Issued: 2:02 PM PST Sunday, February 28, 2021
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

Sunday featured milder temperatures along with moisture spilling over the top of a "dirty" high-pressure ridge. Expect additional warming Sunday night as another weak warm front lifts north across the region with freezing levels rising up to 4000-8000 ft with the most warming at Mt. Hood. The front is mostly dry and WSW flow should increase only very slightly. Light E flow may develop overnight and continue into Monday morning, helping keep the Cascade passes cooler.

On Monday, an offshore cold front splits, with some energy diving south to form a cutoff low west of California. Mild temperatures continue with 5000-6000 ft freezing levels expected in the afternoon. The remnants of the cold front approach the Washington coastline late in the day and across the region from the NW on Monday night. The front ushers in significantly cooler temperatures, but only light rain and snow for the mountains of Washington State. The west slopes of the Washington Cascades north of Snoqualmie Pass may pick up an inch or so of snowfall.

On Tuesday, snow flurries linger along the west slopes of the Cascades with cool air in place. The east slopes of the Cascades can expect partly cloudy conditions.

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 Night Mostly cloudy.
Monday Mostly cloudy in the morning, then becoming partly cloudy.
Sunday Night Very light rain and snow showers possibly lingering into the early evening, then mostly cloudy skies.
Monday Mostly cloudy.
Sunday Night Very light rain and snow possibly lingering into the early evening then mostly cloudy skies.
Monday Mostly cloudy.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy.
Monday Mostly cloudy with clouds decreasing late in the day.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy. Variable wind switching light E at the Pass.
Monday Mostly cloudy, then becoming partly cloudy late in the day.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy. Variable wind switching light E at the Pass.
Monday Mostly cloudy.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy.
Monday Mostly cloudy in the morning, then becoming partly cloudy.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy.
Monday Mostly cloudy.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy.
Monday Mostly cloudy in the morning, then becoming partly cloudy.
Sunday Night Increasing mid and high-level clouds.
Monday Mostly cloudy to start the day, then becoming mostly sunny.

Issued: 2:02 PM PST Sunday, February 28, 2021

Precipitation (in)

Sunday Night Monday Monday Night Tuesday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 0 LT 0.10 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0 0 0 0
Paradise 0 0 LT 0.10 0
White Pass 0 0 0 0
Washington Pass 0 0 LT 0.10 0
Mission Ridge 0 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 0 LT 0.10 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)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0

Issued: 2:02 PM PST Sunday, February 28, 2021

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 5000' 4000' 4500' 5500' 3500' 2500' 1000' 2000'
West North 4000' 3500' 3500' 5000' 3500' 2500' 1500' 2000'
West Central 4500' 3500' 4000' 5500' 4000' 2500' 2000' 2000'
West South 4500' 3500' 4500' 6000' 4500' 3000' 2000' 2500'
Stevens Pass 4500' 3000' 3500' 5500' 4000' 3000' 2000' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 4500' 3000' 3500' 5500' 4000' 3000' 2500' 2500'
East North 4500' 3000' 3000' 5000' 4000' 2000' 1500' 2500'
East Central 4500' 3000' 3500' 5000' 4000' 3000' 2000' 2500'
East South 5000' 3000' 4500' 6000' 5000' 3500' 2500' 3500'
Mt. Hood 8000' 7500' 7000' 6000' 5500' 4000' 3500' 3500'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening 5000'
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday Morning* 4500'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening 3500'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning* 3500'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
Monday Evening 3500'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning* 4000'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning* 4500'
Monday Afternoon 6000'
Monday Evening 4500'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning* 3500'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning* 3500'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning* 3000'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 2000'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning* 3500'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening 5000'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning* 4500'
Monday Afternoon 6000'
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening 8000'
Sunday Night* 7500'
Monday Morning* 7000'
Monday Afternoon 6000'
Monday Evening 5500'
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday Morning 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'

Issued: 2:02 PM PST Sunday, February 28, 2021

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 31 / 29 36 / 29
West North 29 / 27 34 / 27
West Central 28 / 26 34 / 27
West South 33 / 30 40 / 32
Stevens Pass 30 / 27 38 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass 30 / 26 36 / 30
East North 32 / 28 38 / 28
East Central 32 / 29 39 / 32
East South 34 / 31 41 / 33
Mt. Hood 36 / 32 43 / 33
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 29
Monday 36 / 29
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 27
Monday 34 / 27
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 28 / 26
Monday 34 / 27
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 33 / 30
Monday 40 / 32
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 27
Monday 38 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 26
Monday 36 / 30
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 28
Monday 38 / 28
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 29
Monday 39 / 32
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 34 / 31
Monday 41 / 33
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 36 / 32
Monday 43 / 33

Issued: 2:02 PM PST Sunday, February 28, 2021

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics SW 5-15 SW 10-20 SW 5-15 WSW 5-15
West North SSW 10-20 SSW 10-20 SSW 10-20 SW 10-20
West Central SSW 5-15 SSW 5-15 SSW 5-15 WSW 10-20
West South SW 5-15 SSW 5-15 SSW 5-15 SW 5-15
Stevens Pass SW 5-15 SSW 0-10 SW 0-10 WSW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass WSW 5-15 SW 5-15 WSW 5-15 W 10-20
East North SW 5-15 SW 5-15 SW 5-15 WSW 15-25
East Central WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15 W 10-20
East South WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15 W 10-20
Mt. Hood SW 0-10 SW 5-15 SW 10-20 WSW 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 5-15
Sunday Night SW 10-20
Monday Morning SW 5-15
Monday Afternoon WSW 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SSW 10-20
Sunday Night SSW 10-20
Monday Morning SSW 10-20
Monday Afternoon SW 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SSW 5-15
Sunday Night SSW 5-15
Monday Morning SSW 5-15
Monday Afternoon WSW 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 5-15
Sunday Night SSW 5-15
Monday Morning SSW 5-15
Monday Afternoon SW 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 5-15
Sunday Night SSW 0-10
Monday Morning SW 0-10
Monday Afternoon WSW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 5-15
Sunday Night SW 5-15
Monday Morning WSW 5-15
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 5-15
Sunday Night SW 5-15
Monday Morning SW 5-15
Monday Afternoon WSW 15-25
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 5-15
Sunday Night WSW 5-15
Monday Morning WSW 5-15
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 5-15
Sunday Night WSW 5-15
Monday Morning WSW 5-15
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 0-10
Sunday Night SW 5-15
Monday Morning SW 10-20
Monday Afternoon WSW 15-25

Issued: 2:02 PM PST Sunday, February 28, 2021

Extended Weather Synopsis

A deep upper-level trough digs southward offshore from Tuesday night through Thursday. A frontal system at the leading edge should bring a band of precipitation into coastal British Columbia. Cool temperatures Tuesday night and Wednesday should be replaced by milder temperatures Wednesday night and Thursday as a broad and ridge across the intermountain west amplifies. Expect mostly dry weather and filtered sunshine. A surface low develops offshore on Thursday morning and an associated cold front moves into our near-shore waters by late in the day as the ridge shifts eastward. As the cold front approaches, E winds will increase and transport colder air pooled east of the Cascades through the mountain gaps.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night* Thursday *
West North 1500' 2500' 4000' 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass 2000' 3000' 4000' 4000'
Mt. Hood 4000' 5000' 7000' 6500'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday 2500'
Wednesday Night* 4000'
Thursday * 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday 3000'
Wednesday Night* 4000'
Thursday * 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 4000'
Wednesday 5000'
Wednesday Night* 7000'
Thursday * 6500'

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

Previous forecast from Feb 28, 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’.