Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, February 19, 2022
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

A frontal system dropping south through central Washington this afternoon will be followed by a cold upper level trough that will produce snow over the next few days and bring falling temperatures to the region.  Precipitation will continue to spread south this afternoon and evening. Strong west winds ahead and behind the front will maintain orographic showers along the west slopes of the Cascades with a specific focus on the central Cascades tonight. The Mountain Loop highway and Stevens Pass area will take the brunt of the heavy snowfall tonight and the heaviest band will shift toward Snoqualmie Pass, likely around daybreak. While snow showers become scattered over the north Cascades Sunday afternoon, snow showers will continue to pile up snow for the central/south Cascades and Mt. Hood. The strong westerly winds will carry those heavier snow showers over the crest for areas downwind of the convergence zone(s).  Storm totals of 8-24" of snow are likely along the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt Hood through Sunday afternoon.  

The pattern will continue Sunday night with a weak surface low off the coast of WA/OR directly continuous snow showers towards the southwest Cascades and Mt. Hood. On Monday, things get interesting as Fraser outflow begins to carry modified arctic air out of the interior. There will be convective showers over the mountains, especially down at Mt. Hood, and we can expect a few more inches of fluffy snow.  East winds look to ramp up later Monday into Monday night.  

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 Night Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers.
Saturday Night Moderate snow showers becoming decreasing late. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds decreasing overnight.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers becoming scattered in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Moderate to heavy snow showers. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers becoming scattered in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers increasing in the evening. Strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to moderate snow showers. Strong winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Moderate to heavy snow showers. Strong ridgeline and Pass level W winds.
Sunday Moderate snow showers in the morning, becoming light to occasionally moderate in the afternoon. Moderate to strong ridgeline and Pass level W winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Moderate rain and snow showers becoming moderate to heavy after midnight. Strong ridgeline and Pass level W winds.
Sunday Moderate to heavy snow showers in the morning, becoming light to moderate in the afternoon. Moderate to strong ridgeline and Pass level winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Light snow showers, occasionally moderate near the Cascade crest. Strong ridgeline winds decreasing overnight.
Sunday Light snow showers becoming scattered in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Light snow showers, except mooderate near the Cascade crest. Strong to extreme ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light snow showers, except mooderate near the Cascade crest. Strong to extreme ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Light snow showers, occasionally moderate near the Cascade crest. Strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light snow showers, except mooderate near the Cascade crest. Strong to extreme ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers increasing after midnight. Strong to extreme ridgeline winds.
Sunday Moderate snow showers. Strong to extreme ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, February 19, 2022

Precipitation (in)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 1.00 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 1.00 - 1.50 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0.75 -1.00 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Paradise 0.75 -1.00 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
White Pass 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Washington Pass 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0.50 - 0.75 0.75 0.50 0.25
Timberline 0.75 -1.00 1.00 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 1.00
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.75 -1.00
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.75 -1.00
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.75
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday 0.75
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.75 -1.00
Sunday 1.00
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 0.25 - 0.50

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, February 19, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon*
Olympics 3000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 1500' 1000' 1000' 1000'
West North 2500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 1000' 500' 500' 500'
West Central 3000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 1000' 500' 500' 1000'
West South 3500' 2500' 2000' 2000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500'
Stevens Pass 3000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 1000' 500' 500' 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 1000' 500' 500' 1000'
East North 3000' 2000' 2000' 3000' 1000' 0 0 0
East Central 3500' 2500' 2000' 3000' 1000' 500' 500' 500'
East South 4000' 2500' 2000' 3000' 1000' 500' 500' 1000'
Mt. Hood 4000' 3000' 2500' 2000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening 3000'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon* 1000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon* 500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 3000'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon* 1000'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening 3500'
Saturday Night 2500'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon* 1500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 3000'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon* 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 3500'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon* 1000'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening 3000'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 0'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon* 0'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 3500'
Saturday Night 2500'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon* 500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening 4000'
Saturday Night 2500'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon* 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening 4000'
Saturday Night 3000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon* 1500'

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, February 19, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

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

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, February 19, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics W 15-25 W 15-25 WNW 10-20 WNW 0-10
West North WSW 15-25 W 10-20 WNW 5-15 W 0-10
West Central W 25-35 W 15-25 NW 15-25 WNW 5-15
West South W 30-40 W 25-35 W 20-30 WNW 10-20
Stevens Pass W 20-30 W 15-25 W 10-20 WNW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass W 30-40 W 20-30 W 20-30 W 15-25
East North W 20-30 W 10-20 NW 10-20 NW 5-15
East Central W 35-50 W 25-35 W 20-30 W 15-25
East South W 30-40 W 25-35 W 20-30 W 15-25
Mt. Hood W 35-50 W 35-50 W 30-40 W 25-35
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 15-25
Saturday Night W 15-25
Sunday Morning WNW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WNW 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 15-25
Saturday Night W 10-20
Sunday Morning WNW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 25-35
Saturday Night W 15-25
Sunday Morning NW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon WNW 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 30-40
Saturday Night W 25-35
Sunday Morning W 20-30
Sunday Afternoon WNW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 20-30
Saturday Night W 15-25
Sunday Morning W 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WNW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 30-40
Saturday Night W 20-30
Sunday Morning W 20-30
Sunday Afternoon W 15-25
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 20-30
Saturday Night W 10-20
Sunday Morning NW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon NW 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 35-50
Saturday Night W 25-35
Sunday Morning W 20-30
Sunday Afternoon W 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 30-40
Saturday Night W 25-35
Sunday Morning W 20-30
Sunday Afternoon W 15-25
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 35-50
Saturday Night W 35-50
Sunday Morning W 30-40
Sunday Afternoon W 25-35

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, February 19, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

We'll slowly dry out with very cold temperatures for all areas expected Tuesday. Drier conditions will be found in the north with light snow showers possible for the central/south Cascades and Mt. Hood on Tuesday.  A strong ridge offshore begins to shift toward our region on Wednesday.  Mountain temperatures will be in the teens and even single digits over this stretch.  

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night* Tuesday * Tuesday Night* Wednesday
West North 0 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0 0
Mt. Hood 0 0 0 0
West North Elevation
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday * 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday 0'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday * 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday 0'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday * 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday 0'

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

Previous forecast from Feb 19, 2022

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’.