Issued: 7:03 AM PST Tuesday, February 20, 2024
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

The quasi-stationary stacked low pressure system off the OR coast is like the houseguest who's worn out their welcome. The weather feature continues to hang around, spinning showers into the region from the S-SW.  Scattered showers will be heaviest along the southern slopes of the Olympics and west slopes of the Cascades today.  There's a higher chance for a mix of sun breaks for the south WA Cascades and Mt Hood area this afternoon with cloudier skies more likely elsewhere. This isn't a cold pattern by any means, so look for freezing levels to pop into the 4500-6000' range this afternoon, and only lowering slightly during showers.   

We'll see a similar pattern Tuesday night as the low begins to drift northward along the WA coast.  Showers will fill in a bit more over the area on Wednesday.  It won't be a soaker but expect to get wet with the heaviest precipitation again reserved for the west slopes of the Cascades, Mt Hood, and the Olympics. Snow levels will settle into the 3500-4500' range on Wednesday.  

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
Tuesday Light to occasionally moderate scattered rain and snow showers, heaviest southern slopes of the Olympics. Ridgeline winds becoming moderate mid-day.
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate scattered rain and snow showers. Ridgeline winds becoming moderate mid-day.
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate scattered rain and snow showers. Ridgeline winds becoming moderate mid-day.
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate scattered rain and snow showers, heaviest precipitation near the volcanoes. Skies becoming mostly cloudy with sunbreaks in the afternoon. Ridgeline winds becoming moderate mid-day.
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Cloudy with light scattered rain and snow showers. Light E winds at Pass level and SW winds at ridgeline.
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Light E winds at Pass level and S winds at ridgeline.
Tuesday Cloudy with light scattered rain and snow showers. Light E winds at Pass level and SW winds at ridgeline.
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Light E winds at Pass level and S winds at ridgeline.
Tuesday Cloudy with light scattered rain and snow showers, becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers.
Tuesday Cloudy with light scattered rain and snow showers, becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers.
Tuesday Cloudy with light scattered rain and snow showers, becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers.
Tuesday Cloudy with light scattered rain and snow showers, becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Periods of moderate ridgeline winds.

Issued: 7:03 AM PST Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 7:03 AM PST Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 7:03 AM PST Tuesday, February 20, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Tuesday Tuesday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 33 / 30 31 / 28
West North 33 / 27 33 / 29
West Central 33 / 28 31 / 27
West South 35 / 30 33 / 29
Stevens Pass 35 / 25 31 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass 34 / 27 30 / 28
East North 35 / 25 30 / 25
East Central 35 / 26 31 / 29
East South 36 / 29 33 / 29
Mt. Hood 37 / 31 33 / 29
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 33 / 30
Tuesday Night 31 / 28
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 33 / 27
Tuesday Night 33 / 29
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 33 / 28
Tuesday Night 31 / 27
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 35 / 30
Tuesday Night 33 / 29
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 35 / 25
Tuesday Night 31 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 34 / 27
Tuesday Night 30 / 28
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 35 / 25
Tuesday Night 30 / 25
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 35 / 26
Tuesday Night 31 / 29
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 36 / 29
Tuesday Night 33 / 29
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday 37 / 31
Tuesday Night 33 / 29

Issued: 7:03 AM PST Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

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

Previous forecast from Feb 19, 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’.