Issued: 2:07 PM PST Monday, March 1, 2021
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

The first few days of March will bring a break from the stormy weather of February. A frontal system partially sheared apart on Monday, sending a cutoff low south of the coast of California. The remnants of the front arrive late Monday night with the subtle shortwave crossing the Cascades around 4 AM Tuesday morning. Areas from Snoqualmie pass north to Mt. Baker might see a trace to an inch of snow through mid-day on Tuesday above 3000-4000 ft as temperatures cool behind the front. The cooling will be more significant across northern and western Washington than further south, such as around Mt. Hood. Ridgeline winds should increase into the moderate range along the E slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood areas before decreasing into the light to moderate range on Tuesday. Temperatures should be near seasonal norms on Tuesday for the mountains of Washington State and slightly above normal for Mt. Hood. Expect partly to mostly cloudy skies across the mountains of Washington State while Mt. Hood remains mostly sunny.

A broad high pressure centered over the Great Plains influences the weather across the entire western US as it amplifies Tuesday night and Wednesday. This should keep a frontal system to our north. Expect mostly high clouds and filtered sunshine over northern and western Washington with increasingly direct sunshine further south and east. Wednesday should be mild with freezing levels 4000-6500 ft by the afternoon. Expect light ridgeline winds and light E flow developing through the mountain gaps.

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
Monday Night Partly cloudy.
Tuesday Partly cloudy in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with periods of very light rain or snow developing after midnight.
Tuesday Periods of very light snow ending during the morning hours.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with periods of very light rain or snow developing after midnight.
Tuesday Periods of very light snow ending during the morning hours.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy in the morning, becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with periods of very light rain or snow developing in the early morning hours. Light W wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Periods of very light rain or snow tapering by mid-day, then becoming partly cloudy. Light W wind at the Pass.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with periods of very light rain or snow developing in the early morning hours. Light W wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Periods of very light rain or snow tapering by mid-day, then becoming partly cloudy. Light W wind at the Pass.
Monday Night Increasing clouds with a slight chance of snow flurries after midnight.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of snow flurries in the morning, then becoming partly cloudy.
Monday Night Increasing clouds with a slight chance of snow flurries by morning.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with snow flurries through mid-day, then becoming partly cloudy.
Monday Night Partly cloudy.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy.
Monday Night Mostly clear. Moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts.
Tuesday Mostly sunny. Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts.

Issued: 2:07 PM PST Monday, March 1, 2021

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 2:07 PM PST Monday, March 1, 2021

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning* Wednesday Afternoon*
Olympics 4000' 2500' 1000' 2000' 2500' 2000' 2500' 4000'
West North 4000' 3000' 2000' 2500' 2500' 1500' 2000' 4000'
West Central 4000' 3500' 3000' 2500' 3000' 1500' 2500' 4500'
West South 4500' 3500' 3000' 3500' 3500' 2500' 2500' 5000'
Stevens Pass 4000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 1500' 2000' 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 2000' 2500' 5000'
East North 4000' 3000' 2500' 3000' 3000' 1500' 1500' 4500'
East Central 4000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 2000' 2500' 4500'
East South 5000' 4000' 3500' 4000' 4500' 3500' 3500' 5500'
Mt. Hood 6000' 4500' 4000' 4500' 5500' 4500' 5000' 6500'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Tuesday Evening 2500'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
Tuesday Evening 2500'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday Morning* 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
Tuesday Evening 3000'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4500'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening 4500'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 5000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3000'
Tuesday Evening 3000'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday Morning* 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3000'
Tuesday Evening 3000'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 5000'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3000'
Tuesday Evening 3000'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday Morning* 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4500'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3000'
Tuesday Evening 3000'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4500'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday Morning 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Tuesday Evening 4500'
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday Morning* 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 5500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening 6000'
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday Morning 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Tuesday Evening 5500'
Tuesday Night 4500'
Wednesday Morning* 5000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 6500'

Issued: 2:07 PM PST Monday, March 1, 2021

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 30 / 23 28 / 17
West North 31 / 24 25 / 21
West Central 32 / 24 25 / 23
West South 34 / 26 31 / 25
Stevens Pass 33 / 24 27 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 32 / 24 27 / 24
East North 33 / 24 30 / 25
East Central 34 / 24 29 / 22
East South 36 / 26 35 / 25
Mt. Hood 37 / 30 38 / 28
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 30 / 23
Tuesday 28 / 17
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 31 / 24
Tuesday 25 / 21
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 32 / 24
Tuesday 25 / 23
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 34 / 26
Tuesday 31 / 25
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 33 / 24
Tuesday 27 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 32 / 24
Tuesday 27 / 24
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 33 / 24
Tuesday 30 / 25
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 34 / 24
Tuesday 29 / 22
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 36 / 26
Tuesday 35 / 25
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 37 / 30
Tuesday 38 / 28

Issued: 2:07 PM PST Monday, March 1, 2021

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics SW 5-15 SW 5-15 WSW 5-15 SW 0-10
West North WSW 10-20 WSW 10-20 WSW 10-20 SW 5-15
West Central WSW 10-20 WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15
West South SW 5-15 WSW 5-15 SW 5-15 WSW 5-15
Stevens Pass W 5-15 WSW 10-20 WSW 10-20 W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass W 10-20 W 10-20 W 10-20 WNW 10-20
East North WSW 10-20 WSW 15-25 WSW 15-25 W 10-20
East Central WSW 15-25 WSW 15-25 W 20-30 W 15-25
East South WSW 5-15 W 10-20 W 10-20 WSW 5-15
Mt. Hood WSW 15-25 WSW 20-30 WSW 15-25 SW 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SW 5-15
Monday Night SW 5-15
Tuesday Morning WSW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon SW 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WSW 10-20
Monday Night WSW 10-20
Tuesday Morning WSW 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WSW 10-20
Monday Night WSW 5-15
Tuesday Morning WSW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SW 5-15
Monday Night WSW 5-15
Tuesday Morning SW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 5-15
Monday Night WSW 10-20
Tuesday Morning WSW 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 10-20
Monday Night W 10-20
Tuesday Morning W 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon WNW 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WSW 10-20
Monday Night WSW 15-25
Tuesday Morning WSW 15-25
Tuesday Afternoon W 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WSW 15-25
Monday Night WSW 15-25
Tuesday Morning W 20-30
Tuesday Afternoon W 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WSW 5-15
Monday Night W 10-20
Tuesday Morning W 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WSW 15-25
Monday Night WSW 20-30
Tuesday Morning WSW 15-25
Tuesday Afternoon SW 15-25

Issued: 2:07 PM PST Monday, March 1, 2021

Extended Weather Synopsis

A stalled frontal system at the leading edge of a cold, deep trough should stream moisture into central British Columbia Wednesday night, leaving the Pacific Northwest dry and mild under a broad high pressure dominating western North America. A low-pressure develops along the frontal system as the front pushes eastward with precipitation reaching our coastline late in the day. SSW flow should spread moderate to heavy moisture into parts of Washington Thursday night and Friday. This is a setup that should favor the Olympics and Cascades volcanoes, leaving minimal moisture for the east slopes of the Cascades and the passes.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night* Thursday * Thursday Night* Friday *
West North 4000' 5000' 4500' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 5000' 5000' 4500'
Mt. Hood 7000' 6500' 6500' 6000'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night* 4000'
Thursday * 5000'
Thursday Night* 4500'
Friday * 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night* 4000'
Thursday * 5000'
Thursday Night* 5000'
Friday * 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night* 7000'
Thursday * 6500'
Thursday Night* 6500'
Friday * 6000'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 1, 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’.