Issued: 4:06 PM PST Monday, February 21, 2022
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

Forecast updated at 4:05 PM for increased overnight easterly 5000 ft winds at Snoqualmie Pass.

The large trough remains entrenched across the Western US. A surface low has crossed from the Puget Sound region and continues to spawn light snow showers (locally intense, with graupel) mainly across the southern Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood areas. Shower activity should continue across these same areas into the evening hours before the lack of heating at the surface overnight cuts off their energy supply. Another surge of cold air through the Fraser River gap will bring additional cold air to the Puget Sound lowlands Monday night, but might also renew upslopes light snowfall in the northern Olympic Mountains. Hurricane Ridge could pick up an additional 1-3" of snow before it ends early Tuesday. Overnight lows should be in the teens and single digits in most mountain locations with decreasing clouds after midnight helping cool the surface.

Expect a mostly sunny and chilly day on Tuesday with light winds aloft. Clear skies continue Tuesday night as the trough drifts SE and upper-level flow picks up out of the NNE. With full clearing, we expect very efficient radiational cooling and the coldest temperatures of the week into early Wednesday.

Mostly sunny skies continue on Wednesday with temperatures slow to rebound from the cold night. Light to moderate E flow should continue through the mountain gaps from Monday night through Wednesday. Winds likely peak on Tuesday.

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 Mostly cloudy with light snow developing and increasing overnight. Cold.
Tuesday A few snow flurries possible early in the morning, then partly to mostly cloudy skies with decreasing clouds.
Monday Night Partly to mostly cloudy. Cold.
Tuesday A few clouds early, then mostly sunny skies.
Monday Night Partly cloudy with clearing skies after midnight. Cold.
Tuesday Partly cloudy early, then mostly sunny skies.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow showers in the evening, then clearing skies. Cold.
Tuesday Partly cloudy early, then mostly sunny skies by the afternoon.
Monday Night Partly cloudy with clearing skies after midnight. Light E winds at the Pass.
Tuesday Partly cloudy early, then mostly sunny skies. Light E winds at the Pass.
Monday Night Partly cloudy with clearing skies after midnight. Light to moderate E winds at the Pass.
Tuesday Partly cloudy early, then mostly sunny skies. Light to moderate E winds at the Pass.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy.
Tuesday Partly cloudy early, then becoming mostly sunny.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of light snow for the eastern foothills in the evening with some clearing in the early morning hours.
Tuesday Partly cloudy early, then becoming mostly sunny.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of light snow for the eastern foothills in the evening with some clearing in the early morning hours.
Tuesday Partly cloudy early, then becoming mostly sunny.
Monday Night Light snow showers through the evening hours, then mostly clearing skies.
Tuesday Mostly sunny.

Issued: 4:06 PM PST Monday, February 21, 2022

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

Issued: 4:06 PM PST Monday, February 21, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening* Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon* Tuesday Evening* Tuesday Night* Wednesday Morning* Wednesday Afternoon*
Olympics 500' 0 0 500' 500' 500' 500' 1000'
West North 500' 0 0 500' 500' 500' 500' 500'
West Central 1500' 0 0 500' 500' 500' 500' 1000'
West South 1000' 0 0 500' 500' 500' 500' 1000'
Stevens Pass 1500' 0 0 500' 500' 500' 500' 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 0 0 500' 500' 500' 500' 1000'
East North 500' 0 0 500' 500' 0 0 1000'
East Central 0 0 0 500' 500' 500' 500' 500'
East South 500' 0 0 500' 500' 500' 500' 1000'
Mt. Hood 1000' 0 0 500' 500' 500' 500' 1000'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening* 500'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 500'
Tuesday Evening* 500'
Tuesday Night* 500'
Wednesday Morning* 500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1000'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening* 500'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 500'
Tuesday Evening* 500'
Tuesday Night* 500'
Wednesday Morning* 500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 500'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 500'
Tuesday Evening* 500'
Tuesday Night* 500'
Wednesday Morning* 500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1000'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening* 1000'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 500'
Tuesday Evening* 500'
Tuesday Night* 500'
Wednesday Morning* 500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 500'
Tuesday Evening* 500'
Tuesday Night* 500'
Wednesday Morning* 500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 500'
Tuesday Evening* 500'
Tuesday Night* 500'
Wednesday Morning* 500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1000'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening* 500'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 500'
Tuesday Evening* 500'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1000'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening* 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 500'
Tuesday Evening* 500'
Tuesday Night* 500'
Wednesday Morning* 500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 500'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening* 500'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 500'
Tuesday Evening* 500'
Tuesday Night* 500'
Wednesday Morning* 500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening* 1000'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 500'
Tuesday Evening* 500'
Tuesday Night* 500'
Wednesday Morning* 500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1000'

Issued: 4:06 PM PST Monday, February 21, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 14 / 6 16 / 8
West North 15 / 4 13 / 7
West Central 16 / 6 15 / 7
West South 22 / 5 17 / 7
Stevens Pass 20 / 6 14 / 5
Snoqualmie Pass 22 / 7 15 / 5
East North 14 / 0 10 / -2
East Central 16 / 7 12 / 3
East South 17 / 7 15 / 5
Mt. Hood 17 / 10 16 / 6
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 14 / 6
Tuesday 16 / 8
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 15 / 4
Tuesday 13 / 7
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 16 / 6
Tuesday 15 / 7
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 22 / 5
Tuesday 17 / 7
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 20 / 6
Tuesday 14 / 5
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 22 / 7
Tuesday 15 / 5
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 14 / 0
Tuesday 10 / -2
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 16 / 7
Tuesday 12 / 3
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 17 / 7
Tuesday 15 / 5
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 17 / 10
Tuesday 16 / 6

Issued: 4:06 PM PST Monday, February 21, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics NE 10-20 NNE 5-15 NNE 10-20 NNE 5-15
West North NE 10-20 ENE 10-20 ENE 10-20 ENE 10-20
West Central ESE 5-15 ESE 10-20 ESE 10-20 ESE 10-20
West South E 5-15 ESE 5-15 ESE 0-10 ESE 5-15
Stevens Pass ESE 10-20 ESE 15-25 ESE 10-20 E 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass E 10-20 E 15-25 ESE 10-20 SE 10-20
East North ENE 0-10 ENE 0-10 ENE 5-15 ENE 5-15
East Central E 5-15 E 10-20 E 5-15 E 5-15
East South ENE 10-20 ENE 10-20 ENE 10-20 E 10-20
Mt. Hood ENE 10-20 ESE 10-20 E 5-15 E 5-15
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening NE 10-20
Monday Night NNE 5-15
Tuesday Morning NNE 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon NNE 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening NE 10-20
Monday Night ENE 10-20
Tuesday Morning ENE 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon ENE 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening ESE 5-15
Monday Night ESE 10-20
Tuesday Morning ESE 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon ESE 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening E 5-15
Monday Night ESE 5-15
Tuesday Morning ESE 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon ESE 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening ESE 10-20
Monday Night ESE 15-25
Tuesday Morning ESE 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon E 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening E 10-20
Monday Night E 15-25
Tuesday Morning ESE 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon SE 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening ENE 0-10
Monday Night ENE 0-10
Tuesday Morning ENE 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon ENE 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening E 5-15
Monday Night E 10-20
Tuesday Morning E 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon E 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening ENE 10-20
Monday Night ENE 10-20
Tuesday Morning ENE 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon E 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening ENE 10-20
Monday Night ESE 10-20
Tuesday Morning E 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon E 5-15

Issued: 4:06 PM PST Monday, February 21, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

Weather models maintain the cool dry pattern with the Pacific Northwest sandwiched between a ridge offshore and a deep trough over the intermountain west. A moisture-starved disturbance could bring some clouds and very light snow Wednesday night and Thursday morning, but skies should clear out as high pressure moves onshore Thursday night and Friday. Temperatures remain well below normal but should moderate slightly as we head toward the weekend.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night* Thursday * Thursday Night* Friday *
West North 0 500' 1000' 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass 0 1000' 1000' 1000'
Mt. Hood 500' 1000' 1000' 1000'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night* 0'
Thursday * 500'
Thursday Night* 1000'
Friday * 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night* 0'
Thursday * 1000'
Thursday Night* 1000'
Friday * 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night* 500'
Thursday * 1000'
Thursday Night* 1000'
Friday * 1000'

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

Previous forecast from Feb 21, 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’.