Issued: 1:58 PM PST Saturday, February 17, 2024
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

Most showers stayed near and west of I-5 today, bringing a bit of rain and snow to the southern Olympics. Elsewhere, dry but windy conditions prevailed. Warm air continues to try to shove its way into the region. You can see its effect in the Olympics, West North, and West Central zones where 5000ft temps reached well above freezing. Cold east winds have managed to keep it at bay in other areas. 

A subtle impulse will push the stalled warm front northward overnight and into Sunday. This will have several impacts on the weather. Showers will slowly spread from S to N along both sides of the Cascades. With the southerly flow, precipitation will generally favor the volcanoes. However, accumulations will probably be meager. Areas near Mt Hood, Mt St Helens, and Mt Rainier could manage 3-6 inches of snow by the afternoon. The strong easterly winds will continue to decrease and ultimately shift more S and then SW. Once they turn more westerly, they should once again increase.  Finally, the decline in easterly flow will allow milder air to move into the Cascades. Look for temperatures to slowly climb on Sunday afternoon. Lingering east flow at Stevens, and potentially Snoqualmie, Passes could keep snow levels at or below road levels through most of the precipitation.

Showers taper sharply and skies could start to break late Sunday afternoon and overnight. However, by Monday, the leftovers from a low-pressure system will travel northward along the California coast and once again bring showers to the mountains. Similar to Sunday's precipitation, southerly flow favors the volcanoes, and as the system falls apart, this won't be much of a snow producer.

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 Cloudy. Showers mainly in the southern Olympis and a few isolated showers near Hurricane Ridge.
Sunday Cloudy. Showers mainly in the southern Olympics. Light SW winds becoming moderate in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy. A few flurries possible.
Sunday Cloudy with scattered snow showers developing. S winds becoming light to moderate.
Saturday Night Cloudy with a few flurries possible. Light to moderate SE winds.
Sunday Cloudy with scattered showers. Winds turning SW and becoming light to moderate.
Saturday Night Cloudy with generally light snow showers. Moderate SE winds strongest along the Crest. Heavier precipitation and warmer near Mt St Helens.
Sunday Cloudy in the morning, with some sun breaks possible in the afternoon. Snow showers heaviest on the volcanoes. Light to moderate SW winds.
Saturday Night Cloudy with a few flurries possible. Moderate E flow at Pass level decreasing slightly. Moderate ESE ridgeline winds decreasing overnight.
Sunday Cloud with a few light snow showers. Light E flow at Pass level. Winds becoming SW light to moderate.
Saturday Night Cloudy with a few isolated showers possible after midnight. Moderate E flow at Pass level, decreasing. Moderate to strong ESE ridgeline winds decreasing.
Sunday Cloudy with scattered snow showers. Light E flow at Pass level. Winds becoming SW light to moderate.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy to cloudy with a few flurries possible. Light to moderate SSE winds decreasing.
Sunday Cloudy with a few isolated snow showers. Winds turning WSW and becoming light to moderate.
Saturday Night Cloudy with scattered showers heaviest along the Wenatchee Range. Moderate SSE winds decreasing slightly.
Sunday Cloudy with isolated snow showers. SW winds turning W and becoming moderate.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light snow showers. Moderate SSE winds turning S and decreasing.
Sunday Cloudy with light snow showers. Winds shifting W and becoming moderate.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light to moderate snow showers. Moderate SW winds turning W and becoming strong and gusty.
Sunday Cloudy with generally light snow showers in the morning. Sun breaks possible in the afternoon. Strong and gusty W winds veering SW in the afternoon and decreasing.

Issued: 1:58 PM PST Saturday, February 17, 2024

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 1:58 PM PST Saturday, February 17, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening* Saturday Night* Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon* Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon*
Olympics 4500' 4000' 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000'
West North 5000' 4000' 3500' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 4000'
West Central 4500' 3500' 3000' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 4000'
West South 2000' 2000' 3000' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 4500'
Stevens Pass 2500' 2000' 2000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 2500' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 2500' 2000' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
East North 1000' 1000' 1500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 3000'
East Central 1500' 1500' 2000' 2500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3500'
East South 2000' 2500' 3000' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3000' 4000'
Mt. Hood 3000' 3500' 4000' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4000' 4500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening* 4500'
Saturday Night* 4000'
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4500'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday Morning* 4000'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 5000'
Saturday Night* 4000'
Sunday Morning* 3500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning* 3500'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 4500'
Saturday Night* 3500'
Sunday Morning* 3000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning* 3500'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2000'
Saturday Night* 2000'
Sunday Morning* 3000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning* 3500'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2500'
Saturday Night* 2000'
Sunday Morning* 2000'
Sunday Afternoon* 3000'
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning* 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2500'
Saturday Night* 2000'
Sunday Morning* 2500'
Sunday Afternoon* 3000'
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning* 3000'
Monday Afternoon* 3500'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1000'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning* 1500'
Sunday Afternoon* 2500'
Sunday Evening* 2500'
Sunday Night* 2500'
Monday Morning* 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 3000'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 1500'
Sunday Morning* 2000'
Sunday Afternoon* 2500'
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 2500'
Monday Morning* 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 3500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2000'
Saturday Night* 2500'
Sunday Morning* 3000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning* 3000'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening* 3000'
Saturday Night* 3500'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4500'
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 4500'
Monday Morning* 4000'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'

Issued: 1:58 PM PST Saturday, February 17, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 35 / 30 35 / 29
West North 36 / 29 35 / 29
West Central 34 / 28 34 / 28
West South 29 / 25 33 / 27
Stevens Pass 27 / 22 31 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 28 / 22 31 / 25
East North 24 / 15 27 / 18
East Central 27 / 22 30 / 22
East South 27 / 22 31 / 24
Mt. Hood 30 / 26 34 / 28
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 35 / 30
Sunday 35 / 29
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 36 / 29
Sunday 35 / 29
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 34 / 28
Sunday 34 / 28
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 25
Sunday 33 / 27
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 27 / 22
Sunday 31 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 22
Sunday 31 / 25
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 24 / 15
Sunday 27 / 18
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 27 / 22
Sunday 30 / 22
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 27 / 22
Sunday 31 / 24
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 30 / 26
Sunday 34 / 28

Issued: 1:58 PM PST Saturday, February 17, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics SSE 0-10 S 0-10 SW 5-15 SW 10-20
West North SSE 5-15 SSE 5-15 S 5-15 S 10-20
West Central SE 10-20 SE 10-20 S 5-15 SW 10-20
West South SE 15-25 SSE 5-15 SW 10-20 SW 10-20
Stevens Pass ESE 15-25 SE 5-15 SE 5-15 SW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass ESE 20-30 SE 10-20 SE 5-15 SW 10-20
East North SSE 10-20 SSE 5-15 SW 5-15 WSW 10-20
East Central SSE 15-25 SSE 10-20 SW 10-20 W 15-25
East South SSE 15-25 S 10-20 WSW 10-20 W 15-25
Mt. Hood S 20-30 SW 25-35 W 25-35 SW 10-20
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 0-10
Saturday Night S 0-10
Sunday Morning SW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SW 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 5-15
Saturday Night SSE 5-15
Sunday Morning S 5-15
Sunday Afternoon S 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 10-20
Saturday Night SE 10-20
Sunday Morning S 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SW 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 15-25
Saturday Night SSE 5-15
Sunday Morning SW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ESE 15-25
Saturday Night SE 5-15
Sunday Morning SE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ESE 20-30
Saturday Night SE 10-20
Sunday Morning SE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SW 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 10-20
Saturday Night SSE 5-15
Sunday Morning SW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 15-25
Saturday Night SSE 10-20
Sunday Morning SW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon W 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 15-25
Saturday Night S 10-20
Sunday Morning WSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon W 15-25
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 20-30
Saturday Night SW 25-35
Sunday Morning W 25-35
Sunday Afternoon SW 10-20

Issued: 1:58 PM PST Saturday, February 17, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

We'll find ourselves under a broad open trough through the first part of the week. This rather stagnant pattern generally doesn't result in any major precipitation, but it will also keep us from fully drying out. Expect periods of showers passing over the region. Right now the potential for a developing surface low could increase shower activity Tuesday afternoon and evening. Otherwise, expect partly to mostly cloudy skies and light easterly flow through the Passes. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night* Tuesday * Tuesday Night Wednesday *
West North 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000'
Mt. Hood 5000' 4500' 4500' 4500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday * 4000'
Tuesday Night 4000'
Wednesday * 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday * 4000'
Tuesday Night 4000'
Wednesday * 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night* 5000'
Tuesday * 4500'
Tuesday Night 4500'
Wednesday * 4500'

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

Previous forecast from Feb 17, 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’.