Issued: 2:05 PM PST Sunday, February 19, 2023
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

We're in for a wet and windy ride over the next 48 hours with the wettest conditions for areas near the Cascade Crest and along the west slopes of the Cascades.

Several waves of moisture will ride over the area in NW flow aloft. Unfortunately, this isn't our cool NW flow pattern. With a strong upper level ridge offshore, milder air will shove its way into the mix. Snow levels have gradually risen to 3500-5000' over the region as of Sunday afternoon and they are likely to stay in this range through early Monday evening.  While the forecasted snow levels are fairly consistent over this stretch, you can expect snow levels to fluctuate 500+/- as the storm waxes and wanes. With strong downslope winds along the east slopes of the Cascades, you can expect drier, windier, and a bit warmer conditions the further east you travel from the Cascade crest. In general, W-NW winds will be strong to extreme over most areas over this period.  

Compared to Sunday, slightly heavier precipitation focused on the central-west and northwest Cascades is expected overnight and increasing further on President's Day. A developing low pressure system off the British Columbia coast will sweep down with a cold front late Monday afternoon, passing through the Washington Cascades early in the evening. Before the cold frontal passage, snowfall totals will be elevation dependent with rain at mid and lower elevations and wet snow above.  

After the cold front sweeps through Monday night, the strong to extreme west winds will stick around along with moderate to heavy showers. Snow levels will plummet late Monday night into Tuesday morning.  Snow showers will continue on Tuesday as a cold upper trough sets up over the region. 

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 Cloudy with light rain and snow. Strong winds.
Monday Cloudy with light rain and snow. Strong winds.
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Monday Light to moderate rain and snow. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Moderate rain and snow. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Monday Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow, heaviest Paradise area. Strong ridgeline winds.
Monday Light to moderate rain and snow, heaviest Paradise area. Strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Moderate rain and snow. Strong ridgeline and Pass level W winds.
Monday Moderate rain and snow. Strong ridgeline and Pass level W winds.
Sunday Night Moderate rain and snow. Strong ridgeline and Pass level W winds.
Monday Moderate rain and snow. Strong ridgeline and Pass level W winds.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow, heaviest near the Cascade crest. Strong ridgeline winds.
Monday Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow, heaviest near the Cascade crest. Sunbreaks for areas further east. Strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow, heaviest near the Cascade crest. Strong to extreme ridgeline winds.
Monday Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow, heaviest near the Cascade crest. Sunbreaks for areas further east. Strong to extreme ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow, heaviest near the Cascade crest. Strong to extreme ridgeline winds.
Monday Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow, heaviest near the Cascade crest. Sunbreaks for areas further east. Strong to extreme ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with periods of light rain and snow or light freezing rain. More precipitation and clouds west side of the mountain. Strong to extreme ridgeline winds.
Monday Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. More precipitation and clouds west side of the mountain. Strong to extreme ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Sunday, February 19, 2023

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

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Sunday, February 19, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 5500' 5500' 5500' 5000' 5000' 2500' 1500' 2000'
West North 3000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 2500' 1500' 2000'
West Central 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 2500' 1500' 2000'
West South 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 2500' 1500' 2000'
Stevens Pass 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4000' 2500' 1500' 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4500' 2500' 1500' 2000'
East North 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4000' 3000' 1500' 2500'
East Central 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 3000' 1500' 2500'
East South 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 3000' 1500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 4000' 4500' 4500' 5000' 5000' 3500' 1500' 2500'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening 5500'
Sunday Night 5500'
Monday Morning 5500'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Monday Evening 3500'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning 4500'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
Monday Evening 4500'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
Monday Evening 4500'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning 4500'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
Monday Evening 4500'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening 5000'
Sunday Night 5000'
Monday Morning 5000'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning 4500'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Sunday, February 19, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 32 / 31 32 / 30
West North 30 / 28 30 / 28
West Central 28 / 28 29 / 28
West South 33 / 32 33 / 30
Stevens Pass 29 / 28 31 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass 30 / 28 30 / 28
East North 30 / 28 33 / 28
East Central 31 / 29 32 / 29
East South 33 / 31 35 / 31
Mt. Hood 31 / 30 34 / 31
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 31
Monday 32 / 30
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 28
Monday 30 / 28
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 28 / 28
Monday 29 / 28
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 33 / 32
Monday 33 / 30
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 28
Monday 31 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 28
Monday 30 / 28
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 28
Monday 33 / 28
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 29
Monday 32 / 29
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 33 / 31
Monday 35 / 31
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 30
Monday 34 / 31

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Sunday, February 19, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics NW 30-40 WNW 30-40 WNW 30-40 W 30-40
West North WSW 20-30 WSW 15-25 WSW 15-25 SW 20-30
West Central WNW 20-30 WNW 20-30 WSW 15-25 W 20-30
West South WNW 30-40 WNW 30-40 WNW 30-40 WSW 30-40
Stevens Pass WNW 25-35 WNW 25-35 WNW 25-35 WSW 25-35
Snoqualmie Pass WNW 25-35 WNW 25-35 WNW 25-35 WSW 25-35
East North W 25-35 W 25-35 W 25-35 WSW 25-35
East Central WNW 40-55 WNW 35-50 WNW 35-50 W 35-50
East South WNW 30-40 WNW 30-40 WNW 30-40 W 30-40
Mt. Hood NW 35-50 NW 40-55 WNW 35-50 W 40-55
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening NW 30-40
Sunday Night WNW 30-40
Monday Morning WNW 30-40
Monday Afternoon W 30-40
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 20-30
Sunday Night WSW 15-25
Monday Morning WSW 15-25
Monday Afternoon SW 20-30
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 20-30
Sunday Night WNW 20-30
Monday Morning WSW 15-25
Monday Afternoon W 20-30
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 30-40
Sunday Night WNW 30-40
Monday Morning WNW 30-40
Monday Afternoon WSW 30-40
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 25-35
Sunday Night WNW 25-35
Monday Morning WNW 25-35
Monday Afternoon WSW 25-35
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 25-35
Sunday Night WNW 25-35
Monday Morning WNW 25-35
Monday Afternoon WSW 25-35
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 25-35
Sunday Night W 25-35
Monday Morning W 25-35
Monday Afternoon WSW 25-35
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 40-55
Sunday Night WNW 35-50
Monday Morning WNW 35-50
Monday Afternoon W 35-50
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 30-40
Sunday Night WNW 30-40
Monday Morning WNW 30-40
Monday Afternoon W 30-40
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening NW 35-50
Sunday Night NW 40-55
Monday Morning WNW 35-50
Monday Afternoon W 40-55

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Sunday, February 19, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

Modified arctic air will likley spill into the region Tuesday night through Thursday as the cold upper trough over our area and high pressure to our north combine forces to move colder interior air into our region. 5000' mountain temperatures will fall in the teens during this stretch with colder locations in the single digits. We can expect snow levels near sea levels and light but continued snow showers through Thursday night with a potential drying trend for Friday. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

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

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

Previous forecast from Feb 19, 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’.