Issued: 2:31 PM PDT Saturday, March 18, 2023
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

It's a warm pleasant and very spring-like Saturday across the region. Afternoon mountain temperatures are above freezing with lots of upper 30s or 40s out there and even a few 50s at lower elevation/trailhead sites. Enjoy it now, as the rest of the weekend will have ample cloud over. High clouds will work inland this evening ahead of an upper level trough that's approaching the coast. Overcast skies will help keep temperatures on the mild side overnight; many areas along the west slopes of the Cascades and Olympics will see little night-time cooling.  

On Sunday, we can expect high clouds to slowly lower during the day. An upper-level weather disturbance will start to advance showers up from the south. Showers will likely begin for the Mt Hood area around mid-day, with some scattered showers likely working into the southern Olympics and south Washington Cascades in the afternoon. Temperatures/freezing levels will remain mild on Sunday in the 5000-6000'. One noticeable change will be an increase in E-SE winds. While this wind direction isn't new over the last few days, we should see wind speeds approach moderate and maybe even touch strong for areas near and south of Hwy 2 on either side of the Cascade crest.  

A more organized push of showers will rotate northward Sunday night and linger into Monday as an open upper trough moves over the areas. It's unclear is shower activity on Monday will focus on one area or another, but we should expect an increase in afternoon shower coverage with a cooler unstable air mass overhead. Snow levels will start to slide Sunday night and Monday into the 4000-5000' range. 

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
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening, then cloudy after midnight.
Sunday Cloudy. High clouds lowering during the day. Scattered showers mainly southern Olympics in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy in the evening, then cloudy after midnight.
Sunday Cloudy. High clouds lowering during the day.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy in the evening, then cloudy after midnight.
Sunday Cloudy. High clouds lowering during the day. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening, then cloudy after midnight. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Cloudy. High clouds lowering during the day. Scattered showers in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy in the evening, then cloudy after midnight. Light to moderate E-SE ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Sunday Cloudy. High clouds lowering during the day. A chance of showers in the afternoon. Periods of moderate E-SE Pass level and ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy in the evening, then cloudy after midnight. Light to moderate E-SE ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Sunday Cloudy. High clouds lowering during the day. A chance of showers in the afternoon. Moderate E-SE Pass level and ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy in the evening, then cloudy after midnight.
Sunday Cloudy. High clouds lowering during the day. Ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy in the evening, then cloudy after midnight. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Cloudy. High clouds lowering during the day. A chance of showers in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy in the evening, then cloudy after midnight.
Sunday Cloudy in the morning, then scattered light rain and snow showers in the afternoon. High clouds lowering during the day. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening, then cloudy after midnight. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds after midnight.
Sunday Cloudy in the morning, then light rain and snow showers in the afternoon. High clouds lowering during the day. Moderate ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:31 PM PDT Saturday, March 18, 2023

Precipitation (in)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm 5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0 LT 0.10 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 0 LT 0.10 0.25
Stevens Pass 0 0 LT 0.10 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 LT 0.25 0.25
Crystal Mt 0 LT 0.10 0.25 0.25
Paradise 0 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Washington Pass 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge 0 0 LT 0.25 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 0 0.25 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 LT 0.10 0.25 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Timberline 0 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50

Issued: 2:31 PM PDT Saturday, March 18, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening* Saturday Night* Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon* Sunday Evening* Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 6500' 6500' 6000' 6000' 5000' 4000' 4000' 4500'
West North 6000' 6000' 6500' 6000' 5000' 4500' 4000' 4500'
West Central 6000' 5500' 6000' 6000' 5000' 4000' 4000' 4500'
West South 5500' 5500' 6000' 5500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4500'
Stevens Pass 5500' 4000' 5000' 5500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass 5500' 5500' 6000' 5500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4500'
East North 5000' 3000' 5000' 5500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 5000'
East Central 5000' 3500' 5000' 5000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4500'
East South 5000' 4500' 5000' 5000' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4500'
Mt. Hood 6500' 6500' 6000' 5000' 4500' 4000' 3500' 4000'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening* 6500'
Saturday Night* 6500'
Sunday Morning* 6000'
Sunday Afternoon* 6000'
Sunday Evening* 5000'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 6000'
Saturday Night* 6000'
Sunday Morning* 6500'
Sunday Afternoon* 6000'
Sunday Evening* 5000'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 6000'
Saturday Night* 5500'
Sunday Morning* 6000'
Sunday Afternoon* 6000'
Sunday Evening* 5000'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 5500'
Saturday Night* 5500'
Sunday Morning* 6000'
Sunday Afternoon* 5500'
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 5500'
Saturday Night* 4000'
Sunday Morning* 5000'
Sunday Afternoon* 5500'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 5500'
Saturday Night* 5500'
Sunday Morning* 6000'
Sunday Afternoon* 5500'
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 5000'
Saturday Night* 3000'
Sunday Morning* 5000'
Sunday Afternoon* 5500'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 5000'
Saturday Night* 3500'
Sunday Morning* 5000'
Sunday Afternoon* 5000'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 5000'
Saturday Night* 4500'
Sunday Morning* 5000'
Sunday Afternoon* 5000'
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening* 6500'
Saturday Night* 6500'
Sunday Morning* 6000'
Sunday Afternoon* 5000'
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 4000'

Issued: 2:31 PM PDT Saturday, March 18, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 38 / 33 40 / 33
West North 38 / 33 40 / 33
West Central 36 / 32 40 / 32
West South 39 / 30 41 / 32
Stevens Pass 35 / 28 38 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass 35 / 30 37 / 30
East North 34 / 26 37 / 25
East Central 34 / 28 37 / 28
East South 36 / 29 38 / 29
Mt. Hood 39 / 33 37 / 33
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 38 / 33
Sunday 40 / 33
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 38 / 33
Sunday 40 / 33
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 36 / 32
Sunday 40 / 32
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 39 / 30
Sunday 41 / 32
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 35 / 28
Sunday 38 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 35 / 30
Sunday 37 / 30
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 34 / 26
Sunday 37 / 25
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 34 / 28
Sunday 37 / 28
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 36 / 29
Sunday 38 / 29
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 39 / 33
Sunday 37 / 33

Issued: 2:31 PM PDT Saturday, March 18, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics S 5-15 S 5-15 ESE 5-15 ESE 5-15
West North SSE 5-15 SSE 5-15 ESE 5-15 ESE 5-15
West Central SE 5-15 SE 5-15 ESE 10-20 ESE 10-20
West South SE 5-15 SE 5-15 ESE 15-25 ESE 15-25
Stevens Pass SE 5-15 SE 5-15 ESE 10-20 ESE 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass SE 5-15 SE 5-15 ESE 15-25 ESE 15-25
East North SSW 0-10 SSW 0-10 SE 5-15 SE 10-20
East Central SE 5-15 SE 5-15 ESE 10-20 ESE 15-25
East South SE 5-15 SE 5-15 ESE 10-20 ESE 10-20
Mt. Hood SE 5-15 SE 10-20 SE 10-20 SE 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 5-15
Saturday Night S 5-15
Sunday Morning ESE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon ESE 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 5-15
Saturday Night SSE 5-15
Sunday Morning ESE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon ESE 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 5-15
Saturday Night SE 5-15
Sunday Morning ESE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon ESE 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 5-15
Saturday Night SE 5-15
Sunday Morning ESE 15-25
Sunday Afternoon ESE 15-25
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 5-15
Saturday Night SE 5-15
Sunday Morning ESE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon ESE 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 5-15
Saturday Night SE 5-15
Sunday Morning ESE 15-25
Sunday Afternoon ESE 15-25
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 0-10
Saturday Night SSW 0-10
Sunday Morning SE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SE 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 5-15
Saturday Night SE 5-15
Sunday Morning ESE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon ESE 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 5-15
Saturday Night SE 5-15
Sunday Morning ESE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon ESE 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 5-15
Saturday Night SE 10-20
Sunday Morning SE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SE 15-25

Issued: 2:31 PM PDT Saturday, March 18, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

Showers will become more scattered on Monday night and Tuesday as the upper trough begins to shift east. It's unclear if afternoon showers will return on Wednesday or if we'll have a mid-week break in what looks to be an unsettled pattern. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 3500' 5000' 4000' 5500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 5000' 4000' 5500'
Mt. Hood 3500' 5000' 4000' 5500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday 5000'
Tuesday Night 4000'
Wednesday 5500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday 5000'
Tuesday Night 4000'
Wednesday 5500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday 5000'
Tuesday Night 4000'
Wednesday 5500'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 18, 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’.