Issued: 7:11 AM PDT Wednesday, March 15, 2023
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

A convergence zone and post-frontal showers will continue to pepper the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt Hood through about mid-day.  The convergence zone is currently dropping south from Snohomish county into King county and bringing some locally moderate to even heavy snow showers to portions of Hwy 2 and I-90. Moderate to strong westerly winds will also continue through about mid-day, with the strongest winds reserved for the Mt Hood area and east-central Cascades.  Areas directly downwind of the convergence zone along the east slopes of the Cascades will pick up a few inches this morning as well. 

After a showery morning, we can expect showers to be lighter and more scattered to even isolated Wednesday afternoon. Upper level ridging building offshore will help trap low level moisture, so expect some sunbreaks but not full bluebird skies for areas near and west of the Cascade crest.  Sunny skies will be widespread further east of the crest. 

High pressure will be in control for the next few days.  We can expect some passing high clouds tonight and Thursday, areas of low level patchy fog tonight, along with a fair amount of sunshine. Offshore flow and easterly gradients will increase during the day on Thursday, with winds becoming moderate in some areas.  Freezing levels will warm to 4000-5000' on Thursday.  

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 Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Sunbreaks throughout the day.
Wednesday Night Partly to mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Chance of light snow showers early in the evening.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy with light snow showers this morning. Showers becoming scattered this afternoon. Sunbreaks possible throughout the day.
Wednesday Night Partly to mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Chance of light snow showers early in the evening.
Wednesday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers through mid-day. Mostly cloudy with sunbreaks and scattered light snow showers in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Partly to mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Chance of light snow showers early in the evening.
Wednesday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers through mid-day. Mostly cloudy with sunbreaks and scattered light snow showers in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Partly to mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Chance of light snow showers early in the evening.
Wednesday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers through mid-day. Mostly cloudy with sunbreaks and scattered light snow showers in the afternoon. Moderate west winds at Pass and ridgeline becoming light to moderate in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Partly to mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Patchy valley fog. Chance of light snow showers early in the evening. Light west winds becoming light east overnight both at Pass level and ridgeline.
Wednesday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate to heavy snow showers through mid-day. Mostly cloudy with sunbreaks and scattered light snow showers in the afternoon. Moderate to strong west winds at Pass and ridgeline becoming light to moderate in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Partly to mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Patchy valley fog. Chance of light snow showers early in the evening. Light west winds becoming light east overnight both at Pass level and ridgeline.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy with light snow showers near the Cascade crest. Mostly sunny with moderate ridgeline winds further east of the Cascade crest.
Wednesday Night Mostly clear. Periods of high clouds. Patchy valley fog.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers near the Cascade crest this morning, then showers becoming isolated this afternoon. Mostly sunny with moderate to strong ridgeline winds further east of the Cascade crest.
Wednesday Night Mostly clear. Periods of high clouds. Patchy valley fog.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy with light snow showers near the Cascade crest. Mostly sunny with moderate ridgeline winds further east of the Cascade crest.
Wednesday Night Mostly clear. Periods of high clouds. Patchy valley fog.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers this morning. Partly to mostly sunny this afternoon with scattered snow showers. More sun east-side of the mountain. Strong ridgeline decreasing this afternoon.
Wednesday Night Mostly clear. Periods of high clouds. Patchy valley fog.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

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

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Wednesday Wednesday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 28 / 19 24 / 19
West North 28 / 20 23 / 19
West Central 28 / 20 24 / 19
West South 29 / 20 25 / 19
Stevens Pass 27 / 21 24 / 18
Snoqualmie Pass 27 / 21 24 / 19
East North 28 / 17 24 / 17
East Central 28 / 19 24 / 19
East South 28 / 20 24 / 19
Mt. Hood 29 / 23 27 / 20
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday 28 / 19
Wednesday Night 24 / 19
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday 28 / 20
Wednesday Night 23 / 19
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday 28 / 20
Wednesday Night 24 / 19
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday 29 / 20
Wednesday Night 25 / 19
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday 27 / 21
Wednesday Night 24 / 18
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday 27 / 21
Wednesday Night 24 / 19
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday 28 / 17
Wednesday Night 24 / 17
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday 28 / 19
Wednesday Night 24 / 19
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday 28 / 20
Wednesday Night 24 / 19
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday 29 / 23
Wednesday Night 27 / 20

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

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

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’.