt Hood can expect moderate ridgeline winds at times.

Expect a similar pattern to repeat on Sunday night and Monday with very slightly lower precipitation amounts as the upper-level trough weakens just slightly.

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 Mostly cloudy with decreasing scattered light snow showers (moderate in the evening for the southern Olympics).
Sunday Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers increasing in intensity and coverage during the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers, locally intense during the evening hours.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers, locally intense during the evening hours.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers (locally intense during the afternoon).
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers, locally intense during the evening hours.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with scattered light to moderate snow showers increasing in coverage and intensity during the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers, locally intense during the evening hours. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers (locally intense during the afternoon). Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers, locally intense during the evening hours. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers (locally intense during the afternoon). Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy with isolated light snow showers, locally intense during the evening hours.
Sunday Partly cloudy with isolated light snow showers, primarily during the afternoon.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy with isolated light snow showers, locally intense during the evening hours.
Sunday Partly cloudy with isolated light snow showers, becoming scattered and locally intense during the afternoon.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy with isolated light snow showers, locally intense during the evening hours.
Sunday Partly cloudy with isolated light snow showers, becoming scattered and locally intense during the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers, locally intense during the evening hours.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate snow showers (locally intense during the afternoon).

Issued: 2:10 PM PST Saturday, March 2, 2024

Precipitation (in)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Paradise 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.25
White Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 LT 0.25 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 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Timberline LT 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25

Issued: 2:10 PM PST Saturday, March 2, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 500' 500' 500' 1000' 500' 500' 0 500'
West North 500' 0 0 500' 500' 500' 0 500'
West Central 500' 0 0 1000' 500' 500' 0 500'
West South 500' 0 0 1000' 500' 500' 0 1000'
Stevens Pass 500' 0 0 1000' 500' 500' 0 500'
Snoqualmie Pass 500' 0 0 1000' 500' 500' 0 500'
East North 500' 0 0 1000' 500' 500' 0 500'
East Central 500' 0 0 1000' 500' 500' 0 500'
East South 500' 0 0 1000' 500' 500' 0 1000'
Mt. Hood 1000' 500' 500' 1500' 1000' 1000' 500' 1500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening 500'
Saturday Night 500'
Sunday Morning 500'
Sunday Afternoon 1000'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 500'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening 500'
Saturday Night 0'
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon 500'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 500'
Saturday Night 0'
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon 1000'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening 500'
Saturday Night 0'
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon 1000'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 500'
Saturday Night 0'
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon 1000'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 500'
Saturday Night 0'
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon 1000'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 500'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening 500'
Saturday Night 0'
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon 1000'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 500'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 500'
Saturday Night 0'
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon 1000'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening 500'
Saturday Night 0'
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon 1000'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening 1000'
Saturday Night 500'
Sunday Morning 500'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1500'

Issued: 2:10 PM PST Saturday, March 2, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 19 / 17 25 / 17
West North 20 / 16 24 / 16
West Central 19 / 14 24 / 17
West South 20 / 18 25 / 17
Stevens Pass 20 / 13 26 / 15
Snoqualmie Pass 20 / 14 24 / 15
East North 20 / 9 25 / 11
East Central 20 / 14 25 / 15
East South 21 / 14 26 / 15
Mt. Hood 21 / 17 26 / 19
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 19 / 17
Sunday 25 / 17
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 20 / 16
Sunday 24 / 16
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 19 / 14
Sunday 24 / 17
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 20 / 18
Sunday 25 / 17
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 20 / 13
Sunday 26 / 15
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 20 / 14
Sunday 24 / 15
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 20 / 9
Sunday 25 / 11
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 20 / 14
Sunday 25 / 15
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 21 / 14
Sunday 26 / 15
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 21 / 17
Sunday 26 / 19

Issued: 2:10 PM PST Saturday, March 2, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:10 PM PST Saturday, March 2, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

A cool trough remains over the area through Tuesday, but as the associated upper low drifts south, expect drier conditions and partly cloudy skies. Isolated snow showers should flare up Tuesday afternoon in southern parts of the forecast region. NNW flow aloft develops as the upper trough shifts east Tuesday night. Expect increasing clouds as a weak ridge moves in ahead of a system to our NW.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 500' 500' 500' 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1000' 500' 500' 1000'
Mt. Hood 1500' 1000' 1000' 1500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday 500'
Tuesday Night 500'
Wednesday 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday 500'
Tuesday Night 500'
Wednesday 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 1500'
Tuesday 1000'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday 1500'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 2, 2024

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’.