Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday
630 PM Update: Beginning Monday March, 23rd, NWAC will only issue the Mountain Weather Forecast in the afternoon due to operational constraints. We have ended morning forecast issuances for the season. Please email dennis.damico@nwac.us if you have questions.
An upper low dropping south along the B.C. coast has spread increasing high clouds over the majority of the forecast area this afternoon, leaving sunny skies only for the south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood.
A front rotating out from the low will pass through the Cascades late Monday morning. Precipitation will begin over the Olympics and Mt. Baker area near or after midnight but precipitation will take its sweet time spreading further south and inland on Monday morning. As the front washes out over the Cascades mid-day Monday, convective showers will increase in the afternoon with a cold and unstable air mass over the region. Snow levels will fall to 2000-3000' Monday. A few inches of snow look likely for areas west of the Cascade crest, Mt. Hood and the Olympics with the exception of the Mt. Baker area, where 8-12" could fall through Monday afternoon. Snowfall amounts should taper quickly along the eastern Cascade slopes.
Showers will wind down but not end Monday night. The upper low will hang off the Olympic Peninsula on Tuesday as convective shower activity ramps up quickly during the day. The occasional moderate shower will not be limited to the west slopes, widespread showers are expected to develop on the east side of the Cascades as well. There may be a few thunderstorms in the afternoon to accompany the general increase in showers.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Sunday Night | Cloudy with light rain and snow developing around midnight. Cooling trend. |
| Monday | Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. |
Mt. Baker
| Sunday Night | Cloudy with light rain and snow developing around midnight. Cooling trend. Strong winds. |
| Monday | Moderate rain and snow in the morning becoming light to moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Sunday Night | Becoming cloudy with clouds lowering this evening. Light rain and snow developing late tonight near the Cascade crest. Cooling trend. |
| Monday | Periods of light rain and snow in the morning becoming light rain and snow showers near the Cascade crest in the afternoon. Partly to mostly cloudy further east of the crest. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Sunday Night | Becoming cloudy with clouds lowering this evening. Light rain and snow developing late tonight. Cooling trend. Light west wind at Pass level. |
| Monday | Light rain and snow in the morning becoming light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Light to moderate west winds at Pass level. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Sunday Night | Becoming cloudy with clouds lowering after midnight. Slight chance of light rain or snow before daybreak. Cooling trend. |
| Monday | Light rain and snow in the morning becoming light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon. |
Mt. Hood
| Sunday Night | Partly cloudy in the evening, becoming mostly cloudy with increasing low clouds after midnight. . |
| Monday | Light rain and snow in the morning becoming light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Strong winds. |
Issued: 6:33 PM PDT Sunday, March 22, 2020
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | Freezing Level | 4500' | 5000' | 5500' | 6500' | 5000' | 5500' | 6500' | 8000' |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' | 4500' | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' | 4500' |
| Monday Morning | Snow Level | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 3000' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' |
| Monday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2500' | 2500' | 3500' | 4000' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' |
| Monday Evening | Snow Level | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' |
| Monday Night | Snow Level | 1500' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' |
| Tuesday Morning | Snow Level | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Freezing Level 8000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
* 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
| Sunday Night | Sunday | Sunday Night | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.25 | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Paradise | 0 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 |
| White Pass | 0 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Timberline | 0 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 |
| Sunday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Sunday Night | 0.25 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | 0.25 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | 0.25 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Sunday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Sunday | 0.25 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Sunday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | 0.25 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Sunday Night | 0.25 |
| Sunday | 0.25 |
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: 6:33 PM PDT Sunday, March 22, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 15 - 25 | S 20 - 30 | SW 5 - 15 | SW 10 - 20 | W 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 | S 15 - 25 | SW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | W 15 - 25 |
| Monday Morning | SW 5 - 15 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 10 - 20 | SW 15 - 25 | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | S 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Monday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | W 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Monday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | S 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Monday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | W 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Monday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 30 - 40 | SW 30 - 40 | SW 30 - 40 | SW 30 - 40 | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | SW 30 - 40 | SW 30 - 40 | SW 35 - 45 | SW 30 - 40 | SW 35 - 45 |
| Monday Morning | SW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | W 25 - 35 | W 25 - 35 | WSW 40 - 50 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 | SW 15 - 25 | WSW 30 - 40 | SW 25 - 35 | SW 40 - 50 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Monday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Monday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Night | SW 35 - 45 |
| Monday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Monday Afternoon | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Monday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | SW 35 - 45 |
| Monday Morning | WSW 40 - 50 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 |
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.
Issued: 6:33 PM PDT Sunday, March 22, 2020
Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday
Showers will once again wind down but not completely end Tuesday night with the loss of daytime heating. The longwave upper level trough will shift slowly inland on Wednesday, with this unstable air mass encompassing much of the inland NW and extending well into California. Even with the trough exiting, we should have one more day of showers driven largely by daytime heating. Showers will be a bit more scattered on Wednesday but snow levels will remain about as cool as Tuesday. Shower activity will be smeared across both sides of the Cascades in the afternoon. Conditions briefly dry out Wednesday night, but the next frontal system upstream in NW flow aloft will waste no time moving into Washington State on Thursday. This system looks like just the beginning of a more active weather pattern.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | 500' - 1500' | 1000' - 2000' | 1000' - 2000' | |
| Wednesday | Snow Level | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | |
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level | 1000' - 2000' | 1000' - 2000' | 1000' - 2000' | |
| Thursday | Snow Level | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 500' - 1500' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Thursday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Thursday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Thursday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
* 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.
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Previous forecast from Mar 22, 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.