Issued: 2:53 PM PST Thursday, February 16, 2023
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 2:53 PM to include wind information Friday night and Saturday.

A stalled front sits just off our coastline on Thursday afternoon. Mid-level clouds cover the majority of the region with some very light precipitation moving into the Olympics on SSW winds. A subtle trough moving in from the NW will push a weak front through NW Washington Thursday evening with light rain and snow for the Olympics and Mt. Baker area. That precipitation spreads into the central and southern Washington Cascades as the front pushes SE. Expect minimal spillover onto the east slopes of the Cascades. Light snow peaks early Friday as winds shift W. Snowfall tapers in most areas by mid-morning as the front drifts south and mostly dissipates, leaving very light snow or flurries. Expect increasing chances for sun breaks particularly for the Olympics and northern Cascades as the day progresses. Storm totals should be in the 1-6" range near and west of the Cascade Crest in Washington State with snow levels around 1000-2500 ft.

Flow turns NWerly behind the fizzled front. The next system arrives late Friday night with light snow spreading into the west slopes of the Cascades. Light snowfall peaks mid-day Saturday and tapers during the evening hours. Expect another 1-4" of snow in similar areas to the first system. Snow levels remain well below the major passes. Moderate W ridgeline winds continue for the east slopes and mountain gaps. WNW winds on Saturday could be strong at times on Mt. Hood.

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 Night Periods of light rain and snow with increasing spillover to the Hurricane Ridge area overnight.
Friday Light rain and snow ending by mid-morning, then becoming partly cloudy.
Thursday Night Increasing light snow. Moderate ridgeline winds in the evening becoming light.
Friday Scattered very light snow showers with increasing sun breaks.
Thursday Night Cloudy in the evening with light snow developing from late evening onward.
Friday Light snow ending from N to S by late morning, then becoming partly cloudy with a few snow flurries.
Thursday Night Cloudy with light snow developing overnight.
Friday Periods of light snow in the morning becoming very light in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Cloudy with light snow developing overnight. Light W wind at the Pass.
Friday Light snow in the morning with a few flurries lingering in the afternoon. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Thursday Night Cloudy with light snow developing overnight. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Friday Light snow in the morning with a few flurries lingering in the afternoon. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Thursday Night Light snow developing overnight. Moderate ridgeline winds in the evening become light overnight.
Friday Partly cloudy with a few flurries early in the day.
Thursday Night Mostly cloudy with light snow developing near the Cascade Crest during the early morning hours. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Light snow in the morning near the Cascade Crest with a few flurries lingering in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Mostly cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of light snow near the Cascade Crest.
Thursday Night Mostly cloudy with increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of light snow in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

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

5000' Temperatures (°F)

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

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Extended Weather Synopsis

Expect a slight break in the action Saturday night with NW flow continuing. Another disturbance dropping moving in from British Columbia spreads increasing light snowfall into the region. Snowfall becomes moderate for the west slopes of the Cascades overnight. The pressure gradient driving the NW flow strongly intensifies on Monday as another wave moves into the area with moderate rain/snow becoming heavy as snow levels rise to slightly above 3000 ft. Expect significant snowfall above the rain/snow line.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
West North 1500' 2000' 2500' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 2000' 2000' 3000' 3500'
Mt. Hood 3000' 3000' 3500' 4000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Night 1500'
Sunday 2000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday 2000'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Night 3000'
Sunday 3000'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday 4000'

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

Previous forecast from Feb 16, 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’.