Issued: 2:17 PM PST Saturday, March 9, 2024
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

The Pacific Northwest is in a weather pattern, with frontal systems arriving every 24-30 hours. The first and weakest in the series passes through the Cascades on Saturday early afternoon. Light to moderate rain and snow showers continue through the evening with a cooling trend.

System number two doesn't hesitate for a break in the action. Steadier rain and snow develop with an approaching warm front overnight. The moderate to heavier precipitation targets the Olympics and the volcanoes, with lighter precipitation for the passes and east slopes of the Cascades. Precipitation and moderate to strong ridgeline winds peak Sunday morning with the cold frontal passage. Precipitation becomes light to moderate and more showery during the afternoon as winds shift from SSW to SW. Snow levels start the day in the 2500-3000 ft range, rising to 3000-3500 ft with a chance that Snoqualmie Pass proper shifts from snow to rain in the afternoon.

Light to moderate snow showers continue on a cooling trend Sunday night as winds decrease. Light showers transition to stratiform rain and snow on Monday afternoon, increasing along with ridgeline winds as a front approaches.

 

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 Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow. Moderate to occasionally strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to moderate rain and snow showers.
Saturday Night Moderate to heavy rain and snow. Moderate to occasionally strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Moderate to heavy rain and snow, becoming showery and decreasing late in the day.
Saturday Night Moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Moderate rain and snow, becoming showery and decreasing late in the day.
Saturday Night Increasing light to moderate rain and snow (heaviest at Paradise). Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Moderate rain and snow, becoming showery during the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Light rain and snow. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W winds shifting E at the Pass overnight.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow, becoming showery during the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline and light to moderate E wind shifting W wind at the Pass by the afternoon.
Saturday Night Light rain and snow. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W winds shifting E at the Pass overnight.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow, becoming showery during the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline and light to moderate E wind shifting W wind at the Pass by the afternoon.
Saturday Night Light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds at times.
Sunday Periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow becoming showery by the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds at times.
Saturday Night Light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow becoming showery by the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow becoming showery by the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Light rain and snow showers. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to moderate rain and snow becomes showery in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds become strong.

Issued: 2:17 PM PST Saturday, March 9, 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 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 1.00 1.00 0.75 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.50 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 0.25 0.50 0.25
Crystal Mt 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 LT 0.25
Paradise 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 0.25
White Pass LT 0.25 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Washington Pass 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.25 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Timberline LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.75
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 1.00
Sunday 1.00
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25
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 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25

Issued: 2:17 PM PST Saturday, March 9, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 2:17 PM PST Saturday, March 9, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 28 / 24 30 / 25
West North 27 / 24 30 / 25
West Central 27 / 24 30 / 26
West South 28 / 25 31 / 28
Stevens Pass 27 / 22 31 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 27 / 22 31 / 26
East North 25 / 18 31 / 20
East Central 28 / 21 32 / 27
East South 27 / 22 32 / 26
Mt. Hood 31 / 27 33 / 30
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 24
Sunday 30 / 25
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 27 / 24
Sunday 30 / 25
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 27 / 24
Sunday 30 / 26
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 25
Sunday 31 / 28
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 27 / 22
Sunday 31 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 27 / 22
Sunday 31 / 26
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 25 / 18
Sunday 31 / 20
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 21
Sunday 32 / 27
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 27 / 22
Sunday 32 / 26
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 31 / 27
Sunday 33 / 30

Issued: 2:17 PM PST Saturday, March 9, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics SSW 20-30 S 25-35 SSW 15-25 SSW 10-20
West North SSW 20-30 S 25-35 S 20-30 SSW 15-25
West Central SW 15-25 SSE 15-25 SSE 15-25 SW 15-25
West South SW 15-25 SSW 20-30 SSW 10-20 SSW 15-25
Stevens Pass SW 10-20 SSE 10-20 SSE 10-20 SW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass SW 15-25 SE 10-20 SE 10-20 SW 10-20
East North SW 15-25 SSE 5-15 SE 10-20 SSW 10-20
East Central WSW 20-30 SSW 15-25 S 15-25 SW 10-20
East South SW 15-25 SSW 15-25 SSW 10-20 SW 10-20
Mt. Hood SW 20-30 SSW 25-35 SW 20-30 SW 25-35
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 20-30
Saturday Night S 25-35
Sunday Morning SSW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon SSW 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 20-30
Saturday Night S 25-35
Sunday Morning S 20-30
Sunday Afternoon SSW 15-25
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 15-25
Saturday Night SSE 15-25
Sunday Morning SSE 15-25
Sunday Afternoon SW 15-25
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 15-25
Saturday Night SSW 20-30
Sunday Morning SSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SSW 15-25
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 10-20
Saturday Night SSE 10-20
Sunday Morning SSE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 15-25
Saturday Night SE 10-20
Sunday Morning SE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SW 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 15-25
Saturday Night SSE 5-15
Sunday Morning SE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SSW 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 20-30
Saturday Night SSW 15-25
Sunday Morning S 15-25
Sunday Afternoon SW 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 15-25
Saturday Night SSW 15-25
Sunday Morning SSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SW 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 20-30
Saturday Night SSW 25-35
Sunday Morning SW 20-30
Sunday Afternoon SW 25-35

Issued: 2:17 PM PST Saturday, March 9, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

The cool and snowy pattern continues. A strong front arrives from the WNW on Monday night, bringing heavy rain and snow along with strong winds. WSW winds in the post-frontal, maintain gradually decreasing snow shower activity through Tuesday night. Expect drier conditions to develop on Wednesday as a strong ridge builds offshore.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night* Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 2500' 2500' 2000' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 2500' 2000' 2500'
Mt. Hood 3500' 3000' 2500' 2500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night* 2500'
Tuesday 2500'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night* 3000'
Tuesday 2500'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night* 3500'
Tuesday 3000'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday 2500'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 9, 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’.