Issued: 2:24 PM PDT Saturday, March 16, 2024
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

Our springtime weather is in full force this afternoon with plenty of sunshine and most locations seeing temperatures above 50 F. Moderate easterly winds continue to keep areas near and south of I-90 a few degrees cooler than places further north. However, wind speeds are dropping, and temperatures are on the rise. 

Keep the sunscreen and shades handy; our spring-like weather isn't going anywhere. A strong high pressure ridge parked over the Cascades will keep us in a very predictable weather pattern for the next several days. Clear nights will allow temperature inversions to develop in the mountain valleys and passes. Even still, most sites will remain well above freezing. Even if it's a bit chilly to start the day, once the sun comes out, temperatures will soar. Generally light to calm winds will let you feel the full brunt of the heat. Most weather stations should easily reach into the 50s, with a few sites topping 60F. 

If you like this weather, you're in luck! Sunday night and Monday look very similar. 

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 Clear and warm, with temperature inversions developing in the mountain valleys.
Sunday Sunny, warm, and light winds.
Saturday Night Clear and warm, with temperature inversions developing in the mountain valleys.
Sunday Sunny, warm, and light winds.
Saturday Night Clear and warm, with temperature inversions developing in the mountain valleys and passes.
Sunday Sunny, warm, and light winds.
Saturday Night Clear and warm, with temperature inversions developing in the mountain valleys and passes.
Sunday Sunny, warm, and light winds.
Saturday Night Clear and warm, with temperature inversions developing. Light east flow at pass level.
Sunday Sunny, warm, and light winds. Light east flow at pass level.
Saturday Night Clear and warm, with temperature inversions developing. Light to moderate SE ridgeline winds. Light east flow at pass level.
Sunday Sunny, warm, and light winds. Light east flow at pass level.
Saturday Night Clear and warm, with temperature inversions developing in the mountain valleys and passes.
Sunday Sunny, warm, and light winds.
Saturday Night Clear and warm, with temperature inversions developing in the mountain valleys and passes.
Sunday Sunny, warm, and light winds.
Saturday Night Clear and warm, with temperature inversions developing in the mountain valleys and passes.
Sunday Sunny, warm, and light winds.
Saturday Night Clear and warm, with temperature inversions developing.
Sunday Sunny, warm, and light winds.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening* Saturday Night* Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon* Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon*
Olympics 10500' 10500' 10500' 11000' 11000' 11000' 10500' 10500'
West North 10500' 10500' 10500' 11000' 11000' 11000' 10500' 10500'
West Central 10500' 10500' 10500' 11000' 11000' 11000' 10500' 10500'
West South 11000' 11000' 10500' 11000' 11000' 11000' 10500' 10500'
Stevens Pass 10500' 10500' 10500' 11000' 11000' 11000' 10500' 10500'
Snoqualmie Pass 11000' 10500' 10500' 11000' 11000' 11000' 10500' 10500'
East North 10500' 10500' 10500' 11000' 11000' 11000' 10500' 10500'
East Central 10500' 10500' 10500' 11000' 11000' 11000' 10500' 10500'
East South 11000' 11000' 10500' 11000' 11000' 11000' 10500' 10500'
Mt. Hood 11000' 11000' 10500' 11000' 11000' 11000' 10500' 10500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening* 10500'
Saturday Night* 10500'
Sunday Morning* 10500'
Sunday Afternoon* 11000'
Sunday Evening* 11000'
Sunday Night* 11000'
Monday Morning* 10500'
Monday Afternoon* 10500'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 10500'
Saturday Night* 10500'
Sunday Morning* 10500'
Sunday Afternoon* 11000'
Sunday Evening* 11000'
Sunday Night* 11000'
Monday Morning* 10500'
Monday Afternoon* 10500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 10500'
Saturday Night* 10500'
Sunday Morning* 10500'
Sunday Afternoon* 11000'
Sunday Evening* 11000'
Sunday Night* 11000'
Monday Morning* 10500'
Monday Afternoon* 10500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 11000'
Saturday Night* 11000'
Sunday Morning* 10500'
Sunday Afternoon* 11000'
Sunday Evening* 11000'
Sunday Night* 11000'
Monday Morning* 10500'
Monday Afternoon* 10500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 10500'
Saturday Night* 10500'
Sunday Morning* 10500'
Sunday Afternoon* 11000'
Sunday Evening* 11000'
Sunday Night* 11000'
Monday Morning* 10500'
Monday Afternoon* 10500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 11000'
Saturday Night* 10500'
Sunday Morning* 10500'
Sunday Afternoon* 11000'
Sunday Evening* 11000'
Sunday Night* 11000'
Monday Morning* 10500'
Monday Afternoon* 10500'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 10500'
Saturday Night* 10500'
Sunday Morning* 10500'
Sunday Afternoon* 11000'
Sunday Evening* 11000'
Sunday Night* 11000'
Monday Morning* 10500'
Monday Afternoon* 10500'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 10500'
Saturday Night* 10500'
Sunday Morning* 10500'
Sunday Afternoon* 11000'
Sunday Evening* 11000'
Sunday Night* 11000'
Monday Morning* 10500'
Monday Afternoon* 10500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 11000'
Saturday Night* 11000'
Sunday Morning* 10500'
Sunday Afternoon* 11000'
Sunday Evening* 11000'
Sunday Night* 11000'
Monday Morning* 10500'
Monday Afternoon* 10500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening* 11000'
Saturday Night* 11000'
Sunday Morning* 10500'
Sunday Afternoon* 11000'
Sunday Evening* 11000'
Sunday Night* 11000'
Monday Morning* 10500'
Monday Afternoon* 10500'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 52 / 40 55 / 39
West North 55 / 43 56 / 42
West Central 56 / 44 56 / 43
West South 49 / 38 53 / 39
Stevens Pass 51 / 38 52 / 39
Snoqualmie Pass 48 / 38 50 / 38
East North 48 / 34 50 / 34
East Central 47 / 37 52 / 39
East South 48 / 38 54 / 38
Mt. Hood 45 / 37 52 / 40
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 52 / 40
Sunday 55 / 39
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 55 / 43
Sunday 56 / 42
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 56 / 44
Sunday 56 / 43
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 49 / 38
Sunday 53 / 39
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 51 / 38
Sunday 52 / 39
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 48 / 38
Sunday 50 / 38
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 48 / 34
Sunday 50 / 34
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 47 / 37
Sunday 52 / 39
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 48 / 38
Sunday 54 / 38
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 45 / 37
Sunday 52 / 40

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics S 5-15 S 5-15 S 0-10 SW 0-10
West North S 0-10 SW 0-10 SW 0-10 SW 0-10
West Central SE 5-15 SSE 5-15 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10
West South SE 5-15 SE 5-15 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10
Stevens Pass SE 5-15 SE 5-15 SE 0-10 VAR 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass SE 10-20 SE 5-15 SE 0-10 VAR 0-10
East North SSE 5-15 S 5-15 S 5-15 SW 0-10
East Central SE 5-15 SSE 5-15 SSE 5-15 VAR 0-10
East South SE 5-15 SSE 5-15 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10
Mt. Hood SE 5-15 SSE 5-15 VAR 0-10 SE 0-10
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 5-15
Saturday Night S 5-15
Sunday Morning S 0-10
Sunday Afternoon SW 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 0-10
Saturday Night SW 0-10
Sunday Morning SW 0-10
Sunday Afternoon SW 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 5-15
Saturday Night SSE 5-15
Sunday Morning VAR 0-10
Sunday Afternoon VAR 0-10
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 5-15
Saturday Night SE 5-15
Sunday Morning VAR 0-10
Sunday Afternoon VAR 0-10
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 5-15
Saturday Night SE 5-15
Sunday Morning SE 0-10
Sunday Afternoon VAR 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 10-20
Saturday Night SE 5-15
Sunday Morning SE 0-10
Sunday Afternoon VAR 0-10
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 5-15
Saturday Night S 5-15
Sunday Morning S 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SW 0-10
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 5-15
Saturday Night SSE 5-15
Sunday Morning SSE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon VAR 0-10
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 5-15
Saturday Night SSE 5-15
Sunday Morning VAR 0-10
Sunday Afternoon VAR 0-10
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 5-15
Saturday Night SSE 5-15
Sunday Morning VAR 0-10
Sunday Afternoon SE 0-10

Extended Weather Synopsis

Temperatures very slowly start to decrease as we head into Tuesday. The high pressure ridge begins to flatten ahead of an approaching trough. However, it may take a bit for this entrenched ridge to yield. Even as we cool, temperatures should remain well above freezing. Increasing clouds Tuesday night and into Wednesday herald the approaching storm. As precipitation starts to fall on Wednesday, temperatures rapidly drop from 9000 to around 4500ft. This should open the door for a much cooler and more active weather pattern for the remainder of the week. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night* Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 9500' 8500' 7500' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 10000' 8500' 8000' 4500'
Mt. Hood 10000' 9500' 9000' 7500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night* 9500'
Tuesday 8500'
Tuesday Night 7500'
Wednesday 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night* 10000'
Tuesday 8500'
Tuesday Night 8000'
Wednesday 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night* 10000'
Tuesday 9500'
Tuesday Night 9000'
Wednesday 7500'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 16, 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’.