Issued: 2:36 PM PDT Wednesday, March 22, 2023
by Matt Primomo

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

Weather Synopsis

Our little taste of spring is about to change...A broad area of high pressure drifts east tonight as a trough establishes itself over the region. The trough is initially fairly narrow but extends down to the PNW from a low pressure in the Gulf of Alaska. This will snap us back into winter with a cold and snowy pattern into the weekend.

Tonight, increasing cloud cover and light snow and rain showers accompany a weak pre frontal disturbance. As the front drops down from the NW, it'll bring increasing south westerly flow to Washington, and westerly flow to Mt Hood. Precipitation will initially favor the west slopes of the Cascades overnight. Cold air slowly filters into the region with this initial disturbance, but its effects won't really be felt at the Cascade Crest and East Slopes until frontal passage sometime late in the afternoon on Thursday. 

Light and scattered snow and rain will increase in coverage and intensity during the day on Thursday as the front approaches the mountains. Winds and precipitation will gradually increase with the front, slated to cross Mt Hood mid-day on Thursday, and mid afternoon for the Cascades. Expect snowfall to begin accumulating rapidly with snow levels dropping fairly quickly Thursday afternoon into the evening. 

Thursday evening into the night we'll be under cold, moist and unstable post frontal flow which bodes well for continued snowfall for most of our mountain areas, favoring the west slopes of the Cascades south to Mt Hood. Chances seem decent for convergence zone banding, which could enhance snowfall rates and amounts for the above mentioned areas. With strong westerly winds, we're likely to see some snowfall spill over the east slopes of the Cascades as well. 

On Friday the trough axis sits over the PNW and we'll see continued stormy weather. Snow showers and winds increasingly focus on the Southwest part of Washington State and Mt Hood. It's likely the passes will continue to pick up modest snowfall, while precipitation becomes more showery for areas further north and east as the day draws to a close.

 

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 Light and scattered rain and snow showers.
Thursday Light rain and snow.
Wednesday Night Increasing clouds with light rain/snow showers overnight.
Thursday Moderate snow showers with increasing ridgetop winds.
Wednesday Night Increasing clouds with light rain/snow showers overnight.
Thursday Light to moderate snow showers with increasing ridgetop winds.
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy with light rain/snow showers.
Thursday Light to moderate snow showers with increasing ridgetop winds.
Wednesday Night Mostly clear to start, then becoming mostly cloudy with light rain/snow showers. Increasing light ridgeline and light W winds at the Pass.
Thursday Increasing light snow showers with increasing ridgetop winds. Light W winds at the pass.
Wednesday Night Mostly clear to start, then becoming mostly cloudy with light rain/snow showers. Increasing light ridgeline and light W winds at the Pass.
Thursday Increasing light snow showers with increasing ridgetop winds. Light W winds at the pass.
Wednesday Night Mostly clear with a chance of rain/snow showers in the early morning hours.
Thursday Scattered light snow and rain showers, increasing in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Increasing clouds with a chance of rain/snow showers.
Thursday Scattered light snow and rain showers, increasing in the afternoon. Ridgetop winds becoming strong later.
Wednesday Night Increasing light rain/snow showers.
Thursday Scattered light snow and rain showers, increasing in the afternoon. Ridgetop winds becoming strong later.
Wednesday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain/snow showers. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Moderate and at times heavy snow showers. Ridgetop winds becoming strong.

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 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.25 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.25 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 0.25
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25
Paradise 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 0.50
White Pass LT 0.10 0.25 0.25 0.25
Washington Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 0.25 0.50 0.50 - 0.75
Timberline 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 0.50 - 0.75
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night 0.25
Friday 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0.50
Thursday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Friday 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Friday 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday 0.25
Thursday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Friday 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0.25
Thursday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Friday 0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Friday 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Friday 0.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday 0.25
Thursday Night 0.25
Friday 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Friday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday 0.25
Thursday Night 0.25
Friday LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Friday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday 0.25
Thursday Night 0.50
Friday 0.50 - 0.75
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday Night 0.50
Friday 0.50 - 0.75

Snow Level (ft)

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

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Wednesday Night Thursday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 33 / 25 29 / 25
West North 37 / 27 29 / 26
West Central 36 / 28 29 / 25
West South 38 / 27 27 / 25
Stevens Pass 36 / 25 32 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass 36 / 28 31 / 25
East North 36 / 24 31 / 24
East Central 38 / 28 32 / 26
East South 39 / 28 32 / 28
Mt. Hood 37 / 26 30 / 26
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 33 / 25
Thursday 29 / 25
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 37 / 27
Thursday 29 / 26
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 36 / 28
Thursday 29 / 25
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 38 / 27
Thursday 27 / 25
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 36 / 25
Thursday 32 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 36 / 28
Thursday 31 / 25
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 36 / 24
Thursday 31 / 24
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 38 / 28
Thursday 32 / 26
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 39 / 28
Thursday 32 / 28
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Wednesday Night 37 / 26
Thursday 30 / 26

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Wednesday Evening Wednesday Night Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon
Olympics WSW 5-15 SW 10-20 SSW 10-20 SW 10-20
West North SW 5-15 SSW 10-20 SW 15-25 S 15-25
West Central WSW 5-15 WSW 10-20 SW 10-20 SW 10-20
West South WNW 0-10 WSW 5-15 WSW 10-20 SW 15-25
Stevens Pass W 5-15 WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15 W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass W 5-15 W 5-15 W 10-20 W 15-25
East North WSW 0-10 WSW 10-20 WSW 5-15 WSW 10-20
East Central W 5-15 W 10-20 W 15-25 WSW 20-30
East South WNW 0-10 W 10-20 WSW 10-20 W 20-30
Mt. Hood W 15-25 WSW 20-30 W 30-40 W 30-40
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening WSW 5-15
Wednesday Night SW 10-20
Thursday Morning SSW 10-20
Thursday Afternoon SW 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening SW 5-15
Wednesday Night SSW 10-20
Thursday Morning SW 15-25
Thursday Afternoon S 15-25
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening WSW 5-15
Wednesday Night WSW 10-20
Thursday Morning SW 10-20
Thursday Afternoon SW 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening WNW 0-10
Wednesday Night WSW 5-15
Thursday Morning WSW 10-20
Thursday Afternoon SW 15-25
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening W 5-15
Wednesday Night WSW 5-15
Thursday Morning WSW 5-15
Thursday Afternoon W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening W 5-15
Wednesday Night W 5-15
Thursday Morning W 10-20
Thursday Afternoon W 15-25
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening WSW 0-10
Wednesday Night WSW 10-20
Thursday Morning WSW 5-15
Thursday Afternoon WSW 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening W 5-15
Wednesday Night W 10-20
Thursday Morning W 15-25
Thursday Afternoon WSW 20-30
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening WNW 0-10
Wednesday Night W 10-20
Thursday Morning WSW 10-20
Thursday Afternoon W 20-30
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday Evening W 15-25
Wednesday Night WSW 20-30
Thursday Morning W 30-40
Thursday Afternoon W 30-40

Extended Weather Synopsis

Friday night, barring some chances for another disturbance to enhance snowfall amounts, snow showers should become lighter in nature for most of Washington State, while moderate snowfall could linger at Mt Hood. Details on what happens next are unclear at this point, but we can expect a chilly morning on Saturday with chances for continued, light snowfall for most areas. 

As we move into Sunday it's likely most areas will dry out and see the sun, with a slight bump in temperatures.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Friday Night Saturday Saturday Night Sunday
West North 0 1000' 2000' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 0 1000' 2500' 3000'
Mt. Hood 0 1000' 2000' 3000'
West North Elevation
Friday Night 0'
Saturday 1000'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Night 0'
Saturday 1000'
Saturday Night 2500'
Sunday 3000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Night 0'
Saturday 1000'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday 3000'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 22, 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’.