Issued: 7:02 AM PST Thursday, February 16, 2023
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

A slow-moving front approaches the region from the west, but has stalled just offshore. Light rain/snow remains mostly just off the PNW coastline, but the westernmost Olympic Mountains may receive some very light amounts throughout the day. Elsewhere, mid-level moisture continues to increase and thicken clouds in the 10,000 - 15,000 ft range as the ridge of high pressure gradually loses influence over the region. 5000 ft temperatures start the day in the low to mid-20s in most areas and should rise into the upper 20s to mid-30s by the afternoon. SSW should be in the moderate range for Mt Baker, but are generally light in other areas.

The weak front pushes into NW Washington Thursday evening with light rain/snow moving throughout the Olympics and Mt. Baker area. The light precipitation moves throughout the west slopes of the Cascades overnight, with minimal spillover into the immediate lee of the Cascade Crest. Ridgeline WSW winds increase into the moderate range for areas near and E of the Cascade Crest.

On Friday, the front moves through the central Washington Cascades in the morning when light snow peaks along with moderate W ridgline winds. The front then stalls and fizzles before over the southern Washington Cascades in the afternoon. No precipitation is expected to reach Mt. Hood and with mostly flurries lingering by the afternoon. The front brings in modest cooling, maintaining temperatures near or slightly below seasonal norms.

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
Thursday Cloudy with light rain or snow at times western part.
Thursday Night Light rain or snow.
Thursday Mid-level clouds mostly obscure the sky. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Light snow.
Thursday Mid-level clouds mostly obscure the sky.
Thursday Night Cloudy with light snow developing from late evening onward.
Thursday Mid-level clouds mostly obscure the sky.
Thursday Night Cloudy with light snow developing overnight. Moderate winds near the Casacade Crest.
Thursday Mid-level clouds mostly obscure the sky. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds. Light E wind switching W at the Pass in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Cloudy with light snow developing overnight. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Thursday Mid-level clouds mostly obscure the sky. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds. Light E wind switching W at the Pass in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Cloudy with light snow developing overnight. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Thursday Mid-level clouds mostly obscure the sky.
Thursday Night Light snow developing overnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Mid-level clouds mostly obscure the sky.
Thursday Night Mostly cloudy with light snow developing near the Cascade Crest during the early morning hours. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Mid-level clouds mostly obscure the sky.
Thursday Night Partly cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Mid-level clouds increase and gradually lower to 9000 ft by late in the day.
Thursday Night Mostly cloudy with increasing moderate ridgeline winds.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

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

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Thursday Thursday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 30 / 25 24 / 16
West North 28 / 22 22 / 18
West Central 30 / 20 24 / 20
West South 33 / 23 28 / 20
Stevens Pass 33 / 23 25 / 19
Snoqualmie Pass 31 / 26 25 / 18
East North 31 / 20 24 / 18
East Central 33 / 23 26 / 20
East South 35 / 23 27 / 21
Mt. Hood 36 / 24 29 / 23
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 30 / 25
Thursday Night 24 / 16
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 28 / 22
Thursday Night 22 / 18
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 30 / 20
Thursday Night 24 / 20
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 33 / 23
Thursday Night 28 / 20
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 33 / 23
Thursday Night 25 / 19
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 31 / 26
Thursday Night 25 / 18
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 31 / 20
Thursday Night 24 / 18
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 33 / 23
Thursday Night 26 / 20
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 35 / 23
Thursday Night 27 / 21
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday 36 / 24
Thursday Night 29 / 23

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

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

Previous forecast from Feb 15, 2023

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’.