Issued: 2:27 PM PDT Tuesday, March 19, 2024
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

The upper level ridge that's been parked over our area since Friday and responsible for our warm and dry weather has started to weaken as we inch towards a pattern change. Temperatures this afternoon are once again well above normal, with widespread mid-mountain temperatures in the 50s. We're in for another night of mild above-freezing temperatures, but overnight temperatures will be a few degrees cooler than last night. Freezing levels have begun their slow descent from 10,000' this morning, to 6500' to 7500' Wednesday afternoon. 

A weak upper level disturbance will approach from the SW on Wednesday. This feature will cause an increase in onshore westerly flow. Low level moisture will increase overnight and tomorrow, and we may see some low clouds develop along the western foothills of the Cascades. 5000' temperatures will be a few degrees cooler along the west slopes of the Cascades vs the east slopes of the Cascades due to the onshore flow on Wednesday. We'll also see moderate W-SW ridgeline winds increase tonight and Wednesday as the system approaches. Precipitation will hold off on Wednesday and most areas should see more sun than high clouds in the morning, and transition to a high overcast by the end of the day. 

Showers will spread inland Wednesday night and scattered showers will stick around through Thursday.  We can expect slightly higher amounts over the Olympics and west slopes of the Cascades, with lighter amounts further east. Snow levels will lower a bit more on Wednesday night/Thursday and bump between 4000-6000' as precipitation returns to the area. 

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
Tuesday Night Mostly clear, then becoming partly cloud late with increasing high clouds. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy in the morning with filtered sunshine, then becoming overcast in the afternoon with high clouds thickening. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear, then becoming partly cloud late with increasing high clouds. Ridgeline winds increasing to moderate after midnight. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Partly to mostly cloudy with high clouds and filtered sunshine through mid-day, then becoming cloudy with a high overcast in the afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear. A few high clouds after midnight. Ridgeline winds increasing to moderate after midnight.
Wednesday Partly to mostly cloudy with high clouds and filtered sunshine through mid-day, then becoming cloudy with a high overcast in the afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear. A few high clouds after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Partly to mostly cloudy with high clouds and filtered sunshine through mid-day, then becoming cloudy with a high overcast in the afternoon.Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear. A few high clouds after midnight.Moderate W ridgeline winds. Light to moderate W Pass level winds
Wednesday Partly to mostly cloudy with high clouds and filtered sunshine through mid-day, then becoming cloudy with a high overcast in the afternoon. Light to moderate W ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear. A few high clouds after midnight. Moderate W ridgeline winds. Light to moderate W Pass level winds
Wednesday Partly to mostly cloudy with high clouds and filtered sunshine through mid-day, then becoming cloudy with a high overcast in the afternoon. Moderate W ridgeline winds. Light to moderate W Pass level winds
Tuesday Night Mostly clear. A few high clouds after midnight. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Partly to mostly sunny with periods of filtered sunshine through mid-day, then becoming cloudy with a high overcast in the afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear. A few high clouds after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Partly to mostly sunny with periods of filtered sunshine through mid-day, then becoming cloudy with a high overcast in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear. A few high clouds after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Partly to mostly sunny with periods of filtered sunshine through mid-day, then becoming cloudy with a high overcast in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear. A few high clouds after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Partly to mostly cloudy with high clouds and filtered sunshine through mid-day, then becoming cloudy with a high overcast in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds, becoming moderate to strong in the afternoon.

Issued: 2:27 PM PDT Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Precipitation (in)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm 5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Stevens Pass 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise 0 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
White Pass 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge 0 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Timberline 0 0 0.25 LT 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday LT 0.25

Issued: 2:27 PM PDT Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon Wednesday Evening Wednesday Night Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon
Olympics 7500' 7000' 7000' 6000' 4500' 4000' 4000' 5000'
West North 7500' 7000' 7000' 6500' 5000' 4000' 4000' 5000'
West Central 8000' 7000' 7000' 6500' 5000' 4000' 4000' 5000'
West South 8000' 7500' 7500' 7000' 5500' 4000' 4000' 5000'
Stevens Pass 8000' 7000' 7000' 6500' 5500' 4000' 4000' 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass 8000' 7000' 7000' 6500' 5500' 4000' 4000' 5000'
East North 8000' 7000' 7000' 7500' 6000' 4500' 4000' 6000'
East Central 8500' 8000' 8000' 7500' 6000' 4500' 4000' 6000'
East South 9000' 9000' 8500' 7500' 6000' 4500' 4000' 6000'
Mt. Hood 9500' 9000' 8500' 7000' 5500' 4500' 4500' 6000'
Olympics Elevation
Tuesday Evening 7500'
Tuesday Night 7000'
Wednesday Morning 7000'
Wednesday Afternoon 6000'
Wednesday Evening 4500'
Wednesday Night 4000'
Thursday Morning 4000'
Thursday Afternoon 5000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Evening 7500'
Tuesday Night 7000'
Wednesday Morning 7000'
Wednesday Afternoon 6500'
Wednesday Evening 5000'
Wednesday Night 4000'
Thursday Morning 4000'
Thursday Afternoon 5000'
West Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening 8000'
Tuesday Night 7000'
Wednesday Morning 7000'
Wednesday Afternoon 6500'
Wednesday Evening 5000'
Wednesday Night 4000'
Thursday Morning 4000'
Thursday Afternoon 5000'
West South Elevation
Tuesday Evening 8000'
Tuesday Night 7500'
Wednesday Morning 7500'
Wednesday Afternoon 7000'
Wednesday Evening 5500'
Wednesday Night 4000'
Thursday Morning 4000'
Thursday Afternoon 5000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening 8000'
Tuesday Night 7000'
Wednesday Morning 7000'
Wednesday Afternoon 6500'
Wednesday Evening 5500'
Wednesday Night 4000'
Thursday Morning 4000'
Thursday Afternoon 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening 8000'
Tuesday Night 7000'
Wednesday Morning 7000'
Wednesday Afternoon 6500'
Wednesday Evening 5500'
Wednesday Night 4000'
Thursday Morning 4000'
Thursday Afternoon 5000'
East North Elevation
Tuesday Evening 8000'
Tuesday Night 7000'
Wednesday Morning 7000'
Wednesday Afternoon 7500'
Wednesday Evening 6000'
Wednesday Night 4500'
Thursday Morning 4000'
Thursday Afternoon 6000'
East Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening 8500'
Tuesday Night 8000'
Wednesday Morning 8000'
Wednesday Afternoon 7500'
Wednesday Evening 6000'
Wednesday Night 4500'
Thursday Morning 4000'
Thursday Afternoon 6000'
East South Elevation
Tuesday Evening 9000'
Tuesday Night 9000'
Wednesday Morning 8500'
Wednesday Afternoon 7500'
Wednesday Evening 6000'
Wednesday Night 4500'
Thursday Morning 4000'
Thursday Afternoon 6000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Evening 9500'
Tuesday Night 9000'
Wednesday Morning 8500'
Wednesday Afternoon 7000'
Wednesday Evening 5500'
Wednesday Night 4500'
Thursday Morning 4500'
Thursday Afternoon 6000'

Issued: 2:27 PM PDT Tuesday, March 19, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Tuesday Night Wednesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 42 / 34 40 / 33
West North 42 / 34 41 / 33
West Central 43 / 34 43 / 33
West South 44 / 34 43 / 35
Stevens Pass 43 / 34 42 / 33
Snoqualmie Pass 43 / 34 40 / 33
East North 43 / 33 45 / 35
East Central 44 / 34 45 / 35
East South 46 / 35 45 / 36
Mt. Hood 46 / 38 45 / 39
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 42 / 34
Wednesday 40 / 33
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 42 / 34
Wednesday 41 / 33
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 43 / 34
Wednesday 43 / 33
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 44 / 34
Wednesday 43 / 35
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 43 / 34
Wednesday 42 / 33
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 43 / 34
Wednesday 40 / 33
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 43 / 33
Wednesday 45 / 35
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 44 / 34
Wednesday 45 / 35
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 46 / 35
Wednesday 45 / 36
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 46 / 38
Wednesday 45 / 39

Issued: 2:27 PM PDT Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:27 PM PDT Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

The ridge will rebuild briefly Thursday night before shifting east again on Friday.  An upper low complex will spin generally light showers up in southerly flow on Friday. A slightly stronger and wetter upper-level disturbance will drive an increase in showers Saturday. The pattern evolution heading into next week looks potentially active, but the questions asking how much and for how long are still very much up in the air.  

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Night Friday Friday Night Saturday
West North 4500' 6000' 5500' 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' 6000' 5500' 4500'
Mt. Hood 6500' 6000' 5500' 4000'
West North Elevation
Thursday Night 4500'
Friday 6000'
Friday Night 5500'
Saturday 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Night 5000'
Friday 6000'
Friday Night 5500'
Saturday 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Night 6500'
Friday 6000'
Friday Night 5500'
Saturday 4000'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 19, 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’.