Issued: 7:08 AM PST Saturday, March 6, 2021
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

Temperatures cooled significantly overnight with higher elevation mountain stations reporting temperatures in the teens this morning. A weak upper level feature currently west of the Olympic peninsula will pass through the Cascades this morning. The shortwave trough will drive showers across the area this morning, especially for the Olympics and west slopes of the Cascades. Scattered showers will continue in the afternoon. High clouds associated with yesterday's slow-moving front will slide east of the Cascade crest this morning. Instead of clearing skies, incoming low-level clouds and moisture will generally keep skies cloudy across the mountains. Sunbreaks are most likely south of I-90 on both sides of the Cascades and on the east side of Mt Hood. 

An incoming Pacific frontal system will reach the Olympics by daybreak and pass through the Cascades between 8-9 am.  A trailing upper-level trough in SW flow will keep showers rotating in the area, with more moderate snow showers from about I-90 northward and over the Olympics through Sunday afternoon. In these areas, several inches of snow should accumulate above 2500' through Sunday afternoon. Look for winds to ramp up ahead of the front late Saturday night and Sunday morning across the region. 

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
Saturday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the morning becoming scattered in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with a chance of showers in the evening, then light to moderate snow developing after midnight. Ridgeline winds becoming strong.
Saturday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the morning becoming scattered in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with a chance of showers in the evening, then light to moderate snow developing late. Ridgeline winds becoming strong.
Saturday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the morning becoming scattered in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with a chance of showers in the evening, then light to moderate snow developing after midnight. Ridgeline winds becoming strong.
Saturday Cloudy with light rain and snow showers in the morning becoming scattered in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with a chance of showers in the evening, then light to moderate snow developing after midnight. Ridgeline winds becoming strong.
Saturday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the morning becoming scattered in the afternoon. Light to moderate west winds at Pass level.
Saturday Night Cloudy with a chance of showers in the evening, then light snow developing after midnight. Light to moderate east winds at Pass level.
Saturday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the morning becoming scattered in the afternoon. Light to moderate west winds at Pass level.
Saturday Night Cloudy with a chance of showers in the evening, then light snow developing after midnight. Light to moderate east winds at Pass level.
Saturday Cloudy with scattered rain and snow showers near the Cascade crest.
Saturday Night Cloudy with a chance of showers in the evening, then light snow developing after midnight.
Saturday Cloudy with scattered rain and snow showers near the Cascade crest. Becoming partly sunny further east of the crest in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with a chance of showers in the evening, then light snow developing after midnight.
Saturday Cloudy with scattered rain and snow showers near the Cascade crest. Becoming partly sunny further east of the crest in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with a chance of showers in the evening, then light snow developing after midnight.
Saturday Cloudy with scattered rain and snow showers. Becoming partly sunny east-side of the mountain.
Saturday Night Cloudy with a chance of showers in the evening, then light snow developing after midnight. Ridgeline winds becoming strong.

Precipitation (in)

Saturday Saturday Night Sunday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.50 - 0.75
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 LT 0.10 0.25
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.25
Paradise LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Timberline LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics 2000' 3000' 2500' 2500' 2000' 2000'
West North 2000' 3000' 2500' 1500' 2000' 2500'
West Central 2000' 3500' 2500' 1500' 2000' 2500'
West South 2500' 3500' 2500' 2000' 2000' 3000'
Stevens Pass 2500' 3500' 2500' 1500' 2000' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 2500' 3500' 2500' 1500' 2000' 2500'
East North 3000' 4000' 2500' 1500' 2000' 3000'
East Central 3000' 4000' 2500' 1500' 2500' 3500'
East South 3000' 4000' 2500' 2000' 2500' 3500'
Mt. Hood 3000' 4000' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Morning 2000'
Saturday Afternoon 3000'
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 2500'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Morning 2000'
Saturday Afternoon 3000'
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 1500'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Morning 2000'
Saturday Afternoon 3500'
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 1500'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Morning 2500'
Saturday Afternoon 3500'
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning 2500'
Saturday Afternoon 3500'
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 1500'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning 2500'
Saturday Afternoon 3500'
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 1500'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
East North Elevation
Saturday Morning 3000'
Saturday Afternoon 4000'
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 1500'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Morning 3000'
Saturday Afternoon 4000'
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 1500'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Morning 3000'
Saturday Afternoon 4000'
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning 3000'
Saturday Afternoon 4000'
Saturday Evening 3000'
Saturday Night 2500'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Saturday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 29 / 21 26 / 21
West North 27 / 21 23 / 20
West Central 27 / 22 23 / 19
West South 29 / 21 25 / 22
Stevens Pass 27 / 22 23 / 17
Snoqualmie Pass 28 / 22 22 / 17
East North 28 / 19 25 / 19
East Central 29 / 21 24 / 18
East South 29 / 21 26 / 19
Mt. Hood 30 / 22 27 / 21
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 29 / 21
Saturday Night 26 / 21
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 27 / 21
Saturday Night 23 / 20
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 27 / 22
Saturday Night 23 / 19
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 29 / 21
Saturday Night 25 / 22
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 27 / 22
Saturday Night 23 / 17
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 28 / 22
Saturday Night 22 / 17
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 28 / 19
Saturday Night 25 / 19
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 29 / 21
Saturday Night 24 / 18
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 29 / 21
Saturday Night 26 / 19
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 30 / 22
Saturday Night 27 / 21

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon Saturday Evening Saturday Night
Olympics SW 10-20 SW 10-20 S 20-30 S 30-40
West North S 15-25 WSW 5-15 S 15-25 S 30-40
West Central SW 10-20 WSW 10-20 SSW 10-20 S 15-25
West South SW 10-20 SW 10-20 SSW 20-30 S 30-40
Stevens Pass WSW 10-20 WSW 15-25 SW 5-15 SE 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass W 15-25 WSW 20-30 SW 10-20 SE 10-20
East North WSW 10-20 W 15-25 SW 5-15 S 15-25
East Central W 20-30 W 15-25 SW 10-20 SSW 15-25
East South W 15-25 W 10-20 SW 5-15 SSW 10-20
Mt. Hood WNW 15-25 W 10-20 SW 10-20 SW 25-35
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning SW 10-20
Saturday Afternoon SW 10-20
Saturday Evening S 20-30
Saturday Night S 30-40
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning S 15-25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 5-15
Saturday Evening S 15-25
Saturday Night S 30-40
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning SW 10-20
Saturday Afternoon WSW 10-20
Saturday Evening SSW 10-20
Saturday Night S 15-25
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning SW 10-20
Saturday Afternoon SW 10-20
Saturday Evening SSW 20-30
Saturday Night S 30-40
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning WSW 10-20
Saturday Afternoon WSW 15-25
Saturday Evening SW 5-15
Saturday Night SE 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning W 15-25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20-30
Saturday Evening SW 10-20
Saturday Night SE 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning WSW 10-20
Saturday Afternoon W 15-25
Saturday Evening SW 5-15
Saturday Night S 15-25
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning W 20-30
Saturday Afternoon W 15-25
Saturday Evening SW 10-20
Saturday Night SSW 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning W 15-25
Saturday Afternoon W 10-20
Saturday Evening SW 5-15
Saturday Night SSW 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning WNW 15-25
Saturday Afternoon W 10-20
Saturday Evening SW 10-20
Saturday Night SW 25-35

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

Previous forecast from Mar 5, 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’.