Issued: 2:20 PM PDT Tuesday, March 14, 2023
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

A short wave system will approach the mountains this evening. As it does so, winds will turn more westerly and clouds will increase. For most locations, precipitation will hold off until after midnight. This isn't a particularly strong storm, and as it finally arrives, it appears to fall apart. However, it will bring a modest amount of snow to the west slopes and passes. Without much forcing behind it, precipitation hangs up on the Cascade crest, and only a few stray showers wander further east. In some areas, the moderate to strong winds will be a bigger story than any snow totals. Look for the windiest conditions near Mission Ridge, Ahtanum Meadows, and Mt Hood. 

By late Tuesday morning, the bulk of the storm should be over. Post frontal showers and a weak convergence zone focussed near the Mt Loop Hwy will be all that's left. As winds start to decrease in the afternoon, sun breaks and clearing skies will become the norm. This will usher in a more prolonged period of dry weather for the Pacific Northwest. 

A high-pressure ridge builds off the Washington coast Wedensday night and shifts inland. This will become the driving feature in our weather for the remainder of the week. A cold clear night should give way to a mostly sunny and warm day. While you could see passing bands of high clouds, they shouldn't amount to much. Instead, there should be plenty of sunshine to go around. One item to watch will be increasing easterly winds. While this doesn't look like a major wind event, it could result in gusty conditions near the Cascade crest Thursday afternoon. 

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
Tuesday Night Increasing clouds with isolated showers overnight. Winds becoming W light to moderate.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy in the morning with a few isolated showers. Clearing in the afternoon. Light to moderate W winds decreasing.
Tuesday Night Increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Winds becoming W light to moderate.
Wednesday Cloudy with showers mainly in the morning. Significant sun breaks in the afternoon. Light to moderate W winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Winds becoming W light to moderate.
Wednesday Cloudy with showers mainly in the morning. A weak convergence zone near the Mt Loop Hwy. Sun breaks and clearing elsewhere. Light to moderate W winds decreasing.
Tuesday Night Increasing clouds with isolated showers developing after midnight. Winds becoming W light to moderate.
Wednesday Cloudy with isolated showers mainly in the morning. Sun breaks and clearing later in the day. Moderate W winds turning NW and decreasing slightly.
Tuesday Night Increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Light E flow turning W at Pass level. Ridgeline winds becoming W light to moderate.
Wednesday Cloudy in the morning with scattered showers. Sun breaks and clearing in the afternoon. Moderate NW ridgeline winds decreasing.
Tuesday Night Increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Light E flow turning W at Pass level. Ridgeline winds becoming W light to moderate.
Wednesday Cloudy in the morning with scattered showers. Sun breaks and clearing in the afternoon. Moderate NW ridgeline winds decreasing.
Tuesday Night Increasing clouds with a few stray showers in the very early morning hours near the crest. Winds becoming NW light to moderate.
Wednesday Cloudy in the morning with a few showers near the crest. Sun breaks and clearing in the afternoon, Moderate W winds turning NW and decreasing.
Tuesday Night Increasing clouds with a few stray showers possible near the crest in the early morning hours. Winds becoming W light to moderate.
Wednesday Cloudy in the morning with a few isolated showers near the crest. Sun breaks and clearing in the afternoon. Moderate to strong and gusty NW winds decreasing.
Tuesday Night Increasing low clouds with a few stray showers near the crest in the early morning hours. Winds becoming W light to moderate.
Wednesday Cloudy in the morning with a few isolated showers. Sun breaks and clearing in the afternoon. Moderate to strong and gusty NW winds decreasing.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with a few isolated showers developing after midnight. Winds increasing significantly and becoming W moderate to strong.
Wednesday Cloudy with showers in the morning. Sun breaks in the afternoon. Strong and gusty NW winds decreasing significantly later in the day.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

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

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Tuesday Night Wednesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 26 / 21 30 / 21
West North 30 / 24 30 / 23
West Central 30 / 23 30 / 22
West South 30 / 20 30 / 19
Stevens Pass 28 / 22 28 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 28 / 21 28 / 23
East North 24 / 14 26 / 17
East Central 28 / 21 31 / 21
East South 26 / 18 30 / 21
Mt. Hood 28 / 23 30 / 23
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 26 / 21
Wednesday 30 / 21
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 30 / 24
Wednesday 30 / 23
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 30 / 23
Wednesday 30 / 22
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 30 / 20
Wednesday 30 / 19
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 28 / 22
Wednesday 28 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 28 / 21
Wednesday 28 / 23
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 24 / 14
Wednesday 26 / 17
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 28 / 21
Wednesday 31 / 21
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 26 / 18
Wednesday 30 / 21
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 28 / 23
Wednesday 30 / 23

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Extended Weather Synopsis

A high pressure ridge parked over eastern Washington will keep us dry for the remainder of the week. Expect mostly clear cold nights followed by relatively warm sunny days. Passing high clouds may occasionally traverse the region, but they shouldn't hang around for very long. Over the next several days, we will experience a very gradual warming trend. So, look for freezing levels to slowly creep up the hillsides. Weather models disagree about how long the high pressure will stay in place. An approaching trough late Saturday will be the first potential test of the ridge's resilience. Until then, enjoy the sunshine.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Night* Friday * Friday Night* Saturday *
West North 1000' 4500' 1500' 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1000' 4500' 2500' 5000'
Mt. Hood 1500' 4500' 3000' 5000'
West North Elevation
Thursday Night* 1000'
Friday * 4500'
Friday Night* 1500'
Saturday * 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Night* 1000'
Friday * 4500'
Friday Night* 2500'
Saturday * 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Night* 1500'
Friday * 4500'
Friday Night* 3000'
Saturday * 5000'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 14, 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’.