Issued: 2:33 PM PDT Sunday, March 10, 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 weather pattern remains active through the short-term forecast as successive storms bring significant snow and wind. Post-frontal shower activity continues behind Sunday morning's frontal passage. Convective rain and snow showers arrive on SW flow as a subtle trough approaches, arriving Sunday evening. Temperatures cool slightly overnight (2000-2500 ft snow levels) and as shower activity gradually decreases. A subtle shift toward the WSW with the wind direction should help distribute the precipitation more evenly across the west slopes of the Cascades. Moderate winds should accelerate slightly along the east slopes of the Cascades. Higher resolution models point toward the potential for heavier snowfall in convergence banding around the Mt Baker area late Sunday night into early Monday.

In most other areas, shower activity reaches a minimum on Monday morning as the trough exits to the east. Steadier rain and snow develop by the afternoon as a deeper trough and associated frontal system approaches from the WNW. SSW winds ramp up along with the precipitation, initially for the Olympics and then the Cascades in the afternoon. Snow levels rise to around 2500-3500 ft.

The frontal system arrives 7-10 PM Monday evening with moderate to heavy rain and snow and moderate to strong SSW ridgeline winds. Winds decrease into the moderate range and shift WSW overnight as moderate rain and snow shower activity continue. Decreasing light to moderate rain and snow showers continue as snow levels decrease below 3000 ft on Tuesday.

The volcanoes are looking at 20-40" of snowfall through Tuesday. Most other areas are looking at 6-18".

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
Sunday Night Night: Decreasing light rain and snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Light rain and snow showers becoming moderate rain and snow in the afternoon. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts.
Sunday Night Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow showers with convergence banding. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Moderate rain and snow showers in the morning (locally heavy in convergence), becoming steadier and increasing during the afternoon. Increasing moderate to strong ridgeline winds potentially becoming strong.
Sunday Night Decreasing moderate rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Light rain and snow showers becoming steady in the afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Decreasing light to moderate rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Light rain and snow showers becoming steady in the afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Decreasing light to moderate rain and snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Monday Light rain and snow showers becoming steady and increasing in the afternoon. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass shifting E from mid-morning onward.
Sunday Night Decreasing light to moderate rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds become light and light W wind at the Pass.
Monday Light rain and snow showers becoming steady and increasing in the afternoon. Increasing light to moderate and light W winds at the Pass shift E by mid-morning.
Sunday Night Decreasing light to moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Light snow showers becoming steady late in the day. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Decreasing light to moderate rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Very light rain and snow showers increase and become steady in the afternoon. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Decreasing light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Very light rain and snow showers increase and become steady in the afternoon. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Decreasing light to moderate rain and snow showers. Decreasing strong ridgeline winds become moderate.
Monday Light rain and snow showers become steady and moderate intensity during the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts.

Issued: 2:33 PM PDT Sunday, March 10, 2024

Precipitation (in)

Sunday Night Monday Monday Night Tuesday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.25 0.25 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.75 0.50 1.00 0.75
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.50 0.25 0.50 - 0.75 0.50
Stevens Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 0.50 - 0.75 0.50
Crystal Mt 0.25 0.25 0.50 0.25
Paradise 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 -1.00 0.50 - 0.75
White Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.50 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.50 0.50
Timberline 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.50 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday 0.50
Monday Night 1.00
Tuesday 0.75
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday 0.50
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 0.50
Tuesday 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night 0.75 -1.00
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 0.50
Tuesday 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 0.50
Tuesday 0.50
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 0.50
Tuesday 0.50

Issued: 2:33 PM PDT Sunday, March 10, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 2:33 PM PDT Sunday, March 10, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 29 / 23 31 / 23
West North 29 / 25 29 / 24
West Central 29 / 25 30 / 23
West South 30 / 25 31 / 25
Stevens Pass 30 / 25 31 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 30 / 25 31 / 24
East North 27 / 20 28 / 20
East Central 29 / 23 31 / 23
East South 31 / 23 32 / 23
Mt. Hood 30 / 27 32 / 26
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 23
Monday 31 / 23
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 25
Monday 29 / 24
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 25
Monday 30 / 23
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 25
Monday 31 / 25
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 25
Monday 31 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 25
Monday 31 / 24
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 27 / 20
Monday 28 / 20
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 23
Monday 31 / 23
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 23
Monday 32 / 23
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 27
Monday 32 / 26

Issued: 2:33 PM PDT Sunday, March 10, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics SW 10-20 SW 10-20 SSW 10-20 SSW 20-30
West North SSW 10-20 SSW 15-25 SSW 15-25 SSE 20-30
West Central SW 15-25 SW 15-25 SSW 10-20 SSE 10-20
West South SW 15-25 SW 15-25 SW 5-15 SSW 15-25
Stevens Pass SW 10-20 WSW 10-20 SW 10-20 SSE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass SW 15-25 WSW 10-20 SW 5-15 SE 10-20
East North SW 10-20 SW 15-25 SW 10-20 S 10-20
East Central WSW 15-25 WSW 15-25 WSW 10-20 S 10-20
East South WSW 15-25 WSW 10-20 WSW 10-20 SSW 5-15
Mt. Hood WSW 30-40 WSW 15-25 SW 20-30 SW 20-30
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 10-20
Sunday Night SW 10-20
Monday Morning SSW 10-20
Monday Afternoon SSW 20-30
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SSW 10-20
Sunday Night SSW 15-25
Monday Morning SSW 15-25
Monday Afternoon SSE 20-30
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 15-25
Sunday Night SW 15-25
Monday Morning SSW 10-20
Monday Afternoon SSE 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 15-25
Sunday Night SW 15-25
Monday Morning SW 5-15
Monday Afternoon SSW 15-25
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 10-20
Sunday Night WSW 10-20
Monday Morning SW 10-20
Monday Afternoon SSE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 15-25
Sunday Night WSW 10-20
Monday Morning SW 5-15
Monday Afternoon SE 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 10-20
Sunday Night SW 15-25
Monday Morning SW 10-20
Monday Afternoon S 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 15-25
Sunday Night WSW 15-25
Monday Morning WSW 10-20
Monday Afternoon S 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 15-25
Sunday Night WSW 10-20
Monday Morning WSW 10-20
Monday Afternoon SSW 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 30-40
Sunday Night WSW 15-25
Monday Morning SW 20-30
Monday Afternoon SW 20-30

Issued: 2:33 PM PDT Sunday, March 10, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

A ridge of high pressure builds offshore Tuesday night and Wednesday, bringing a drying trend with the last dregs of precipitation arriving early Wednesday. Expect increasing sunshine on Wednesday and full sunshine by Thursday with a warming trend.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
West North 1500' 2500' 2500' 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 3000' 3000' 5500'
Mt. Hood 1500' 3000' 3000' 6000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday 2500'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday 3000'
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday 5500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday 3000'
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday 6000'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 10, 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’.