Issued: 2:03 PM PST Sunday, February 11, 2024
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

Post-frontal showers and moderate to strong SW-W winds will continue through this afternoon and overnight with the heaviest showers along the west slopes of the Cascades and Passes.  We'll probably see a brief lull in intensity later this afternoon before showers increase again overnight as the trailing low pressure center moves inland. The first half of Sunday night, the focus for the heaviest showers will continue to be along the west slopes of the Cascades from Hwy2 and northward but that should shift to I-90 to down towards Mt St Helens on Monday morning. Snow levels will gradually lower as colder air filters into the region. Showers will become more scattered and light during the afternoon. with decreasing cloud cover (and increasing sunshine) for the north Cascades and generally areas further east of the Cascade crest. Strong westerly winds will stick around the longest in the Mt Hood area. 

A broad trough will extend over the area Monday night through Tuesday with dry conditions expected. Daytime convective clouds and a few isolated showers may pop up Tuesday afternoon but otherwise expect a break in the weather pattern.  

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
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers becoming scattered after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds decreasing overnight.
Monday Scattered light rain and showers in the morning, then partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and showers in the morning, then becoming partly sunny in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and showers in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy with sunbreaks in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers, heaviest Paradise area. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds decreasing overnight.
Monday Scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and showers in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy with sunbreaks in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds easing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Moderate W ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Monday Scattered light rain and showers in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy with sunbreaks in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline and light Pass level W winds easing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Moderate to strong W ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Monday Scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and showers in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy with sunbreaks in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline and light Pass level W winds easing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers, heaviest near the Cascade crest. Showers becoming more scattered after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Scattered light rain and showers near the Cascade crest in the morning, then becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers, heaviest near the Cascade crest. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Monday Scattered light rain and showers in the morning, then becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds easing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers, heaviest near the Cascade crest. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Monday Scattered light rain and showers in the morning, then becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds easing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Strong ridgeline winds.
Monday Scattered light rain and showers in the morning, then becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Strong ridgeline winds easing to moderate in the afternoon.

Precipitation (in)

Sunday Night Monday Monday Night Tuesday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25 0 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Stevens Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0
Paradise 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 0
White Pass 0.25 LT 0.25 0 0
Washington Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0 0
Timberline 0.25 0.25 0 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 4500' 3500' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 3500'
West North 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3000' 2000' 3000' 3500'
West Central 4000' 3500' 3000' 3500' 3000' 2500' 3000' 3500'
West South 4000' 3500' 3000' 4000' 3000' 2500' 3000' 4500'
Stevens Pass 4000' 3500' 3000' 3500' 3000' 2000' 3000' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 3500' 3000' 3500' 3000' 2500' 3000' 3500'
East North 3500' 3000' 3000' 5000' 3000' 1500' 3000' 3500'
East Central 3500' 3500' 3000' 4500' 3000' 2000' 3000' 4000'
East South 4000' 3500' 3000' 4500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 5000'
Mt. Hood 4000' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3000' 5000'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Monday Evening 3500'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Monday Evening 3000'
Monday Night 2000'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Monday Evening 3000'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Monday Evening 3000'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Monday Evening 3000'
Monday Night 2000'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Monday Evening 3000'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
Monday Evening 3000'
Monday Night 1500'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
Monday Evening 3000'
Monday Night 2000'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
Monday Evening 3000'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 5000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 31 / 27 32 / 25
West North 31 / 26 30 / 26
West Central 30 / 26 30 / 26
West South 30 / 26 30 / 26
Stevens Pass 31 / 26 30 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 31 / 26 30 / 26
East North 28 / 25 32 / 25
East Central 30 / 26 31 / 25
East South 30 / 26 32 / 26
Mt. Hood 31 / 27 31 / 27
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 27
Monday 32 / 25
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 26
Monday 30 / 26
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 26
Monday 30 / 26
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 26
Monday 30 / 26
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 26
Monday 30 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 26
Monday 30 / 26
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 28 / 25
Monday 32 / 25
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 26
Monday 31 / 25
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 26
Monday 32 / 26
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 27
Monday 31 / 27

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics SW 10-20 WSW 5-15 VAR 0-10 NE 0-10
West North SSW 15-25 SSW 10-20 VAR 0-10 NE 0-10
West Central SW 15-25 SW 15-25 WSW 0-10 W 0-10
West South SW 20-30 WSW 15-25 SW 10-20 W 5-15
Stevens Pass WSW 10-20 W 10-20 W 5-15 W 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass WSW 15-25 WSW 15-25 WSW 10-20 W 5-15
East North SW 15-25 WSW 10-20 W 5-15 N 0-10
East Central WSW 20-30 W 15-25 W 10-20 WNW 0-10
East South WSW 15-25 W 15-25 W 10-20 WNW 5-15
Mt. Hood WSW 25-35 W 25-35 W 20-30 W 10-20
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 10-20
Sunday Night WSW 5-15
Monday Morning VAR 0-10
Monday Afternoon NE 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SSW 15-25
Sunday Night SSW 10-20
Monday Morning VAR 0-10
Monday Afternoon NE 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 15-25
Sunday Night SW 15-25
Monday Morning WSW 0-10
Monday Afternoon W 0-10
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 20-30
Sunday Night WSW 15-25
Monday Morning SW 10-20
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 10-20
Sunday Night W 10-20
Monday Morning W 5-15
Monday Afternoon W 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 15-25
Sunday Night WSW 15-25
Monday Morning WSW 10-20
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 15-25
Sunday Night WSW 10-20
Monday Morning W 5-15
Monday Afternoon N 0-10
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 20-30
Sunday Night W 15-25
Monday Morning W 10-20
Monday Afternoon WNW 0-10
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 15-25
Sunday Night W 15-25
Monday Morning W 10-20
Monday Afternoon WNW 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 25-35
Sunday Night W 25-35
Monday Morning W 20-30
Monday Afternoon W 10-20

Extended Weather Synopsis

It sounds like a broken record but there's still a fair bit of uncertainty regarding how the midweek weather pattern evolves. A strong but skinny ridge over the NE Pacific will be undercut by the storm track in westerly flow heading into CA/OR.  Some moisture may work its way north on Wednesday and Thursday with light and insignificant snow amounts near the Canadian border trending towards a more moderate shot of precipitation down near Mt Hood. Some models also have a mini-Fraser River Valley outflow event over this midweek period.  It does look like snow levels will drop but there's low confidence how long or how cold the pattern will turn. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday * Wednesday Night* Thursday *
West North 1500' 1000' 1000' 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass 2000' 1500' 1500' 1500'
Mt. Hood 3000' 3000' 3000' 2500'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday * 1000'
Wednesday Night* 1000'
Thursday * 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday * 1500'
Wednesday Night* 1500'
Thursday * 1500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 3000'
Wednesday * 3000'
Wednesday Night* 3000'
Thursday * 2500'

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

Previous forecast from Feb 11, 2024

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’.