Issued: 7:02 AM PST Monday, February 26, 2024
by Matt Primomo

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

Weather Synopsis

A trough has dropped into the region and should provide cold and snowy weather today. Expect hit or miss light to moderate snowfall with wavering and weakening convergence bands and showers. The central Cascade passes and areas south along the west slopes to Hood are a good bet for these showers to continue more steadily. The northern quarter and eastern slopes should dry out by afternoon. The strong to extreme gusty winds we saw overnight are expected to ramp down this morning, but remain strong for Mt Hood today, and in the moderate range for areas south and east of Snoqualmie Pass.

A poorly defined disturbance should ripple through on shifting WNW to NW flow late this afternoon into tonight. With cold temperatures in place, it won't take much moisture to squeeze out more low density snow. Once again, the focus for these snow showers should be Stevens Pass south to Hood. Later in the night as the flow turns more NW'ly, the moisture stream gets cut and we'll see a drying trend that'll lead into a cold morning on Tuesday.

Tuesday morning is the next calm before the storm. Expect light to moderate ridgeline winds that shift back to W, then SW. By afternoon clouds and snowfall should begin to increase. First we'll see snowfall at Mt Hood and the West Slopes, and by sundown it should be spreading to most of the region once again.

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
Monday Light intermittent snow showers.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of very light snow showers.
Monday Mostly cloudy with light intermittent snow showers.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy to broken skies and cold. A chance for very light snow showers.
Monday Light to moderate snow showers.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy to broken skies and cold. A chance for light snow showers.
Monday Light to moderate snow showers and breezy. Snow could be heavier at times for the volcanoes, with stormy conditions there.
Monday Night Light to moderate snow showers and breezy. Snowfall becoming light and ridgeline winds ramp down later.
Monday Light to moderate snow showers, heaviest while under convergence bands. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Light to moderate snow showers, tapering and becoming light and intermittent. Moderate ridgeline winds, becoming light to moderate.
Monday Light to moderate snow showers, heaviest while under convergence bands. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Light to moderate snow showers, tapering and becoming light and intermittent. Moderate ridgeline winds, becoming light to moderate.
Monday Light and intermittent snow showers leading to broken skies and chances for sun breaks, especially further east.
Monday Night Partly cloudy and cold.
Monday Light and intermittent snow showers leading to broken skies and chances for sun breaks, especially further east. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Partly cloudy and cold with light snow showers in convergence spillover, tapering later.
Monday Light and intermittent snow showers leading to broken skies, especially further east. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Partly cloudy and cold with light snow showers in convergence spillover, tapering later.
Monday Moderate snow showers with strong and gusty winds, tapering somewhat during the day.
Monday Night Moderate snow showers with strong and gusty winds, tapering to moderate winds and lighter snow showers by morning.

Issued: 7:02 AM PST Monday, February 26, 2024

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 7:02 AM PST Monday, February 26, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Morning Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 500' 1500' 1000' 0 0 1500'
West North 0 500' 500' 0 0 500'
West Central 500' 500' 500' 0 0 500'
West South 500' 1000' 1000' 0 0 1500'
Stevens Pass 500' 1000' 500' 0 0 500'
Snoqualmie Pass 500' 1000' 500' 0 0 1000'
East North 0 1000' 500' 0 0 500'
East Central 1000' 1500' 1000' 0 0 1000'
East South 1000' 1500' 1000' 0 0 1500'
Mt. Hood 1500' 1500' 1000' 500' 500' 2000'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
Monday Evening 1000'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 1500'
West North Elevation
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 500'
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
West Central Elevation
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 500'
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
West South Elevation
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
Monday Evening 1000'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 1500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 1000'
East North Elevation
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
East Central Elevation
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
Monday Evening 1000'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 1000'
East South Elevation
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
Monday Evening 1000'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 1500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
Monday Evening 1000'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'

Issued: 7:02 AM PST Monday, February 26, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Monday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 22 / 16 20 / 10
West North 21 / 16 18 / 10
West Central 21 / 18 18 / 10
West South 23 / 17 20 / 11
Stevens Pass 22 / 17 16 / 11
Snoqualmie Pass 23 / 18 17 / 12
East North 19 / 13 12 / 4
East Central 20 / 16 15 / 10
East South 21 / 18 18 / 10
Mt. Hood 22 / 17 19 / 14
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 22 / 16
Monday Night 20 / 10
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 21 / 16
Monday Night 18 / 10
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 21 / 18
Monday Night 18 / 10
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 23 / 17
Monday Night 20 / 11
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 22 / 17
Monday Night 16 / 11
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 23 / 18
Monday Night 17 / 12
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 19 / 13
Monday Night 12 / 4
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 20 / 16
Monday Night 15 / 10
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 21 / 18
Monday Night 18 / 10
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 22 / 17
Monday Night 19 / 14

Issued: 7:02 AM PST Monday, February 26, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

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

Previous forecast from Feb 25, 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’.