Issued: 1:50 PM PDT Sunday, March 14, 2021
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

A cold front stretched N to S across the Pacific Northwest continues to make its way slowly through the region this afternoon. Light to moderate rain and snow will impact the mountains into the evening hours. Many locations will see rain as the storm begins. However, much colder air behind the front should quickly drop snow levels below the passes and most trailhead locations. Expect the bulk of the precipitation to hang near the Cascade crest. Only a few wayward showers should make it further east. Weather models hint at a Puget Sound convergence zone overnight. If this set-up occurs, a narrower band of slightly heavier precipitation may target locations between Hwy 2 and I90. Strong southerly winds out ahead of the front will continue in places like Mt Baker, the West South, and Mt Hood. As the front passes this evening look for the winds to turn more westerly and significantly decrease. 

By Monday morning, the exiting split low-pressure and a building ridge in the Pacific should bring a rather quick end to any lingering showers. Expect more clouds during the morning hours, with clearing and sun breaks possible in the afternoon. By the evening, the high-pressure will begin to dominate our weather pattern with cold mostly clear nights and warm sunny days. 

 

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 with isolated showers.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy with some clearing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow showers.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy with significant clearing possible in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow showers. Puget sound convergence zone possible.
Monday Cloudy with isolated showers in the morning. Becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate WNW winds increasing slightly.
Monday Cloudy in the morning with isolated showers. Becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light showers. Puget sound convergence zone possible with locally heavier precipitation. Moderate W-NW winds.
Monday Cloudy in the morning with isolated showers. Becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon. Moderate NW winds decreasing.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light showers. Rain turning to snow at pass level in the evening. Puget Sound convergence zone possible with locally heavier precipitation. Moderate W-NW winds.
Monday Cloudy in the morning with isolated showers. Becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon. Moderate NW winds decreasing.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light showers near the crest.
Monday Mostly cloudy becoming mostly sunny.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light showers, heaviest near the crest. Moderate winds becoming NW.
Monday Cloudy in the morning with clearing. Mostly sunny in the Wenatchee Mts.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light showers, heaviest near the crest. Moderate winds becoming WNW.
Monday Mostly cloudy in the morning with clearing. Becoming mostly sunny.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate showers. Moderate to strong W winds.
Monday Cloudy in the morning with isolated snow showers. Partial clear possible with some sun breaks in the afternoon. Moderate NW winds decreasing.

Issued: 1:50 PM PDT Sunday, March 14, 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 LT 0.10 0 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 0 0 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
Stevens Pass 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
Paradise LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
White Pass LT 0.25 0 0 0
Washington Pass LT 0.25 0 0 0
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.25 0 0 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 0 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
Timberline LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0

Issued: 1:50 PM PDT Sunday, March 14, 2021

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 1500' 500' 1000' 3000' 1000' 1000' 2500' 3500'
West North 2500' 500' 1000' 3000' 1000' 500' 2000' 3500'
West Central 3000' 500' 1000' 3000' 1000' 500' 2000' 3500'
West South 3500' 500' 1000' 3000' 1000' 500' 2500' 4500'
Stevens Pass 3000' 500' 1000' 3000' 1000' 500' 2500' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 500' 1000' 3000' 1000' 500' 2500' 4000'
East North 4000' 500' 1500' 4000' 2000' 500' 3000' 4500'
East Central 4500' 500' 1500' 4000' 2000' 1000' 3000' 4500'
East South 4000' 500' 1000' 4000' 2000' 1000' 3000' 4500'
Mt. Hood 3500' 500' 1000' 3000' 2000' 1000' 2500' 4000'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
Monday Evening 1000'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
Monday Evening 1000'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
Monday Evening 1000'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
Monday Evening 1000'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
Monday Evening 1000'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
Monday Evening 1000'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'

Issued: 1:50 PM PDT Sunday, March 14, 2021

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 19 / 7 22 / 8
West North 26 / 12 21 / 9
West Central 28 / 16 19 / 12
West South 26 / 11 22 / 12
Stevens Pass 30 / 17 22 / 15
Snoqualmie Pass 26 / 16 20 / 13
East North 32 / 15 26 / 14
East Central 32 / 16 23 / 15
East South 31 / 12 24 / 11
Mt. Hood 29 / 13 24 / 12
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 19 / 7
Monday 22 / 8
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 26 / 12
Monday 21 / 9
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 28 / 16
Monday 19 / 12
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 26 / 11
Monday 22 / 12
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 17
Monday 22 / 15
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 26 / 16
Monday 20 / 13
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 15
Monday 26 / 14
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 16
Monday 23 / 15
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 12
Monday 24 / 11
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 13
Monday 24 / 12

Issued: 1:50 PM PDT Sunday, March 14, 2021

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 1:50 PM PDT Sunday, March 14, 2021

Extended Weather Synopsis

A high-pressure ridge in the eastern Pacific will drive our weather pattern for the extended forecast period by deflecting any precipitation to our north. As the ridge drifts over the region Tuesday and Wednesday, you should see mostly clear skies with on the occasional high thin clouds. Expect generally cold clear night and warm sunny days. By Wednesday night an approaching storm system appears to begin to shove the ridge further east, resulting in increasing clouds and a chance of precipitation. This storm should begin a period of more active weather for the Pacific Northwest. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday * Wednesday Night* Thursday *
West North 1500' 4000' 2500' 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 4500' 3000' 5000'
Mt. Hood 2000' 5000' 4500' 5500'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday * 4000'
Wednesday Night* 2500'
Thursday * 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday * 4500'
Wednesday Night* 3000'
Thursday * 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday * 5000'
Wednesday Night* 4500'
Thursday * 5500'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 14, 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’.