Issued: 3:52 PM PST Saturday, February 24, 2024
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

3:52 PM: Adjusted Sunday's snow water equivalent numbers.

Moist WNW flow continues to transition the Pacific Northwest into an active weather pattern. Increasing light rain and snow continue to focus on the central and northern Washington Cascades Saturday night. Expect moderate accumulations in the westernmost part of the range as W winds deposit moisture from low cloud and moderate winds accelerate over the Cascade Crest and down the east slopes of the Cascades.

A cold trough slides down the British Columbia coastline, approaching the Pacific Northwest on Sunday. Moderate to strong W and WSW ridgeline winds accompany moderate to heavy rain and snow. The heavier precipitation might bring a subtle drop in snow levels with cooling during the day at 5000 ft and above, but not at pass levels. The surface cold front pushes through from NW to SE Sunday evening shifting the heaviest precipitation through the central and southern Cascades. Moderate to heavy snow showers transition to light to moderate snow showers as temperatures plummet behind the front. Snow levels will be below 1500 ft in all areas by Monday morning as a cold trough continues to spin light to moderate snow showers and convergence bands into the area. Expect 1-2" of snow water equivalent for the west slopes of the Cascades through 4 PM on Sunday, with 5-15" of snow above the 3500-4000 ft rain/snow line. An additional 1-1.5" is likely for the west slopes of the central and southern Washington Cascades. Sunday night through Monday with another 10-15" of snow, including at lower elevations.

 

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 with light rain and snow for the west slopes of the Olympics. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Increasing light rain and snow (moderate to heavy for the west slopes of the Olympics). Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Increasing light rain and snow (becomes moderate in the western part). Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Increasing moderate to heavy rain and snow (very heavy western part and highway 20). Increasing moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Increasing light to moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Increasing heavy rain and snow. Increasing moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Cloudy with periods of very light rain and snow. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to moderate rain and snow becomes moderate to heavy. Increasing moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Increasing light rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline and mostly light W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Increasing heavy rain and snow. Increasing moderate to strong ridgeline and light to moderate W wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night Increasing light rain and snow. Increasing moderate ridgeline and mostly light W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Increasing heavy rain and snow. Increasing moderate to strong ridgeline and light to moderate W wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night Increasing light rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts.
Sunday Increasing light to moderate rain and snow. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds with very strong to extreme gusts.
Saturday Night Increasing light rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts.
Sunday Increasing light to moderate rain and snow. Strong ridgeline winds with extreme gusts.
Saturday Night Cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts.Cloudy with a chance of sprinkles/flurries. Moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts.
Sunday Increasing light to moderate rain and snow. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds with very strong gusts.
Saturday Night Cloudy with a chance of sprinkles/flurries. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds with strong gusts.
Sunday Increasing light to moderate rain and snow. Increasing strong ridgeline winds with extreme gusts.

Issued: 3:52 PM PST Saturday, February 24, 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 0 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 1.00 - 1.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.25 - 0.50 1.50 0.75 0.50
Stevens Pass 0.50 - 0.75 1.00 - 1.50 0.75 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass 0.50 - 0.75 1.00 - 1.50 0.75 0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 0.25 0.50 - 0.75 0.25
Paradise 0.25 1.00 - 1.50 0.75 -1.00 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass LT 0.25 0.75 0.75 -1.00 0.25
Washington Pass LT 0.10 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 -1.00 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0.25 0.75 -1.00 0.25 - 0.50
Timberline 0 0.25 1.00 0.25 - 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 1.50
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday Night 0.75 -1.00
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.75
Sunday Night 0.75 -1.00
Monday 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.75 -1.00
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.75 -1.00
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 1.00
Monday 0.25 - 0.50

Issued: 3:52 PM PST Saturday, February 24, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 4000' 4000' 4000' 3500' 1500' 500' 0 1000'
West North 3500' 3500' 3500' 3000' 2000' 500' 0 500'
West Central 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 2500' 500' 0 500'
West South 4500' 4500' 4500' 4000' 3000' 1000' 500' 1000'
Stevens Pass 4000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 500' 0 500'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3000' 1000' 0 500'
East North 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 2000' 0 0 500'
East Central 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 3500' 500' 0 1000'
East South 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4000' 1000' 500' 1000'
Mt. Hood 6000' 5500' 5000' 4500' 4000' 3000' 1500' 1500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening 4000'
Saturday Night 4000'
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening 3500'
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 3500'
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening 4500'
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday Morning 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 4000'
Saturday Night 4000'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 4000'
Saturday Night 4000'
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 500'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening 4000'
Saturday Night 4000'
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 0'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 500'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 4000'
Saturday Night 4000'
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening 4500'
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday Morning 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 4500'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening 6000'
Saturday Night 5500'
Sunday Morning 5000'
Sunday Afternoon 4500'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 1500'

Issued: 3:52 PM PST Saturday, February 24, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 32 / 30 32 / 27
West North 31 / 29 31 / 27
West Central 32 / 29 32 / 30
West South 32 / 31 33 / 31
Stevens Pass 32 / 30 32 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass 32 / 29 32 / 29
East North 32 / 30 33 / 30
East Central 32 / 30 33 / 30
East South 33 / 31 35 / 32
Mt. Hood 35 / 32 34 / 32
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 30
Sunday 32 / 27
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 31 / 29
Sunday 31 / 27
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 29
Sunday 32 / 30
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 31
Sunday 33 / 31
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 30
Sunday 32 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 29
Sunday 32 / 29
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 30
Sunday 33 / 30
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 30
Sunday 33 / 30
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 33 / 31
Sunday 35 / 32
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 35 / 32
Sunday 34 / 32

Issued: 3:52 PM PST Saturday, February 24, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 3:52 PM PST Saturday, February 24, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

Very light snow showers continue as NW flow aloft develops on the back side of the cold trough Monday night through Tuesday. Temperatures remain well below seasonal norms. A deep Gulf of Alaska low sends a frontal system towards our area, with a warm front approaching Tuesday night and arriving Wednesday. Expect a warmup to 2000-4000 ft snow levels for the west slopes of the Cascades, but E flow should insulate the passes.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday *
West North 0 500' 0 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 0 500' 500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 500' 1000' 1500' 4000'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday 500'
Tuesday Night 0'
Wednesday * 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday 500'
Tuesday Night 500'
Wednesday * 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday 1000'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday * 4000'

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

Previous forecast from Feb 24, 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’.