Issued: 2:03 PM PST Wednesday, February 22, 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

A cold upper trough parked off the Pacific Northwest is fueling a late February cold and snow pattern as it pulls in modified arctic air from the interior. The heaviest and most concentrated precipitation is swirling around the low and has been peppering the Olympics, Mt Hood area (well above forecasted amounts at Mt Hood!), and the terrain south of Hwy12 along the west slopes of the Cascades. Lighter snow continues along the east slopes of the Cascades with more scattered snow showers elsewhere. In all areas, the unseasonably cold air mass and temperatures are squeezing a lot of snow out of a little water. Instead of your normal 10:1 snow to water ratio for the Cascades, snowfall ratios have easily been doubling that rule of thumb along with under-catchment from the precipitation gauges, an amplified issue during very cold and windy storms. 

This pattern will continue overnight with the heaviest snow down near Mt Hood starting to ease as the low pulls off the coast and begins to slide southward. Offshore gradients and easterly winds will kick into a higher gear tonight with moderate winds in most areas and locally strong winds for Snoqualmie, Crystal Mt, Mission Ridge and eventually Mt Hood.  As mid-mountain temperatures fall to near zero or single digits, you'll find dangerously cold wind chills throughout the mountains. 

On Thursday, the low will pull further southward along the coast and light snow should ease from north to south across the region. It looks like clouds will also thin for most areas in the afternoon, except for southern portions of the east slopes of the Cascades and Mt Hood. Temperatures will struggle to rise out of the single digits as moderate to locally strong easterly winds continue. 

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
Wednesday Night Cloudy with light snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Cloudy with light snow showers in the morning, becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Cloudy with a few flurries. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Cloudy with scattered light snow showers in the morning, becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Night Cloudy with a few flurries. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Cloudy with scattered light snow showers in the morning, becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Night Cloudy with light snow showers, except more moderate snow showers near and south of Hwy 12 this evening. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Thursday Cloudy with light snow showers in the morning, becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Night Cloudy with occasional periods of light snow. Moderate to strong ridgeline and Pass level E winds.
Thursday Cloudy with periods of light snow in the morning becoming partly to mostly cloudy with a few snow showers in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline and Pass level E winds.
Wednesday Night Cloudy with occasional periods of light snow. Moderate to strong ridgeline and Pass level E winds.
Thursday Cloudy with periods of light snow in the morning becoming partly to mostly cloudy with a few snow showers in the afternoon. Moderate to strong ridgeline and Pass level E winds.
Wednesday Night Cloudy with occasional periods of light snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Cloudy with periods of light snow in the morning becoming partly to mostly cloudy with a few snow showers in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Night Cloudy with occasional periods of light snow. Snow may occasionally be moderate near the Wenatchee Mountains. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Cloudy with periods of light snow in the morning becoming mostly cloudy with a few snow showers in the afternoon. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Night Cloudy with occasional periods of light snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Cloudy with periods of light snow. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Night Light to moderate snow showers becoming lighter after midnight. Light to moderate winds in the evening becoming moderate to strong overnight.
Thursday Cloudy with light snow showers becoming scattered in the afternoon. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:03 PM PST Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 2:03 PM PST Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 2:03 PM PST Wednesday, February 22, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Wednesday Night Thursday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 12 / 6 11 / 3
West North 11 / 3 9 / 3
West Central 11 / 4 10 / 4
West South 11 / 3 11 / 3
Stevens Pass 11 / 3 10 / 3
Snoqualmie Pass 11 / 3 10 / 3
East North 9 / -3 8 / -1
East Central 10 / 0 7 / 1
East South 10 / 1 8 / 1
Mt. Hood 12 / 3 8 / 4
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 12 / 6
Thursday 11 / 3
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 11 / 3
Thursday 9 / 3
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 11 / 4
Thursday 10 / 4
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 11 / 3
Thursday 11 / 3
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 11 / 3
Thursday 10 / 3
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 11 / 3
Thursday 10 / 3
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 9 / -3
Thursday 8 / -1
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 10 / 0
Thursday 7 / 1
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 10 / 1
Thursday 8 / 1
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 12 / 3
Thursday 8 / 4

Issued: 2:03 PM PST Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Wednesday Evening Wednesday Night Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon
Olympics ESE 5-15 ESE 10-20 E 10-20 E 5-15
West North E 10-20 E 10-20 E 10-20 E 5-15
West Central E 10-20 ESE 10-20 E 10-20 E 5-15
West South ESE 15-25 ESE 20-30 ESE 20-30 E 15-25
Stevens Pass ESE 15-25 ESE 15-25 E 15-25 E 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass ESE 15-25 ESE 20-30 E 20-30 E 15-25
East North E 10-20 ESE 10-20 E 10-20 E 5-15
East Central E 10-20 E 20-30 E 20-30 E 15-25
East South ESE 10-20 ENE 15-25 E 20-30 E 10-20
Mt. Hood S 10-20 ESE 15-25 E 20-30 E 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening ESE 5-15
Wednesday Night ESE 10-20
Thursday Morning E 10-20
Thursday Afternoon E 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening E 10-20
Wednesday Night E 10-20
Thursday Morning E 10-20
Thursday Afternoon E 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening E 10-20
Wednesday Night ESE 10-20
Thursday Morning E 10-20
Thursday Afternoon E 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening ESE 15-25
Wednesday Night ESE 20-30
Thursday Morning ESE 20-30
Thursday Afternoon E 15-25
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening ESE 15-25
Wednesday Night ESE 15-25
Thursday Morning E 15-25
Thursday Afternoon E 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening ESE 15-25
Wednesday Night ESE 20-30
Thursday Morning E 20-30
Thursday Afternoon E 15-25
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening E 10-20
Wednesday Night ESE 10-20
Thursday Morning E 10-20
Thursday Afternoon E 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening E 10-20
Wednesday Night E 20-30
Thursday Morning E 20-30
Thursday Afternoon E 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening ESE 10-20
Wednesday Night ENE 15-25
Thursday Morning E 20-30
Thursday Afternoon E 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening S 10-20
Wednesday Night ESE 15-25
Thursday Morning E 20-30
Thursday Afternoon E 15-25

Issued: 2:03 PM PST Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

Dry and unseasonably cold conditions will continue on Friday. We should see mostly sunny skies to accompany those cold temperatures.  A few high clouds from an approaching frontal system may begin to move into the area during the afternoon hours. Look for increasing cloud cover Friday night and Saturday with light snow beginning over the Olympics and northwest Cascades in the afternoon.  Stormy conditions will develop Saturday night with a strong front blowing through the area Sunday morning, only to be followed by more snow in the form of post-frontal showers. While we take a step out of the deep freezer over the weekend, you can expect low snow levels to continue through this period. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Friday Night* Saturday * Saturday Night Sunday
West North 0 500' 1000' 500'
Snoqualmie Pass 0 1000' 1500' 500'
Mt. Hood 1000' 2500' 2000' 1000'
West North Elevation
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday * 500'
Saturday Night 1000'
Sunday 500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday * 1000'
Saturday Night 1500'
Sunday 500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Night* 1000'
Saturday * 2500'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday 1000'

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

Previous forecast from Feb 22, 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’.