Issued: 7:15 AM PST Sunday, February 21, 2021
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

A warm front has oved over the Cascades early Sunday morning, bringing rising temperatures and increased moderate rain and snow. Precipitation should become heavy in many areas during the day on Sunday as increased moisture moves in behind the warm front. Radar imagery shows thick clouds streaming into the region with very continuous precipitation on the radar. The bulk of the precipitation is aimed at the Washington Cascades with Mt Hood on the fringe to the south. W Winds will continue to ramp up Sunday through the mountain gaps and with downsloping along the east slopes of the Cascades. Snow levels should continue to rise slowly and we expect a changeover to rain at Snoqualmie Pass by mid-morning. Snow levels should linger in the 3500-4000 ft range today, so many areas above 4000 ft will see 1 ft or more of snowfall on Sunday.

The moisture re-orients slightly more WSW and lifts slightly northward Sunday night as a trough and cold front approaching from the NW. This will bring very heavy rain and snow from Snoqualmie Pass to Mt. Baker and likely the Mt. Rainier area as well. Winds continue to increase into the moderate to strong (locally very strong) range.

The cold front moves through the region from NW to SE on Sunday and should reach Mt. Hood by the end of the day. Snow levels peak just in advance of the front around 4500-5000 ft in most areas early in the day. Precipitation becomes more showery behind the front later in the day.

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
Sunday Light rain and snow. Strong ridgeline wind gusts.
Sunday Night Moderate to heavy rain and snow. Strong ridgeline wind gusts.
Sunday Moderate rain and snow becoming heavy. Strong ridgeline wind gusts.
Sunday Night Heavy rain and snow. Strong ridgeline wind gusts.
Sunday Increasing heavy rain and snow. Strong ridgeline wind gusts.
Sunday Night Very heavy rain and snow. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Increasing heavy rain and snow at Paradise and White Pass. Increasing light rain and snow at Crystal.
Sunday Night Increasing heavy rain and snow at Paradise and White Pass. Increasing light rain and snow at Crystal.
Sunday Increasing heavy rain and snow. Light to occasionally moderate W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Night Very heavy rain and snow. Moderate W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Increasing heavy rain and snow. Light to moderate W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Night Very heavy rain and snow. Moderate W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Increasing light to moderate rain and snow.
Sunday Night Heavy rain and snow.
Sunday Increasing heavy rain and snow. Strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Heavy rain and snow. Strong to very strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Increasing moderate rain and snow. Strong ridgeline wind gusts.
Sunday Night Moderate rain and snow. Strong ridgeline wind gusts.
Sunday Increasing moderate to heavy rain and snow. Strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Moderate rain and snow. Strong ridgeline wind gusts. Strong to very strong ridgeline winds

Precipitation (in)

Sunday Sunday Night Monday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.25 0.75 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.75 1.50 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 1.00 - 1.50 2.00 1.50
Stevens Pass 0.75 -1.00 1.00 - 1.50 1.00 - 1.50
Snoqualmie Pass 1.00 1.50 2.00
Crystal Mt 0.25 0.25 1.00
Paradise 1.00 1.00 2.00
White Pass 0.75 -1.00 0.50 - 0.75 1.00 - 1.50
Washington Pass 0.25 1.00 0.25 - 0.50
Mission Ridge 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 0.50
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.75 -1.00 1.00 - 1.50 1.00 - 1.50
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 -1.00
Mt Hood Meadows 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 1.00 - 1.50
Timberline 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 1.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.75
Sunday Night 1.50
Monday 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday Night 2.00
Monday 1.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.75 -1.00
Sunday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Monday 1.00 - 1.50
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 1.00
Sunday Night 1.50
Monday 2.00
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 1.00
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday 1.00
Sunday Night 1.00
Monday 2.00
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.75 -1.00
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 1.00 - 1.50
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 1.00
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.50
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.75 -1.00
Sunday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Monday 1.00 - 1.50
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.75 -1.00
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.75
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 1.00 - 1.50
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.75
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 1.50

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 4000' 4500' 5000' 5500' 5000' 4000'
West North 3000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4500' 3500'
West Central 3500' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4500' 4500'
West South 4000' 4500' 4500' 4500' 5000' 4500'
Stevens Pass 3500' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4500' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 4000' 4000' 4500' 5000' 4500'
East North 3000' 4000' 4500' 4500' 4000' 4500'
East Central 4000' 4000' 4500' 5000' 5000' 4500'
East South 4000' 4500' 4500' 5000' 5500' 5000'
Mt. Hood 3500' 4000' 4000' 5000' 6000' 6000'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 4500'
Sunday Evening 5000'
Sunday Night 5500'
Monday Morning 5000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Morning 3000'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning 4500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning 4500'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
West South Elevation
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 4500'
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning 5000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning 4500'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning 5000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
East North Elevation
Sunday Morning 3000'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 5000'
Monday Morning 5000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
East South Elevation
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 4500'
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 5000'
Monday Morning 5500'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 5000'
Monday Morning 6000'
Monday Afternoon 6000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Sunday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 32 / 29 32 / 30
West North 30 / 25 32 / 30
West Central 30 / 25 30 / 30
West South 31 / 27 32 / 31
Stevens Pass 31 / 26 31 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass 31 / 26 31 / 30
East North 33 / 26 31 / 30
East Central 32 / 26 31 / 30
East South 32 / 24 32 / 30
Mt. Hood 32 / 27 33 / 31
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 32 / 29
Sunday Night 32 / 30
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 30 / 25
Sunday Night 32 / 30
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 30 / 25
Sunday Night 30 / 30
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 31 / 27
Sunday Night 32 / 31
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 31 / 26
Sunday Night 31 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 31 / 26
Sunday Night 31 / 30
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 33 / 26
Sunday Night 31 / 30
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 32 / 26
Sunday Night 31 / 30
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 32 / 24
Sunday Night 32 / 30
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 32 / 27
Sunday Night 33 / 31

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night
Olympics WSW 10-20 WSW 15-25 SW 15-25 WSW 10-20
West North SW 15-25 WSW 20-30 SW 25-35 WSW 25-35
West Central WSW 20-30 WSW 25-35 WSW 30-40 WSW 30-40
West South WSW 20-30 W 25-35 W 25-35 WSW 25-35
Stevens Pass W 20-30 WSW 25-35 WSW 30-40 WSW 25-35
Snoqualmie Pass W 15-25 W 20-30 W 25-35 W 25-35
East North WSW 20-30 WSW 25-35 WSW 30-40 WSW 25-35
East Central W 25-35 W 35-50 W 40-55 WSW 35-50
East South WSW 15-25 W 20-30 W 25-35 WSW 25-35
Mt. Hood WSW 30-40 WSW 30-40 WSW 35-50 WSW 30-40
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning WSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15-25
Sunday Evening SW 15-25
Sunday Night WSW 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 20-30
Sunday Evening SW 25-35
Sunday Night WSW 25-35
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning WSW 20-30
Sunday Afternoon WSW 25-35
Sunday Evening WSW 30-40
Sunday Night WSW 30-40
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning WSW 20-30
Sunday Afternoon W 25-35
Sunday Evening W 25-35
Sunday Night WSW 25-35
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning W 20-30
Sunday Afternoon WSW 25-35
Sunday Evening WSW 30-40
Sunday Night WSW 25-35
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning W 15-25
Sunday Afternoon W 20-30
Sunday Evening W 25-35
Sunday Night W 25-35
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning WSW 20-30
Sunday Afternoon WSW 25-35
Sunday Evening WSW 30-40
Sunday Night WSW 25-35
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning W 25-35
Sunday Afternoon W 35-50
Sunday Evening W 40-55
Sunday Night WSW 35-50
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning WSW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon W 20-30
Sunday Evening W 25-35
Sunday Night WSW 25-35
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning WSW 30-40
Sunday Afternoon WSW 30-40
Sunday Evening WSW 35-50
Sunday Night WSW 30-40

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

Previous forecast from Feb 20, 2021

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’.