Issued: 6:57 AM PDT Thursday, March 14, 2024
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

A strong ridge of high pressure will dominate our weather pattern over the next several days with dry and increasingly warm weather expected. This will be the last morning for several days with widespread mid-mountain temperatures below freezing. Freezing levels will jump to 9000-10000' west of the Cascade crest and 8000-9000' along the east slopes of the Cascades and Mt Hood today. This will be a major jolt to the system, but it's just the opening act, as 5000' temperatures max out in the upper 30s to 40s today.  A cool N-NE breeze in the alpine will take the edge off the warming, especially along the east slopes of the Cascades and in the Mt Hood area. 

Freezing levels push higher overnight and Friday, climbing to 11,000' across the area.  5000' temperatures along the west slopes of the Cascades are likely to push 50F.  Increasing offshore flow and easterly winds will make for breezy conditions in the Passes on Friday but won't dampen the overall warming trend. ENE ridgeline winds will likely become moderate to locally strong along the central/south WA Cascades and the Mt Hood area on Friday, including places like Crystal Mt.   

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
Thursday Mostly sunny with periods of high clouds.
Thursday Night Mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Mostly sunny with periods of high clouds. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Mostly sunny with periods of high clouds. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Mostly sunny with a few passing high clouds. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Mostly clear with a few passing high clouds. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Mostly sunny with a few passing high clouds. Periods of moderate NE ridgeline winds. Light E winds at Pass level.
Thursday Night Mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Periods of moderate ENE ridgeline winds. Light to moderate E winds at Pass level.
Thursday Mostly sunny with a few passing high clouds. Periods of moderate NE ridgeline winds. Light E winds at Pass level.
Thursday Night Mostly clear with a few passing high clouds. Periods of moderate ENE ridgeline winds. Light to moderate E winds at Pass level.
Thursday Mostly sunny with periods of high clouds. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Mostly sunny with periods of high clouds. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Mostly sunny with a few passing high clouds. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Mostly clear with a few passing high clouds. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Mostly sunny with a few passing high clouds. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Mostly clear with a few passing high clouds. Moderate ridgeline winds.

Precipitation (in)

Thursday Thursday Night Friday
5 am - 5 pm 5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 0 0
Stevens Pass 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0
Crystal Mt 0 0 0
Paradise 0 0 0
White Pass 0 0 0
Washington Pass 0 0 0
Mission Ridge 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 0 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 0
Timberline 0 0 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0

Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon* Thursday Evening* Thursday Night* Friday Morning* Friday Afternoon*
Olympics 5500' 10000' 10000' 10000' 11000' 11000'
West North 4000' 9000' 10000' 10000' 11000' 11000'
West Central 4000' 9000' 10000' 10000' 11000' 11000'
West South 4500' 9000' 10000' 10000' 11000' 11000'
Stevens Pass 3500' 8000' 10000' 10000' 11000' 11000'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 9000' 10000' 10000' 11000' 11000'
East North 3500' 8000' 10000' 10000' 11000' 11000'
East Central 3500' 8000' 10000' 10000' 11000' 11000'
East South 4000' 8000' 10000' 10000' 11000' 11000'
Mt. Hood 4000' 8000' 10000' 10000' 11000' 11000'
Olympics Elevation
Thursday Morning 5500'
Thursday Afternoon* 10000'
Thursday Evening* 10000'
Thursday Night* 10000'
Friday Morning* 11000'
Friday Afternoon* 11000'
West North Elevation
Thursday Morning 4000'
Thursday Afternoon* 9000'
Thursday Evening* 10000'
Thursday Night* 10000'
Friday Morning* 11000'
Friday Afternoon* 11000'
West Central Elevation
Thursday Morning 4000'
Thursday Afternoon* 9000'
Thursday Evening* 10000'
Thursday Night* 10000'
Friday Morning* 11000'
Friday Afternoon* 11000'
West South Elevation
Thursday Morning 4500'
Thursday Afternoon* 9000'
Thursday Evening* 10000'
Thursday Night* 10000'
Friday Morning* 11000'
Friday Afternoon* 11000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning 3500'
Thursday Afternoon* 8000'
Thursday Evening* 10000'
Thursday Night* 10000'
Friday Morning* 11000'
Friday Afternoon* 11000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning 4000'
Thursday Afternoon* 9000'
Thursday Evening* 10000'
Thursday Night* 10000'
Friday Morning* 11000'
Friday Afternoon* 11000'
East North Elevation
Thursday Morning 3500'
Thursday Afternoon* 8000'
Thursday Evening* 10000'
Thursday Night* 10000'
Friday Morning* 11000'
Friday Afternoon* 11000'
East Central Elevation
Thursday Morning 3500'
Thursday Afternoon* 8000'
Thursday Evening* 10000'
Thursday Night* 10000'
Friday Morning* 11000'
Friday Afternoon* 11000'
East South Elevation
Thursday Morning 4000'
Thursday Afternoon* 8000'
Thursday Evening* 10000'
Thursday Night* 10000'
Friday Morning* 11000'
Friday Afternoon* 11000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Morning 4000'
Thursday Afternoon* 8000'
Thursday Evening* 10000'
Thursday Night* 10000'
Friday Morning* 11000'
Friday Afternoon* 11000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Thursday Thursday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 43 / 27 40 / 36
West North 41 / 27 39 / 36
West Central 41 / 27 39 / 36
West South 46 / 26 42 / 34
Stevens Pass 45 / 25 41 / 35
Snoqualmie Pass 42 / 25 39 / 35
East North 43 / 24 39 / 30
East Central 42 / 26 39 / 34
East South 43 / 25 39 / 33
Mt. Hood 41 / 25 38 / 34
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 43 / 27
Thursday Night 40 / 36
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 41 / 27
Thursday Night 39 / 36
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 41 / 27
Thursday Night 39 / 36
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 46 / 26
Thursday Night 42 / 34
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 45 / 25
Thursday Night 41 / 35
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 42 / 25
Thursday Night 39 / 35
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 43 / 24
Thursday Night 39 / 30
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 42 / 26
Thursday Night 39 / 34
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 43 / 25
Thursday Night 39 / 33
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 41 / 25
Thursday Night 38 / 34

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon Thursday Evening Thursday Night
Olympics NE 0-10 N 5-15 NE 5-15 NE 5-15
West North NE 5-15 NE 5-15 NE 5-15 NE 5-15
West Central NE 5-15 NE 5-15 ENE 5-15 ENE 5-15
West South NE 5-15 NE 5-15 ENE 5-15 ENE 10-20
Stevens Pass NE 5-15 NE 5-15 ENE 5-15 ENE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass NE 5-15 NE 5-15 ENE 5-15 ENE 5-15
East North N 10-20 N 5-15 NNE 5-15 NNE 5-15
East Central NNE 5-15 NNE 5-15 ENE 5-15 ENE 10-20
East South NNE 5-15 NNE 5-15 ENE 5-15 ENE 10-20
Mt. Hood ENE 10-20 ENE 10-20 E 10-20 E 10-20
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning NE 0-10
Thursday Afternoon N 5-15
Thursday Evening NE 5-15
Thursday Night NE 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning NE 5-15
Thursday Afternoon NE 5-15
Thursday Evening NE 5-15
Thursday Night NE 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning NE 5-15
Thursday Afternoon NE 5-15
Thursday Evening ENE 5-15
Thursday Night ENE 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning NE 5-15
Thursday Afternoon NE 5-15
Thursday Evening ENE 5-15
Thursday Night ENE 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning NE 5-15
Thursday Afternoon NE 5-15
Thursday Evening ENE 5-15
Thursday Night ENE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning NE 5-15
Thursday Afternoon NE 5-15
Thursday Evening ENE 5-15
Thursday Night ENE 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning N 10-20
Thursday Afternoon N 5-15
Thursday Evening NNE 5-15
Thursday Night NNE 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning NNE 5-15
Thursday Afternoon NNE 5-15
Thursday Evening ENE 5-15
Thursday Night ENE 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning NNE 5-15
Thursday Afternoon NNE 5-15
Thursday Evening ENE 5-15
Thursday Night ENE 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Morning ENE 10-20
Thursday Afternoon ENE 10-20
Thursday Evening E 10-20
Thursday Night E 10-20

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

Previous forecast from Mar 13, 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’.