Issued: 2:50 PM PDT Sunday, March 15, 2026
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

A sharp warm front lifts over the area as it arrives on a strong jet stream, rounding the top of an offshore ridge. Expect an abrupt jump in snow levels once the warm front lifts over the region from south to north Sunday night. The front ushers in milder air from the SW and cuts off a weak E flow for the southern Washington Cascades in the early evening, central Washington Cascades by around midnight to 2 AM, and north Cascades in the early morning hours on Monday. Snow levels jump from less than 3000 ft to around 7000-10,000 ft behind the front. The central and northern Washington Cascades can expect moderate snowfall accumulations before this transition occurs. We're generally expecting more than 0.5-1" of water equivalent for Paradise and also Snoqualmie Pass northward on Sunday night, with a similar amount streaming into the region on Monday. The main difference in moisture amounts on Monday is that the feed of moisture shifts northward, mostly shutting off precipitation for Mt Rainier southward by mid-morning. Ridgeline winds ramp up into the moderate range for many areas late Sunday night and sustain on Monday. Expect strong gusts in exposed terrain near and east of the Cascade Crest.

Monday night through Tuesday, the atmospheric river of moisture directed at SW British Columbia drags slightly southward, filling in moderate to heavy precipitation across all of western Washington (lighter amounts east of the Cascades). Ridgeline WSW winds gradually ease into the light-to-moderate range. Snow levels dip 1000-2000 ft Monday night and then shift slightly upward on Tuesday.

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 Periods of light rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Light rain, mostly tapering or ending in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Increasing moderate snow changing to rain at lower and middle elevations. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Decreasing moderate rain and highest elevation snow.
Sunday Night Increasing moderate-to-heavy snow transitioning to rain at lower and middle elevations. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Decreasing heavy rain becoming moderate in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Periods of light rain and snow (heavy at Paradise). Rapidly rising snow levels. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Light to moderate rain and highest elevation snow in the morning, tapering as the day progresses. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Heavy rain and snow. Rapidly rising snow levels. Increasing moderate ridgeline and light W or variable wind at the Pass.
Monday Moderate to heavy rain in the morning, decreases and becomes light from late morning onward. Moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Night Heavy rain and snow. Rapidly rising snow levels. Increasing moderate ridgeline and light W or variable wind at the Pass.
Monday Moderate to heavy rain in the morning, decreases and becomes light from late morning onward. Moderate ridgeline and light to moderate W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Night Increasing light snow changing to rain at lower elevations. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Decreasing light rain and snow. Rising snow levels. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Decreasing light-to-moderate snow changing to rain at lower and middle elevations. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Decreasing light rain and highest elevation snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Increasing light snow changing to rain at most elevations. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Light rain mostly ends early.
Sunday Night Periods of very light rain and snow. Rapidly rising snow levels. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds may become strong.
Monday Mostly cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:50 PM PDT Sunday, March 15, 2026

Precipitation (in)

Sunday Night Monday Monday Night Tuesday
5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm 5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.75 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 1.00 0.75 -1.00 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass 1.00 0.50 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass 1.00 0.75 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0.25
Paradise 0.75 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 0.75
White Pass 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 0 0 LT 0.10
Timberline LT 0.10 0 0 LT 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday 0.50 - 0.75
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 1.00
Monday 0.75 -1.00
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 1.00
Monday 0.50
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 1.00
Monday 0.75
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday 0.50 - 0.75
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday 0.75
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.25

Issued: 2:50 PM PDT Sunday, March 15, 2026

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon* Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 6000' 9500' 10000' 7500' 7000' 9500' 8500' 8000'
West North 2500' 5000' 8000' 8000' 6000' 6500' 7000' 7000'
West Central 3000' 6000' 8500' 8000' 6000' 6500' 7500' 7500'
West South 5500' 8000' 1000' 7500' 6000' 7000' 8500' 8500'
Stevens Pass 3000' 5000' 9000' 8000' 6000' 6500' 8000' 8000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 7000' 9500' 7500' 6000' 7000' 8500' 8000'
East North 2500' 4000' 7500' 8000' 6000' 5500' 7000' 7500'
East Central 3000' 7000' 10000' 8000' 6000' 7500' 8500' 8500'
East South 5500' 8500' 10500' 7500' 6500' 8000' 9500' 8500'
Mt. Hood 7000' 8000' 11500' 11500' 12000' 12000' 8000' 9000'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening* 6000'
Sunday Night* 9500'
Monday Morning* 10000'
Monday Afternoon* 7500'
Monday Evening 7000'
Monday Night 9500'
Tuesday Morning 8500'
Tuesday Afternoon 8000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening* 2500'
Sunday Night* 5000'
Monday Morning* 8000'
Monday Afternoon* 8000'
Monday Evening 6000'
Monday Night 6500'
Tuesday Morning 7000'
Tuesday Afternoon 7000'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 6000'
Monday Morning* 8500'
Monday Afternoon* 8000'
Monday Evening 6000'
Monday Night 6500'
Tuesday Morning 7500'
Tuesday Afternoon 7500'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening* 5500'
Sunday Night* 8000'
Monday Morning* 1000'
Monday Afternoon* 7500'
Monday Evening 6000'
Monday Night 7000'
Tuesday Morning 8500'
Tuesday Afternoon 8500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 5000'
Monday Morning* 9000'
Monday Afternoon* 8000'
Monday Evening 6000'
Monday Night 6500'
Tuesday Morning 8000'
Tuesday Afternoon 8000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening* 3500'
Sunday Night* 7000'
Monday Morning* 9500'
Monday Afternoon* 7500'
Monday Evening 6000'
Monday Night 7000'
Tuesday Morning 8500'
Tuesday Afternoon 8000'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening* 2500'
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday Morning* 7500'
Monday Afternoon* 8000'
Monday Evening 6000'
Monday Night 5500'
Tuesday Morning 7000'
Tuesday Afternoon 7500'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 7000'
Monday Morning* 10000'
Monday Afternoon* 8000'
Monday Evening 6000'
Monday Night 7500'
Tuesday Morning 8500'
Tuesday Afternoon 8500'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening* 5500'
Sunday Night* 8500'
Monday Morning* 10500'
Monday Afternoon* 7500'
Monday Evening 6500'
Monday Night 8000'
Tuesday Morning 9500'
Tuesday Afternoon 8500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening* 7000'
Sunday Night* 8000'
Monday Morning* 11500'
Monday Afternoon* 11500'
Monday Evening 12000'
Monday Night 12000'
Tuesday Morning 8000'
Tuesday Afternoon 9000'

Issued: 2:50 PM PDT Sunday, March 15, 2026

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 37 / 30 42 / 37
West North 33 / 27 43 / 33
West Central 34 / 28 42 / 34
West South 38 / 31 45 / 38
Stevens Pass 35 / 27 42 / 35
Snoqualmie Pass 35 / 28 42 / 35
East North 34 / 23 43 / 34
East Central 36 / 27 43 / 36
East South 38 / 32 47 / 38
Mt. Hood 41 / 36 55 / 41
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 37 / 30
Monday 42 / 37
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 33 / 27
Monday 43 / 33
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 34 / 28
Monday 42 / 34
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 38 / 31
Monday 45 / 38
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 35 / 27
Monday 42 / 35
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 35 / 28
Monday 42 / 35
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 34 / 23
Monday 43 / 34
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 36 / 27
Monday 43 / 36
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 38 / 32
Monday 47 / 38
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 41 / 36
Monday 55 / 41

Issued: 2:50 PM PDT Sunday, March 15, 2026

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:50 PM PDT Sunday, March 15, 2026

Extended Weather Synopsis

The warm moisture feed won't let up as it focuses on NW Washington and SW British Columbia.  By Friday, the frontal boundary drags SE once again and weakens. The deluge and warmth aren't expected to end until the weekend.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
West North 7000' 6500' 7500' 7000'
Snoqualmie Pass 8000' 7500' 8000' 8000'
Mt. Hood 7500' 7500' 8500' 8500'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 7000'
Wednesday 6500'
Wednesday Night 7500'
Thursday 7000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 8000'
Wednesday 7500'
Wednesday Night 8000'
Thursday 8000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 7500'
Wednesday 7500'
Wednesday Night 8500'
Thursday 8500'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 15, 2026

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’.

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