Issued: 2:23 PM PDT Friday, March 31, 2023
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

Precipitation is starting to pick up this afternoon ahead of an approaching cold front. Stormy conditions will develop across the mountains this evening as the front arrives and passes. This will bring periods of heavier snowfall and strong/gusty winds for all locations, including along the east slopes of the Cascades. With the jet stream squarely aimed at the Oregon coast, the southern volcanoes should take the brunt of this storm. As a result, places like Mt St Helens and Mt Hood could see very stormy conditions last throughout the night and into Saturday morning. As the front passes, winds should turn more westerly, and precipitation ease. By sunrise, snow levels fall to around 1500 feet across the mountains. 

The snow will keep coming on Satuday, particularly for the west slopes of the Cascades. Plenty of moisture, on-shore flow, and an unstable atmosphere should combine to produce numerous showers. A few may even make their way further east. Since some of these showers will be convective, you could encounter locally heavy precipitation, gusty winds, graupel, and maybe even a bit of thunder. While showers are certain, sun breaks are much more tricky. You could see some significant sun breaks in the Olympics, North Cascades, and along the E slopes north of I90 as the day progresses. 

Just as shower activity starts to wind down from the main storm, a series of short-wave systems will pass over the Pacific Northwest and reinvigorate snowfall. The first of these smaller storms appear to arrive late Saturday night/Sunday morning. With the jet still positioned just south of the forecast region, precipitation should favor the southern forecast zones and Mt Hood areas. Cold, cloudy, and showery weather will generally persist Sunday. 

 

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
Friday Night Periods of heavy rain/snow in the evening, becoming showery. Moderate SW winds turning W and decreasing.
Saturday Partly cloudy with significant sun breaks possible. Scattered showers could be heavy at times. Light to moderate W winds decreasing.
Friday Night Stormy with heavy rain and snow in the evening. Becoming more showering overnight. Strong and gusty SSW winds turning W and decreasing.
Saturday Cloudy with a few sun breaks possible. Scattered showers could be heavy at times, particularly in the afternoon.
Friday Night Stormy with heavy rain/snow in the evening. Strong and gusty SW winds turning W and decreasing.
Saturday Snow could be locally heavy at times. Light to moderate W winds.
Friday Night Stormy, particularly on the volcanoes. Strong and gusty SW winds turning W and decreasing.
Saturday Showers throughout the day, could be locally heavy at times. Sunbreaks possible, especially near the crest. Light to moderate W winds.
Friday Night Cloudy with periods of heavier rain/snow. E winds develop at Pass level in the evening, then return W overnight. Moderate to strong SW ridgeline winds turning W.
Saturday Cloudy with snow showers, could be locally heavy at times. Light to moderate W winds.
Friday Night Stormy with periods of heavier rain and snow. E winds developing at Pass level in the evening, then returning W. Strong and gusty SW ridgelines winds, turning W and decreasing.
Saturday Cloudy with rain and snow showers, could be heavy at times. Light to moderate W winds increasing in the afternoon.
Friday Night Cloudy with periods of heavier snow showers. Moderate SW winds turning W and increasing slightly.
Saturday Cloudy with a few sun breaks possible. Isolated showers could be locally heavy at times. Light to moderate W winds decreasing.
Friday Night Cloudy with periods of heavier precipitation especially near the crest. Moderate to strong and gusty SW winds turning W.
Saturday Cloudy in the morning becoming partly to mostly sunny. Scattered showers could be heavy at times. Moderate W winds becoming strong and gusty in the afternoon.
Friday Night Cloudy with periods of heavier precipitation, especially near the crest. Strong and gusty SW winds turning W and decreasing slightly.
Saturday Cloudy with a few sun breaks possible. Isolated showers could be locally heavy at times. Moderate to strong and gusty W winds increasing in the afternoon.
Friday Night Very stormy with very strong and gusty winds, heavy snow, and poor visibility.
Saturday Stormy with periods of heavy snow and strong and gusty W winds.

Precipitation (in)

Friday Night Saturday Saturday Night Sunday
5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm 5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.75 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 0.25
Stevens Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.25 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Crystal Mt 0.50 0.25 0.25 0.25
Paradise 0.75 -1.00 0.50 0.50 0.50
White Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.25
Washington Pass 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge 0.25 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 1.00 0.75 0.50 0.50
Timberline 1.00 - 1.50 0.75 -1.00 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 - 0.75
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.75
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.50
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.75 -1.00
Saturday 0.50
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 0.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.50
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 1.00
Saturday 0.75
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 0.50
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Saturday 0.75 -1.00
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75

Snow Level (ft)

Friday Evening* Friday Night Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon
Olympics 2500' 1500' 1000' 1500' 1000' 500' 1000' 1500'
West North 3000' 1500' 1000' 1500' 1000' 500' 500' 1500'
West Central 3000' 2000' 1500' 2000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500'
West South 3000' 2000' 1500' 2000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500'
Stevens Pass 3000' 2000' 1500' 2000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 2000' 1500' 2000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500'
East North 3000' 2000' 1000' 1500' 500' 500' 500' 1000'
East Central 3000' 2500' 1500' 2000' 1000' 500' 500' 1500'
East South 3000' 2500' 1500' 2000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500'
Mt. Hood 3500' 3000' 2000' 2500' 1500' 1000' 1000' 1500'
Olympics Elevation
Friday Evening* 2500'
Friday Night 1500'
Saturday Morning 1000'
Saturday Afternoon 1500'
Saturday Evening 1000'
Saturday Night 500'
Sunday Morning* 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
West North Elevation
Friday Evening* 3000'
Friday Night 1500'
Saturday Morning 1000'
Saturday Afternoon 1500'
Saturday Evening 1000'
Saturday Night 500'
Sunday Morning* 500'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
West Central Elevation
Friday Evening* 3000'
Friday Night 2000'
Saturday Morning 1500'
Saturday Afternoon 2000'
Saturday Evening 1000'
Saturday Night 1000'
Sunday Morning* 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
West South Elevation
Friday Evening* 3000'
Friday Night 2000'
Saturday Morning 1500'
Saturday Afternoon 2000'
Saturday Evening 1000'
Saturday Night 1000'
Sunday Morning* 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Evening* 3000'
Friday Night 2000'
Saturday Morning 1500'
Saturday Afternoon 2000'
Saturday Evening 1000'
Saturday Night 1000'
Sunday Morning* 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening* 3000'
Friday Night 2000'
Saturday Morning 1500'
Saturday Afternoon 2000'
Saturday Evening 1000'
Saturday Night 1000'
Sunday Morning* 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
East North Elevation
Friday Evening* 3000'
Friday Night 2000'
Saturday Morning 1000'
Saturday Afternoon 1500'
Saturday Evening 500'
Saturday Night 500'
Sunday Morning* 500'
Sunday Afternoon 1000'
East Central Elevation
Friday Evening* 3000'
Friday Night 2500'
Saturday Morning 1500'
Saturday Afternoon 2000'
Saturday Evening 1000'
Saturday Night 500'
Sunday Morning* 500'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
East South Elevation
Friday Evening* 3000'
Friday Night 2500'
Saturday Morning 1500'
Saturday Afternoon 2000'
Saturday Evening 1000'
Saturday Night 1000'
Sunday Morning* 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening* 3500'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday Morning 2000'
Saturday Afternoon 2500'
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 1000'
Sunday Morning* 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Friday Night Saturday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 29 / 24 28 / 23
West North 28 / 24 27 / 24
West Central 29 / 24 27 / 23
West South 29 / 22 28 / 22
Stevens Pass 28 / 24 26 / 23
Snoqualmie Pass 29 / 24 27 / 23
East North 26 / 19 25 / 19
East Central 28 / 22 30 / 21
East South 27 / 23 28 / 22
Mt. Hood 28 / 24 26 / 24
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 29 / 24
Saturday 28 / 23
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 28 / 24
Saturday 27 / 24
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 29 / 24
Saturday 27 / 23
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 29 / 22
Saturday 28 / 22
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 28 / 24
Saturday 26 / 23
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 29 / 24
Saturday 27 / 23
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 26 / 19
Saturday 25 / 19
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 28 / 22
Saturday 30 / 21
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 27 / 23
Saturday 28 / 22
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 28 / 24
Saturday 26 / 24

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Friday Evening Friday Night Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon
Olympics SW 15-25 W 10-20 W 10-20 W 5-15
West North SSW 25-35 W 15-25 W 5-15 W 5-15
West Central SW 25-35 W 15-25 W 10-20 W 10-20
West South SW 25-35 W 15-25 W 10-20 W 10-20
Stevens Pass SW 20-30 W 20-30 W 10-20 W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass SW 25-35 W 20-30 W 10-20 W 15-25
East North SW 15-25 W 20-30 W 10-20 W 5-15
East Central SW 20-30 W 20-30 W 20-30 W 25-35
East South W 30-40 W 25-35 W 20-30 W 15-25
Mt. Hood W 35-50 W 30-40 W 25-35 W 25-35
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SW 15-25
Friday Night W 10-20
Saturday Morning W 10-20
Saturday Afternoon W 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SSW 25-35
Friday Night W 15-25
Saturday Morning W 5-15
Saturday Afternoon W 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SW 25-35
Friday Night W 15-25
Saturday Morning W 10-20
Saturday Afternoon W 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SW 25-35
Friday Night W 15-25
Saturday Morning W 10-20
Saturday Afternoon W 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SW 20-30
Friday Night W 20-30
Saturday Morning W 10-20
Saturday Afternoon W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SW 25-35
Friday Night W 20-30
Saturday Morning W 10-20
Saturday Afternoon W 15-25
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SW 15-25
Friday Night W 20-30
Saturday Morning W 10-20
Saturday Afternoon W 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SW 20-30
Friday Night W 20-30
Saturday Morning W 20-30
Saturday Afternoon W 25-35
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening W 30-40
Friday Night W 25-35
Saturday Morning W 20-30
Saturday Afternoon W 15-25
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening W 35-50
Friday Night W 30-40
Saturday Morning W 25-35
Saturday Afternoon W 25-35

Extended Weather Synopsis

A broad upper-level trough will control our weather for the beginning of the week. Often it's challenging for the weather models to pick out specific features during these types of patterns, but in general, we should see cold and showery weather. Right now a weak embedded low pressure appears to slide down the inside of the trough Monday afternoon. This will kick off yet another round of slightly heavier showers in the mountains. As it passes and exists, additional short-wave features could maintain precipitation Monday night into Tuesday. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Night Monday Monday Night Tuesday
West North 500' 1500' 1000' 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1000' 1500' 1000' 2000'
Mt. Hood 1000' 1500' 1000' 2000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Night 500'
Monday 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday 2000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday 2000'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 31, 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’.