We have a pleasant Thursday underway with mostly sunny skies, some passing high clouds, locally breezy E-SE winds and mountain temperatures near or slightly above freezing this afternoon. High clouds will traverse the area this evening and leave us with clear skies after midnight. Breezy E-SE winds will keep blowing for the same areas (generally central and south Washington Cascades and Mt Hood) through Friday morning and then taper off.
An upper level ridge will shift over to eastern Washington on Friday, opening the door to milder temperatures and eventually thicker cloud cover. Mountain afternoon highs should be several degrees warmer on Friday and freezing levels will peak in the 5000-6000' range. A high overcast should fill in over the Olympics by late afternoon and over the Cascades early Friday evening.
After a mostly cloudy and mild Friday night, we can expect a mix of sun and clouds on Saturday and continued mild temperatures and freezing levels. There's a slight chance of mountain showers in the afternoon, but a better bet right now is all areas will see another dry day.
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
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear with periods of high clouds in the evening.
Friday
Mostly sunny in the morning with some high clouds, becoming mostly cloudy with increasing high clouds in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear with periods of high clouds in the evening.
Friday
Mostly sunny in the morning with a few high clouds, becoming partly sunny with filtered sunshine in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear with periods of high clouds in the evening.
Friday
Mostly sunny in the morning with a few high clouds, becoming partly sunny with filtered sunshine in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Mostly sunny in the morning with a few high clouds, becoming partly sunny with filtered sunshine in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear with periods of high clouds in the evening. Light to moderate E-SE ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Friday
Mostly sunny in the morning with a few high clouds, becoming partly sunny with filtered sunshine in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear with periods of high clouds in the evening. Moderate E-SE ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Friday
Mostly sunny in the morning with a few high clouds, becoming partly sunny with filtered sunshine in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear with periods of high clouds in the evening.
Friday
Mostly sunny. Increasing high clouds late.
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear with periods of high clouds in the evening. Light to moderate SE ridgeline winds.
Friday
Mostly sunny. Increasing high clouds late.
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear. Light to moderate SE ridgeline winds.
Friday
Mostly sunny. Increasing high clouds late.
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear.
Friday
Mostly sunny. Increasing high clouds late.
Issued: 2:30 PM PDT Thursday, March 16, 2023
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
Friday
Friday Night
Saturday
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)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Issued: 2:30 PM PDT Thursday, March 16, 2023
Snow Level (ft)
Thursday
Evening*
Thursday
Night*
Friday
Morning*
Friday
Afternoon
Friday
Evening
Friday
Night
Saturday
Morning
Saturday
Afternoon
Olympics
2500'
2000'
3500'
5500'
5000'
4500'
5000'
6000'
West North
2500'
2000'
3500'
5500'
5000'
4500'
5000'
6000'
West Central
2500'
2000'
3500'
5500'
5000'
4500'
5000'
6000'
West South
2500'
2000'
3500'
5500'
5000'
4000'
5000'
6000'
Stevens Pass
2500'
2000'
3500'
5000'
4500'
3500'
5000'
6000'
Snoqualmie Pass
2500'
2000'
3500'
5000'
4500'
4000'
5000'
6000'
East North
2500'
1000'
3500'
5000'
3500'
2000'
4500'
6000'
East Central
2500'
2000'
3500'
5000'
3500'
2000'
4500'
5500'
East South
2500'
2000'
3500'
5500'
4000'
2500'
4500'
6000'
Mt. Hood
2500'
2000'
3500'
6000'
6000'
5500'
6000'
6500'
Olympics
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
2500'
Thursday
Night*
2000'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
5500'
Friday
Evening
5000'
Friday
Night
4500'
Saturday
Morning
5000'
Saturday
Afternoon
6000'
West North
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
2500'
Thursday
Night*
2000'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
5500'
Friday
Evening
5000'
Friday
Night
4500'
Saturday
Morning
5000'
Saturday
Afternoon
6000'
West Central
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
2500'
Thursday
Night*
2000'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
5500'
Friday
Evening
5000'
Friday
Night
4500'
Saturday
Morning
5000'
Saturday
Afternoon
6000'
West South
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
2500'
Thursday
Night*
2000'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
5500'
Friday
Evening
5000'
Friday
Night
4000'
Saturday
Morning
5000'
Saturday
Afternoon
6000'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
2500'
Thursday
Night*
2000'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
5000'
Friday
Evening
4500'
Friday
Night
3500'
Saturday
Morning
5000'
Saturday
Afternoon
6000'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
2500'
Thursday
Night*
2000'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
5000'
Friday
Evening
4500'
Friday
Night
4000'
Saturday
Morning
5000'
Saturday
Afternoon
6000'
East North
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
2500'
Thursday
Night*
1000'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
5000'
Friday
Evening
3500'
Friday
Night
2000'
Saturday
Morning
4500'
Saturday
Afternoon
6000'
East Central
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
2500'
Thursday
Night*
2000'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
5000'
Friday
Evening
3500'
Friday
Night
2000'
Saturday
Morning
4500'
Saturday
Afternoon
5500'
East South
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
2500'
Thursday
Night*
2000'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
5500'
Friday
Evening
4000'
Friday
Night
2500'
Saturday
Morning
4500'
Saturday
Afternoon
6000'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
2500'
Thursday
Night*
2000'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
6000'
Friday
Evening
6000'
Friday
Night
5500'
Saturday
Morning
6000'
Saturday
Afternoon
6500'
Issued: 2:30 PM PDT Thursday, March 16, 2023
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Thursday
Night
Friday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
31 / 27
38 / 28
West North
31 / 25
38 / 26
West Central
29 / 24
38 / 26
West South
31 / 24
39 / 25
Stevens Pass
29 / 23
38 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass
29 / 23
37 / 25
East North
29 / 19
35 / 22
East Central
28 / 22
36 / 23
East South
28 / 23
37 / 23
Mt. Hood
31 / 25
40 / 26
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
31 / 27
Friday
38 / 28
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
31 / 25
Friday
38 / 26
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
29 / 24
Friday
38 / 26
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
31 / 24
Friday
39 / 25
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
29 / 23
Friday
38 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
29 / 23
Friday
37 / 25
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
29 / 19
Friday
35 / 22
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
28 / 22
Friday
36 / 23
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
28 / 23
Friday
37 / 23
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
31 / 25
Friday
40 / 26
Issued: 2:30 PM PDT Thursday, March 16, 2023
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
Thursday
Night
Friday
Morning
Friday
Afternoon
Olympics
SE 5-15
SE 5-15
S 5-15
S 10-20
West North
SE 5-15
SE 0-10
S 5-15
S 10-20
West Central
SE 10-20
SE 5-15
SE 10-20
S 5-15
West South
SE 15-25
SE 15-25
SE 10-20
SSE 5-15
Stevens Pass
SE 10-20
SE 5-15
SE 5-15
SSE 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass
SE 15-25
SE 15-25
SE 10-20
SSE 5-15
East North
SE 10-20
SSE 5-15
SSE 5-15
S 0-10
East Central
SE 15-25
S 10-20
SE 5-15
SSE 5-15
East South
SE 10-20
S 5-15
SE 5-15
S 5-15
Mt. Hood
SE 15-25
SE 10-20
SE 5-15
SSE 5-15
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SE
5-15
Thursday
Night
SE
5-15
Friday
Morning
S
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
S
10-20
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SE
5-15
Thursday
Night
SE
0-10
Friday
Morning
S
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
S
10-20
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SE
10-20
Thursday
Night
SE
5-15
Friday
Morning
SE
10-20
Friday
Afternoon
S
5-15
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SE
15-25
Thursday
Night
SE
15-25
Friday
Morning
SE
10-20
Friday
Afternoon
SSE
5-15
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SE
10-20
Thursday
Night
SE
5-15
Friday
Morning
SE
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
SSE
0-10
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SE
15-25
Thursday
Night
SE
15-25
Friday
Morning
SE
10-20
Friday
Afternoon
SSE
5-15
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SE
10-20
Thursday
Night
SSE
5-15
Friday
Morning
SSE
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
S
0-10
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SE
15-25
Thursday
Night
S
10-20
Friday
Morning
SE
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
SSE
5-15
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SE
10-20
Thursday
Night
S
5-15
Friday
Morning
SE
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
S
5-15
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SE
15-25
Thursday
Night
SE
10-20
Friday
Morning
SE
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
SSE
5-15
Issued: 2:30 PM PDT Thursday, March 16, 2023
Extended Weather Synopsis
We'll finally start to see a pattern change in the second half of the weekend as an upper trough approaches the West Coast. There's still some uncertainty, but it seems likely light showers will begin to move into the region Sunday afternoon, along with ample cloud cover and continued mild conditions. The upper trough will near the coast and we'll see an increase in shower activity early next week along with some slight cooling.
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).