Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Wednesday & Monday
We're in the midst of an extended period of high pressure offshore. Dry northerly flow continues over our region with a closed low over the Great Basin. The low maintains subtle influential in the Mt Hood area with some scattered clouds and slightly cooler temperatures which should continue into Wednesday.
Temperatures were in the 20s and 30s at most NWAC stations as of early Wednesday morning. Cooler locations were generally at lower elevations where very light or calm winds allowed the atmosphere to stratify Tuesday night, resulting in an inversion up to around 5000 ft throughout the region. The inversion should mix out by mid-morning on Wednesday as widespread sunshine heats up the lower atmosphere. Low-level winds are very light westerly, resulting in the warmest late afternoon temperatures likely just east of the Cascade Crest. A few clouds may form near the Cascade Crest late in the day.
Wednesday night, a shallower inversion should form, with temperatures once again expected to be in the 20s and 30s with upper-level ridging increasing.
Thursday, the subtle ridge axis is over the region as a closed low well offshore drops southward, switching low-level flow to a very light easterly. and bringing in a few clouds. Temperatures should be mild once again across the region and slightly warmer near and west of the Cascade Crest than Wednesday.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Wednesday | Sunny and warm. |
Mt. Baker
| Wednesday | Sunny and warm. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Wednesday | Sunny and warm with a few clouds possible near the Cascade Crest, late in the day. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Wednesday | Sunny and warm with a few clouds developing over the terrain late in the day. Light W winds 0-10 mph through the Passes. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Wednesday | Sunny and warm with a few clouds developing late in the day. |
Mt. Hood
| Wednesday | Mostly sunny and mild with some scattered clouds possible throughout the day. |
Issued: 7:03 AM PDT Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | Freezing Level | 5000' | 4000' | 4000' | 4000' | 4000' | 4000' | 4500' | 4000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 5500' | 5000' | 6000' | 6000' | 5500' | 5500' | 5500' | 4500' |
| Wednesday Evening | Freezing Level | 6000' | 5500' | 5500' | 5500' | 5000' | 5000' | 5000' | 5000' |
| Wednesday Night | Freezing Level | 5000' | 4500' | 4000' | 4500' | 4000' | 4000' | 4500' | 4500' |
| Thursday Morning | Freezing Level * | 5000' | 5000' | 5000' | 4500' | 5000' | 5000' | 5500' | 5000' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Freezing Level * | 6000' | 6500' | 6000' | 5500' | 6000' | 6000' | 6500' | 6000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
* Easterly flow in the Cascade Passes can cause locally lower Snow or Freezing levels than areas further west.
Freezing Level is when no precipitation is forecast.
Precipitation Forecast
| Wednesday | Wednesday Night | Monday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Washington Pass | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paradise | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| White Pass | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Timberline | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Monday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Monday | 0 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Monday | 0 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Monday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Monday | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Monday | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Monday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Monday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Monday | 0 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Monday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Monday | 0 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Monday | 0 |
LT = less than; WE or Water equivalent is the liquid water equivalent of melted snow in hundredths of inches. As a rough approximation 1 inch of snow = about .10 inches WE, or 10 inches of snow = about 1 inch WE.
Issued: 7:03 AM PDT Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | E 0 - 10 | NE 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 | VAR 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Evening | E 0 - 10 | NE 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | NW 0 - 10 | NNW 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | VAR 0 - 10 | ESE 0 - 10 | E 0 - 10 | E 0 - 10 | E 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | ESE 0 - 10 | ESE 0 - 10 | ESE 0 - 10 | ESE 0 - 10 | E 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 | SSE 0 - 10 | E 0 - 10 | SE 0 - 10 | E 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | E 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Evening | E 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | NE 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Evening | NE 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSE 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Evening | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | E 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | E 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Evening | NW 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | E 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SE 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Evening | NNW 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | E 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | E 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | E 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | E 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Evening | E 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | NE 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Evening | NE 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSE 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Evening | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | E 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | E 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Evening | NW 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | E 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SE 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Evening | NNW 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | E 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | E 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | E 5 - 15 |
Directions above indicate the direction the wind blows from on the 16-point cardinal scale. These winds indicate "free" winds, or those winds in the atmosphere not influenced by terrain. Topographical effects may produce greater or lower wind speeds in certain locations as well as significant variations in direction.
Free Winds at 9000' (mph)
| Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | NW 5 - 15 | NW 5 - 15 | NNW 5 - 15 | NE 5 - 15 | ENE 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | NNW 5 - 15 | NW 5 - 15 | NNW 5 - 15 | NNE 5 - 15 | ENE 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Evening | N 5 - 15 | NNW 0 - 10 | NNW 5 - 15 | N 5 - 15 | ENE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 0 - 10 | WNW 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | ENE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | SSW 0 - 10 | VAR 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | SSE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 5 - 15 | SW 0 - 10 | SW 5 - 15 | SSW 5 - 15 | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | NW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | NNW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Evening | N 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | SSW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | NW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Evening | NNW 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | WNW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | NNW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | NNW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Evening | NNW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | NE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | NNE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Evening | N 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | ENE 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | ENE 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Evening | ENE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | ENE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | SSE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSE 5 - 15 |
Directions above indicate the direction the wind blows from on the 16-point cardinal scale. These winds indicate "free" winds, or those winds in the atmosphere not influenced by terrain. Topographical effects may produce greater or lower wind speeds in certain locations as well as significant variations in direction.
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Previous forecast from Mar 17, 2020
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.