We're in for a quiet few days weather-wise with the next frontal system holding off until Saturday. A cold upper level trough will slowly slide east today. We'll see unseasonably cold temperatures continue. Morning temperatures are frigid by early March standards, many mountain weather stations are in the single digits or teens, with even colder temperatures at Washington Pass (-6F @ 6am).
Morning sunshine will transition to partly to mostly sunny skies mid-day through this evening with some afternoon cumulus buildup. An area of stratus sneaking in along the strait of Juan de Fuca will lead to more clouds for the Olympics, West North and West Central today along with the slight chance of a shower. Winds will be on the lighter side but expect light to moderate W-NW ridgeline winds from Stevens Pass and south to Mt Hood this afternoon and overnight. Afternoon freezing levels will rise to 2000-3000' across the area, with slightly higher freezing levels across the east slopes of the Cascades.
Thursday will be similar to Wednesday, except it will be slightly warmer with freezing levels bumping up 3000-4000' across the area.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
West North
West Central
West South
Stevens Pass
Snoqualmie Pass
East North
East Central
East South
Mt. Hood
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Wednesday
Partly to mostly cloudy this morning, becoming partly sunny this afternoon. Slight chance of light afternoon snow showers.
Wednesday
Night
Partly to mostly clear. Slight chance of light evening snow showers.
Wednesday
Partly to mostly cloudy this morning, becoming partly sunny this afternoon. Slight chance of light afternoon snow showers.
Wednesday
Night
Partly clear in the evening, becoming mostly clear overnight. Slight chance of light evening snow showers.
Wednesday
Partly sunny. Slight chance of light afternoon snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Night
Partly clear in the evening, becoming mostly clear overnight. Slight chance of light evening snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny this morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny this afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Night
Partly clear in the evening, becoming mostly clear overnight. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny this morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny this afternoon. Light to moderate WNW ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Wednesday
Night
Partly clear in the evening, becoming mostly clear overnight. Light to moderate WNW ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny this morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny this afternoon. Light to moderate WNW ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Wednesday
Night
Partly clear in the evening, becoming mostly clear overnight. Light to moderate NW ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny this morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny this afternoon.
Wednesday
Night
Partly clear in the evening, becoming mostly clear overnight.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny this morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny this afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Night
Partly clear in the evening, becoming mostly clear overnight. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny this morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny this afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Night
Partly clear in the evening, becoming mostly clear overnight. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny this morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny this afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Night
Partly clear in the evening, becoming mostly clear overnight. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
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).