Scattered showers across the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt Hood will quickly fade early this afternoon as the sun goes down. Low level clouds that are trapped around the Cascade crest level this afternoon (with clearer skies further east of the crest) will fade as well in the evening as high pressure moves over the area. We should see a mostly clear and cool night with some patchy fog potential in valleys.
On Thursday, the upper level ridge will move east and although we'll be high and dry, we can expect a fair bit of high clouds to sneak in, especially in the afternoon and thickest over the Olymipc peninsula and northwest Cascades. While other areas should see periods of high clouds as well, areas further east and south of this dividing line should see more sunshine. With offshore flow developing on Thursday, we'll see easterly breezes pick up in the usual areas as well. Offshore flow and moderate easterly winds will continue Thursday night.
We're in store for another dry day on Friday with potentially more cumulus build-up in the afternoon along the east slopes of the Cascades. East winds should ease off during the day and we'll see freezing levels bump up a notch vs 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
Night
Partly to mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Chance of light snow showers early in the evening.
Thursday
Partly sunny in the morning with high clouds. Becoming mostly cloudy with increasing high clouds and filtred sunshine in the afternoon.
Wednesday
Night
Partly to mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Chance of light snow showers early in the evening.
Thursday
Mostly sunny in the morning with a few high clouds. Becoming partly sunny with increasing high clouds and filtred sunshine in the afternoon.
Wednesday
Night
Partly to mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Chance of light snow showers early in the evening.
Thursday
Mostly sunny in the morning with a few high clouds. Becoming partly sunny with increasing high clouds and filtred sunshine in the afternoon. Occasional moderate winds in the afternoon.
Wednesday
Night
Partly to mostly clear with periods of high clouds. Chance of light snow showers early in the evening.
Thursday
Mostly sunny with periods of high clouds. Occasional moderate ridgeline winds.
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.
Thursday
Mostly sunny in the morning with patchy valley fog. Becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon with a few low clouds and periods of high clouds. Light to moderate east winds at Pass level and ridgeline.
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.
Thursday
Mostly sunny in the morning with patchy valley fog. Becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon with a few low clouds and periods of high clouds. Moderate east winds at Pass level and ridgeline.
Wednesday
Night
Thursday
Mostly sunny in the morning with patchy valley fog. Becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon with a few low clouds and periods of high clouds. Occasional moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Night
Mostly clear. Patchy valley fog.
Thursday
Mostly sunny in the morning with patchy valley fog. Becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon with a few low clouds and periods of high clouds. Occasional moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Night
Mostly clear. Patchy valley fog.
Thursday
Mostly sunny in the morning with patchy valley fog. Becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon with a few low clouds and periods of high clouds. Occasional moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday
Night
Mostly clear. Periods of high clouds. Patchy valley fog.
Thursday
Mostly sunny with periods of high clouds in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Issued: 2:30 PM PDT Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
Thursday
Thursday Night
Friday
5 pm - 5 am
5 am - 5 pm
5 pm - 5 am
5 am - 5 pm
Hurricane Ridge
0
0
0
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
0
0
0
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
0
0
0
0
Stevens Pass
0
0
0
0
Snoqualmie Pass
0
0
0
0
Crystal Mt
0
0
0
0
Paradise
0
0
0
0
White Pass
0
0
0
0
Washington Pass
0
0
0
0
Mission Ridge
0
0
0
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
0
0
0
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
0
0
0
0
Mt Hood Meadows
0
0
0
0
Timberline
0
0
0
0
Hurricane Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Issued: 2:30 PM PDT Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Snow Level (ft)
Wednesday
Evening
Wednesday
Night*
Thursday
Morning*
Thursday
Afternoon*
Thursday
Evening*
Thursday
Night*
Friday
Morning*
Friday
Afternoon*
Olympics
2000'
1500'
2000'
4000'
3500'
3000'
3500'
5500'
West North
2000'
1500'
2000'
4500'
3500'
3000'
4000'
5500'
West Central
2000'
1500'
2000'
4500'
3500'
3000'
4000'
5500'
West South
2000'
1500'
2000'
4500'
3500'
2500'
3500'
5500'
Stevens Pass
2000'
1500'
2000'
4500'
3500'
2000'
3500'
5000'
Snoqualmie Pass
2000'
1500'
2000'
4500'
3500'
2500'
3500'
5000'
East North
2000'
1000'
2000'
4500'
2500'
1000'
3500'
5000'
East Central
2000'
1500'
2000'
4500'
3000'
2000'
3500'
5000'
East South
2000'
1500'
2000'
4500'
3000'
2000'
3500'
5000'
Mt. Hood
2000'
1500'
2000'
4500'
3500'
2500'
3500'
5000'
Olympics
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening
2000'
Wednesday
Night*
1500'
Thursday
Morning*
2000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
4000'
Thursday
Evening*
3500'
Thursday
Night*
3000'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon*
5500'
West North
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening
2000'
Wednesday
Night*
1500'
Thursday
Morning*
2000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
4500'
Thursday
Evening*
3500'
Thursday
Night*
3000'
Friday
Morning*
4000'
Friday
Afternoon*
5500'
West Central
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening
2000'
Wednesday
Night*
1500'
Thursday
Morning*
2000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
4500'
Thursday
Evening*
3500'
Thursday
Night*
3000'
Friday
Morning*
4000'
Friday
Afternoon*
5500'
West South
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening
2000'
Wednesday
Night*
1500'
Thursday
Morning*
2000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
4500'
Thursday
Evening*
3500'
Thursday
Night*
2500'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon*
5500'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening
2000'
Wednesday
Night*
1500'
Thursday
Morning*
2000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
4500'
Thursday
Evening*
3500'
Thursday
Night*
2000'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon*
5000'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening
2000'
Wednesday
Night*
1500'
Thursday
Morning*
2000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
4500'
Thursday
Evening*
3500'
Thursday
Night*
2500'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon*
5000'
East North
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening
2000'
Wednesday
Night*
1000'
Thursday
Morning*
2000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
4500'
Thursday
Evening*
2500'
Thursday
Night*
1000'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon*
5000'
East Central
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening
2000'
Wednesday
Night*
1500'
Thursday
Morning*
2000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
4500'
Thursday
Evening*
3000'
Thursday
Night*
2000'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon*
5000'
East South
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening
2000'
Wednesday
Night*
1500'
Thursday
Morning*
2000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
4500'
Thursday
Evening*
3000'
Thursday
Night*
2000'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon*
5000'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening
2000'
Wednesday
Night*
1500'
Thursday
Morning*
2000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
4500'
Thursday
Evening*
3500'
Thursday
Night*
2500'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon*
5000'
Issued: 2:30 PM PDT Wednesday, March 15, 2023
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Wednesday
Night
Thursday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
25 / 19
33 / 22
West North
25 / 20
33 / 22
West Central
26 / 19
33 / 22
West South
26 / 19
33 / 20
Stevens Pass
25 / 19
32 / 21
Snoqualmie Pass
24 / 20
31 / 21
East North
25 / 16
31 / 19
East Central
25 / 18
31 / 21
East South
27 / 18
31 / 21
Mt. Hood
28 / 21
34 / 23
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
25 / 19
Thursday
33 / 22
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
25 / 20
Thursday
33 / 22
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
26 / 19
Thursday
33 / 22
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
26 / 19
Thursday
33 / 20
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
25 / 19
Thursday
32 / 21
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
24 / 20
Thursday
31 / 21
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
25 / 16
Thursday
31 / 19
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
25 / 18
Thursday
31 / 21
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
27 / 18
Thursday
31 / 21
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
28 / 21
Thursday
34 / 23
Issued: 2:30 PM PDT Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
Wednesday
Night
Thursday
Morning
Thursday
Afternoon
Olympics
WSW 0-10
VAR 0-10
ESE 0-10
SE 5-15
West North
W 0-10
NE 0-10
E 0-10
ESE 5-15
West Central
WNW 5-15
NE 0-10
E 5-15
ESE 10-20
West South
WNW 5-15
ESE 5-15
ESE 10-20
ESE 10-20
Stevens Pass
WNW 5-15
E 0-10
ESE 5-15
ESE 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass
NW 5-15
ESE 5-15
ESE 10-20
ESE 10-20
East North
WNW 5-15
SE 0-10
SE 5-15
SE 10-20
East Central
NW 5-15
ESE 5-15
ESE 10-20
ESE 10-20
East South
NW 5-15
E 0-10
ESE 5-15
ESE 10-20
Mt. Hood
NNW 5-15
ESE 5-15
SE 10-20
SE 10-20
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
WSW
0-10
Wednesday
Night
VAR
0-10
Thursday
Morning
ESE
0-10
Thursday
Afternoon
SE
5-15
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
W
0-10
Wednesday
Night
NE
0-10
Thursday
Morning
E
0-10
Thursday
Afternoon
ESE
5-15
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
WNW
5-15
Wednesday
Night
NE
0-10
Thursday
Morning
E
5-15
Thursday
Afternoon
ESE
10-20
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
WNW
5-15
Wednesday
Night
ESE
5-15
Thursday
Morning
ESE
10-20
Thursday
Afternoon
ESE
10-20
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
WNW
5-15
Wednesday
Night
E
0-10
Thursday
Morning
ESE
5-15
Thursday
Afternoon
ESE
10-20
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
NW
5-15
Wednesday
Night
ESE
5-15
Thursday
Morning
ESE
10-20
Thursday
Afternoon
ESE
10-20
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
WNW
5-15
Wednesday
Night
SE
0-10
Thursday
Morning
SE
5-15
Thursday
Afternoon
SE
10-20
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
NW
5-15
Wednesday
Night
ESE
5-15
Thursday
Morning
ESE
10-20
Thursday
Afternoon
ESE
10-20
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
NW
5-15
Wednesday
Night
E
0-10
Thursday
Morning
ESE
5-15
Thursday
Afternoon
ESE
10-20
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
NNW
5-15
Wednesday
Night
ESE
5-15
Thursday
Morning
SE
10-20
Thursday
Afternoon
SE
10-20
Issued: 2:30 PM PDT Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Extended Weather Synopsis
Relatively milder weather will continue through the weekend. On the precipitation and cloud cover front, it's unclear when and how the ridge will break down. Right now it looks like we may get some showers into our area anytime between Saturday afternoon through Sunday, stay tuned for details.
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).