Issued: 3:07 PM PDT Monday, March 13, 2023
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

Temperatures continue to cool and precipitation rates ease this afternoon behind the cold front. This pattern should persist as we head into the overnight hours and our region slowly starts to dry out. Snow showers will linger along the west slopes of the Cascades and Passes into the evening. Look for the heaviest precipitation near and north of Hwy 20. As the snowfall turns to a trickle, low clouds/fog will settle into the mountain valleys and passes. 

While many trailheads may start the day a bit socked in, clouds should lift and thin. This will likely result in periods of blue sky and some sunshine for most locations. However, high clouds will push into the mountains from Oregon and result in overcast skies near and south of I90, with more filtered sunshine further north. 

A weak shortwave system will begin to approach the Pacific Northwest Tuesday night. This isn't a very strong storm, but with cold air already in place, it should result in a completely snow event. Look for the first flakes to start to fall just before midnight, and the bulk of the precipitation to arrive near sunrise. Without much forcing behind it, the snow seems to hang up on the Cascade Crest and struggle to make it very far east. By the afternoon, light snowfall will turn to showers as we start a relatively longer period of drier weather. 

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 Partly cloudy with low clouds and isolated showers. Moderate WSW winds decreasing.
Tuesday Partly cloudy with a few stray showers possible in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with snow showers. Light to moderate W winds becoming SW.
Tuesday Low clouds and fog in the morning, becoming partly sunny. A few lingering showers possible. Light to moderate SSW winds decreasing significantly.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with low clouds and fog. Scattered showers. Moderate WSW winds decreasing and becoming SW.
Tuesday Low clouds, fog, and isolated showers in the morning. Periods of sunshine. Increasing high clouds with filtered sunshine in the afternoon. Light to moderate SW winds turning S and decreasing.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with low clouds and fog. Isolated showers in the evening. Light to moderate W winds increasing.
Tuesday Low clouds and fog in the morning, then clearing. High clouds increasing during the day.
Monday Night Low clouds, valley fog, and isolated showers overnight. Moderate W winds.
Tuesday Low clouds/fog to start the day with some clearing. High clouds increasing. Light E flow developing. Light to moderate W ridgetop winds decreasing.
Monday Night Low clouds, fog, and isolated showers overnight. Moderate W winds.
Tuesday Low clouds and fog, lifting. Increasing high clouds during the day. Light E flow developing at Pass level. Light to moderate W ridgetop winds turning SE and decreasing.
Monday Night Partly cloudy with low clouds and patchy fog. A few stray showers possible. Moderate W winds.
Tuesday Becoming mostly sunny with a few high clouds developing.
Monday Night Partly cloudy to mostly clear with low clouds and patchy fog. A few isolated showers possible near the crest. Moderate to strong W winds increasing.
Tuesday Becoming partly to mostly sunny with high clouds in the afternoon.
Monday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with low clouds and valley fog. A few stray showers possible near the crest. Moderate to strong W winds.
Tuesday Becoming mostly sunny with high clouds increasing.
Monday Night Low clouds and valley fog. A few scattered showers possible in the evening. Strong and gusty W winds decreasing overnight.
Tuesday Becoming mostly sunny, then high clouds increasing.

Issued: 3:07 PM PDT Monday, March 13, 2023

Precipitation (in)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm 5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.25 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise 0.25 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
White Pass LT 0.25 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Washington Pass LT 0.25 0 0 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.25 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 0 0 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Timberline LT 0.25 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
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 LT 0.25
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.25

Issued: 3:07 PM PDT Monday, March 13, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon* Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon*
Olympics 1000' 1000' 1000' 3000' 2000' 1000' 1000' 2500'
West North 1500' 1000' 1000' 3000' 2000' 1000' 1000' 2000'
West Central 1500' 1000' 1000' 3500' 2000' 1000' 1000' 2000'
West South 1500' 1000' 1000' 4000' 2500' 1500' 1500' 2500'
Stevens Pass 1500' 1000' 1000' 3500' 2000' 1000' 1000' 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 1000' 1000' 3500' 2000' 1000' 1000' 2500'
East North 2000' 1000' 1000' 3500' 2000' 1000' 1000' 2000'
East Central 2000' 1000' 1000' 3500' 2000' 1500' 1500' 2500'
East South 2500' 1000' 1000' 4000' 2500' 1500' 1500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 2500' 1000' 1500' 4000' 3000' 2000' 2000' 2500'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening 1000'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 1000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2500'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 1000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2000'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3500'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 1000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2000'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 4000'
Tuesday Evening 2500'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday Morning 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3500'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 1000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3500'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 1000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2500'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3500'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday Morning 1000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2000'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3500'
Tuesday Evening 2000'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday Morning 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2500'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 4000'
Tuesday Evening 2500'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday Morning 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 4000'
Tuesday Evening 3000'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2500'

Issued: 3:07 PM PDT Monday, March 13, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 24 / 19 29 / 20
West North 26 / 20 27 / 20
West Central 27 / 22 28 / 20
West South 28 / 19 30 / 19
Stevens Pass 27 / 20 28 / 20
Snoqualmie Pass 28 / 20 29 / 20
East North 27 / 16 28 / 17
East Central 27 / 17 29 / 17
East South 28 / 17 29 / 16
Mt. Hood 29 / 21 30 / 22
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 24 / 19
Tuesday 29 / 20
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 26 / 20
Tuesday 27 / 20
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 27 / 22
Tuesday 28 / 20
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 28 / 19
Tuesday 30 / 19
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 27 / 20
Tuesday 28 / 20
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 28 / 20
Tuesday 29 / 20
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 27 / 16
Tuesday 28 / 17
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 27 / 17
Tuesday 29 / 17
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 28 / 17
Tuesday 29 / 16
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 29 / 21
Tuesday 30 / 22

Issued: 3:07 PM PDT Monday, March 13, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics WSW 15-25 SW 10-20 SW 5-15 VAR 0-10
West North W 10-20 SW 10-20 SSW 10-20 S 0-10
West Central WSW 15-25 SW 10-20 SW 10-20 S 0-10
West South W 10-20 W 15-25 SW 5-15 VAR 0-10
Stevens Pass W 15-25 W 15-25 W 10-20 S 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass W 15-25 W 15-25 W 10-20 SE 0-10
East North W 15-25 W 15-25 SW 5-15 S 0-10
East Central W 20-30 W 25-35 SW 5-15 S 0-10
East South W 20-30 W 20-30 SW 5-15 S 0-10
Mt. Hood W 25-35 W 15-25 S 5-15 S 5-15
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WSW 15-25
Monday Night SW 10-20
Tuesday Morning SW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon VAR 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 10-20
Monday Night SW 10-20
Tuesday Morning SSW 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon S 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WSW 15-25
Monday Night SW 10-20
Tuesday Morning SW 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon S 0-10
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 10-20
Monday Night W 15-25
Tuesday Morning SW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon VAR 0-10
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 15-25
Monday Night W 15-25
Tuesday Morning W 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon S 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 15-25
Monday Night W 15-25
Tuesday Morning W 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon SE 0-10
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 15-25
Monday Night W 15-25
Tuesday Morning SW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon S 0-10
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 20-30
Monday Night W 25-35
Tuesday Morning SW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon S 0-10
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 20-30
Monday Night W 20-30
Tuesday Morning SW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon S 0-10
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 25-35
Monday Night W 15-25
Tuesday Morning S 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon S 5-15

Issued: 3:07 PM PDT Monday, March 13, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

While a few lingering snow showers may persist into Wednesday night, they won't last long. A high pressure ridge will start to build over the region and shift inland. This feature will dominate our weather for at least the remainder of the week. Cold clear nights will be followed by generally warm sunny days. Passing bands of hight clouds may occasionally cause periods fo more filtered sunshine, but all in all the weather looks rather spring-like. Weather models don't agree on how long the ridge will hand around. So, we'll have to keep an eye on when our next weather system will roll through town. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night* Thursday * Thursday Night* Friday *
West North 1000' 3500' 1000' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 4000' 1500' 4500'
Mt. Hood 2000' 4500' 1500' 5000'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night* 1000'
Thursday * 3500'
Thursday Night* 1000'
Friday * 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night* 1500'
Thursday * 4000'
Thursday Night* 1500'
Friday * 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night* 2000'
Thursday * 4500'
Thursday Night* 1500'
Friday * 5000'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 13, 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’.