Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, March 4, 2024
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

During the middle of the work week, mountain travelers will be able to enjoy all the recent low-density snowfall as below-normal temperatures linger and atmospheric stability gradually returns for increased sunshine.

The lingering cold upper trough brings some locally intense graupel showers to western Washington and Oregon as a subtle circulation center develops just offshore. As it moves into southern Washington by early Monday evening, expect light to locally moderate snow showers over the Olympics and for Mt Rainier south to Mt Hood. The snow shower activity should gradually decrease and end by Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, expect significantly clearing skies from N to south overnight, allowing 5000 ft temperatures to drop into the 10s in most areas.

Tuesday starts chilly with more sun than clouds. Expect increased cumulus cloud buildup in the afternoon with partly to mostly cloudy skies and some flurries or snow showers (more likely in the southern portions of the forecast region).

Weak NW flow aloft continues behind the trough Tuesday night and Wednesday. Once again, expect more sun in the morning and increased cloud cover in the afternoon. With very light W ridgeline winds, the east slopes of the Cascades might remain mostly sunny.

Freezing levels exhibit more of a diurnal signal as skies clear, dropping to 0-1000 ft overnight and into the morning hours, then rising up to 2000-3000 ft or slightly higher during the afternoon hours.

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
Monday Night Cloudy with light snow showers during the evening. Expect light upslope snowfall for the northern Olympics in the evening, tapering overnight.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning, then becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon, with an isolated snow shower possible.
Monday Night Partly cloudy with isolated snow showers in the evening, then mostly clear skies overnight.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning, then becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon, with an isolated snow shower possible.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with isolated snow showers in the evening, then mostly clear skies overnight.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning, then becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon, with an isolated snow shower possible.
Monday Night Light snow showers tapering overnight.
Tuesday Partly cloudy with isolated snow showers in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with isolated snow showers in the evening, then clearing skies overnight. Light ridgeline and W or variable wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning, then becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon, with an isolated snow shower possible. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with isolated snow showers in the evening, then clearing skies overnight. Light ridgeline and W or variable wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning, then becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon, with an isolated snow shower possible. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Monday Night Partly cloudy with isolated snow flurries in the evening, then clearing skies overnight.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning, then becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon.
Monday Night Partly cloudy with isolated snow flurries near the Cascade Crest in the evening, then clearing skies overnight.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning, then becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon.
Monday Night Partly cloudy with isolated snow flurries near the Cascade Crest in the evening, then clearing skies overnight.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy with a chance of snow showers in the afternoon.
Monday Night Decreasing light snow showers.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy to start, then partly cloudy with a chance of light snow showers in the afternoon.

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, March 4, 2024

Precipitation (in)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.25 0 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 0 0 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.10 0 0 0
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 0 0 0
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 0 0 0
Paradise LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0
White Pass LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10 0
Washington Pass 0 0 0 0
Mission Ridge 0 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 0 0 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Timberline LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, March 4, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon
Olympics 500' 500' 500' 2000' 1500' 1000' 500' 2000'
West North 500' 500' 500' 2000' 1500' 500' 500' 1500'
West Central 500' 500' 500' 2000' 1500' 500' 500' 1500'
West South 500' 500' 500' 2000' 2000' 500' 500' 2000'
Stevens Pass 500' 500' 500' 2500' 2000' 1000' 500' 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass 500' 500' 500' 2000' 1500' 500' 500' 2000'
East North 500' 0 500' 2500' 2000' 0 0 2000'
East Central 500' 0 500' 3000' 2000' 500' 500' 2500'
East South 500' 500' 500' 2000' 2000' 1000' 500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 1000' 1000' 1000' 2000' 2000' 1000' 1000' 2500'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Tuesday Evening 1500'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 2000'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Tuesday Evening 1500'
Tuesday Night 500'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 1500'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Tuesday Evening 1500'
Tuesday Night 500'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 1500'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 500'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 2000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Tuesday Evening 1500'
Tuesday Night 500'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 2000'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 0'
Wednesday Morning 0'
Wednesday Afternoon 2000'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3000'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 500'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 2500'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 500'
Wednesday Afternoon 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening 1000'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 1000'
Wednesday Afternoon 2500'

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, March 4, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 20 / 15 27 / 17
West North 20 / 14 25 / 14
West Central 19 / 17 26 / 16
West South 24 / 15 29 / 15
Stevens Pass 23 / 16 29 / 15
Snoqualmie Pass 22 / 16 27 / 16
East North 18 / 3 27 / 3
East Central 23 / 14 30 / 15
East South 24 / 14 30 / 14
Mt. Hood 24 / 16 29 / 15
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 20 / 15
Tuesday 27 / 17
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 20 / 14
Tuesday 25 / 14
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 19 / 17
Tuesday 26 / 16
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 24 / 15
Tuesday 29 / 15
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 23 / 16
Tuesday 29 / 15
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 22 / 16
Tuesday 27 / 16
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 18 / 3
Tuesday 27 / 3
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 23 / 14
Tuesday 30 / 15
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 24 / 14
Tuesday 30 / 14
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 24 / 16
Tuesday 29 / 15

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, March 4, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics ENE 0-10 NE 0-10 NNE 0-10 WNW 0-10
West North SSW 0-10 W 0-10 W 0-10 WSW 0-10
West Central S 0-10 VAR 0-10 W 0-10 WNW 5-15
West South S 0-10 SSW 0-10 NNW 0-10 NNW 0-10
Stevens Pass S 0-10 VAR 0-10 SW 0-10 WNW 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10 NW 5-15
East North W 0-10 SW 0-10 W 0-10 W 5-15
East Central S 0-10 VAR 5-15 SW 0-10 WNW 0-10
East South VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10 ENE 0-10 NE 0-10
Mt. Hood WSW 5-15 W 5-15 W 0-10 W 0-10
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening ENE 0-10
Monday Night NE 0-10
Tuesday Morning NNE 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon WNW 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SSW 0-10
Monday Night W 0-10
Tuesday Morning W 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening S 0-10
Monday Night VAR 0-10
Tuesday Morning W 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon WNW 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening S 0-10
Monday Night SSW 0-10
Tuesday Morning NNW 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon NNW 0-10
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening S 0-10
Monday Night VAR 0-10
Tuesday Morning SW 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon WNW 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening VAR 0-10
Monday Night VAR 0-10
Tuesday Morning VAR 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon NW 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 0-10
Monday Night SW 0-10
Tuesday Morning W 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon W 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening S 0-10
Monday Night VAR 5-15
Tuesday Morning SW 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon WNW 0-10
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening VAR 0-10
Monday Night VAR 0-10
Tuesday Morning ENE 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon NE 0-10
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WSW 5-15
Monday Night W 5-15
Tuesday Morning W 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon W 0-10

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, March 4, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

Temperatures gradually moderate as a ridge moves into the region by late Thursday. Expect mostly sunny skies and light winds. The ridge slides eastward on Friday, so expect increasing SSW winds ahead of the next system and some light rain or snow by the afternoon for the mountains of NW Washington. Snow levels should be in the 3000-4000 ft range, with freezing levels rising to 4500-6500 ft further south. E winds will keep the E slopes and mountain gaps slightly cooler.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night Thursday Thursday Night Friday *
West North 500' 1500' 1500' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1000' 2000' 2000' 3500'
Mt. Hood 1500' 2000' 2500' 5000'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night 500'
Thursday 1500'
Thursday Night 1500'
Friday * 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night 1000'
Thursday 2000'
Thursday Night 2000'
Friday * 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night 1500'
Thursday 2000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday * 5000'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 4, 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’.