Issued: 2:16 PM PDT Sunday, March 22, 2026
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

It's a lovely spring day across the Pacific Northwest with plenty of sunshine, warm temperatures, and light winds. While our weather pattern will start to change, we have one more dry day before precipitation returns. 

Mostly clear skies Sunday night should allow temperatures to quickly cool, forming inversions in the mountain valleys and passes. With generally calm winds, areas of patchy low clouds and fog could form, especially near sources of water like rivers and lakes. Despite the cool surface temperatures, the higher elevations continue to warm. This will be most notable on Mt Hood and the volcanoes of the West South zone. 

The weather starts to change on Monday, first with clouds, then increasing winds, and finally precipitation. Most locations will start the day sunny, and it may once again feel very spring-like. However, high clouds drift in from the SW and thicken throughout the day. Temperatures will be on the rise, even without the help of a full March sun. As the upper elevation winds turn more SW, warm air filters into the Cascades, pushing freezing levels even higher. Five thousand foot temperatures should top out in the 40s by the afternoon. 

Clouds continue to thicken and lower Monday night, as SW winds increase across the mountains. A warm front spreads precipitation into the mountains in the wee hours on Tuesday morning. Even if a few areas start the storm as snow, mild temperatures should cause snow levels to climb on Tuesday. Expect moderate to occasionally heavy rain and high elevation snow along the west slopes of the Cascades, with plenty of moisture reaching further east. Late in the afternoon, a trailing cold front arrives and helps snow levels slowly fall. 

 

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 Mostly clear with temperature inversions possible.
Monday Mostly sunny in the morning, then high clouds increasing and thickening.
Sunday Night Partly to mostly clear with temperature inversions in the mountain valleys.
Monday Mostly sunny in the morning, then high clouds increasing and thickening.
Sunday Night Mostly clear with temperature inversions in the mountain valleys.
Monday Mostly sunny in the morning, then high clouds increasing and thickening.
Sunday Night Mostly clear with temperature inversions in the mountain valleys and passes. Patchy low clouds and fog possible.
Monday Partly sunny in the morning, then high clouds increasing and thickening. Warming in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Mostly clear with temperature in versions forming. Patchy low clouds and fog possible. Generally light and variable winds.
Monday Mostly sunny in the morning, then high clouds increasing and thickening. Calm winds becoming W and light.
Sunday Night Mostly clear with temperature inversions. Patchy low clouds and fog possible. Generally light and variable winds.
Monday Partly to mostly sunny in the morning, then high clouds increasing and thickening. Variable winds becoming W and light.
Sunday Night Mostly clear with temperature inversions in the mountain valleys and passes. Isolated fog possible.
Monday Mostly sunny, then high clouds increasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Mostly clear with temperature inversions in the mountain valleys and passes. Isolated fog possible.
Monday Mostly sunny, then high clouds increasing and thickening during the day.
Sunday Night Mostly clear with temperature inversions in the mountain valleys. Isolated fog possible.
Monday Mostly sunny, then high clouds increasing and thickening during the day.
Sunday Night Mostly clear in the evening with temperature inversions possible in low lying valleys. High thin clouds arriving after midnight. Warm.
Monday Mostly cloudy with high thin clouds in the morning, becoming thicker throughout the day. Winds increasing to light to moderate in the afternoon.

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

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 3000' 2500' 4000' 5500' 5000' 4000' 5500' 5500'
West North 3000' 2500' 3000' 5500' 5000' 3000' 3500' 4500'
West Central 3000' 2500' 3000' 6000' 5500' 3000' 4500' 5500'
West South 4000' 3000' 4000' 7000' 6500' 4000' 6000' 6500'
Stevens Pass 3000' 2500' 3500' 6500' 6500' 3500' 5000' 6000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 2500' 4000' 6500' 6500' 4000' 6000' 6500'
East North 3500' 2000' 3000' 6500' 5000' 4000' 4500' 5000'
East Central 4500' 2500' 4500' 7000' 6500' 6000' 5500' 6000'
East South 4500' 3500' 5000' 7500' 6500' 6000' 6500' 7000'
Mt. Hood 9000' 9000' 9000' 9000' 9000' 8500' 8000' 8000'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday Morning* 5500'
Tuesday Afternoon 5500'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night* 3000'
Tuesday Morning* 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 6000'
Monday Evening 5500'
Monday Night* 3000'
Tuesday Morning* 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon 5500'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 7000'
Monday Evening 6500'
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday Morning* 6000'
Tuesday Afternoon 6500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 6500'
Monday Evening 6500'
Monday Night* 3500'
Tuesday Morning* 5000'
Tuesday Afternoon 6000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 6500'
Monday Evening 6500'
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday Morning* 6000'
Tuesday Afternoon 6500'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 2000'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 6500'
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday Morning* 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon 5000'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 4500'
Monday Afternoon 7000'
Monday Evening 6500'
Monday Night* 6000'
Tuesday Morning* 5500'
Tuesday Afternoon 6000'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning 5000'
Monday Afternoon 7500'
Monday Evening 6500'
Monday Night* 6000'
Tuesday Morning* 6500'
Tuesday Afternoon 7000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening 9000'
Sunday Night 9000'
Monday Morning 9000'
Monday Afternoon 9000'
Monday Evening 9000'
Monday Night* 8500'
Tuesday Morning* 8000'
Tuesday Afternoon 8000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 31 / 25 36 / 26
West North 32 / 24 37 / 25
West Central 32 / 25 41 / 26
West South 39 / 26 43 / 28
Stevens Pass 36 / 25 41 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 37 / 27 42 / 27
East North 33 / 22 38 / 22
East Central 39 / 25 45 / 26
East South 42 / 28 45 / 29
Mt. Hood 44 / 35 48 / 34
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 25
Monday 36 / 26
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 24
Monday 37 / 25
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 25
Monday 41 / 26
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 39 / 26
Monday 43 / 28
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 36 / 25
Monday 41 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 37 / 27
Monday 42 / 27
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 33 / 22
Monday 38 / 22
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 39 / 25
Monday 45 / 26
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 42 / 28
Monday 45 / 29
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 44 / 35
Monday 48 / 34

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics SW 0-10 VAR 0-10 W 0-10 SW 0-10
West North SW 0-10 W 0-10 W 0-10 SW 0-10
West Central SW 0-10 W 0-10 W 0-10 W 0-10
West South SW 0-10 W 0-10 W 5-15 SW 5-15
Stevens Pass WSW 0-10 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10 W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass WSW 0-10 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10 W 5-15
East North SW 5-15 WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15
East Central WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15
East South WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15
Mt. Hood SW 0-10 WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15 SW 10-20
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 0-10
Sunday Night VAR 0-10
Monday Morning W 0-10
Monday Afternoon SW 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 0-10
Sunday Night W 0-10
Monday Morning W 0-10
Monday Afternoon SW 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 0-10
Sunday Night W 0-10
Monday Morning W 0-10
Monday Afternoon W 0-10
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 0-10
Sunday Night W 0-10
Monday Morning W 5-15
Monday Afternoon SW 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 0-10
Sunday Night VAR 0-10
Monday Morning VAR 0-10
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 0-10
Sunday Night VAR 0-10
Monday Morning VAR 0-10
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 5-15
Sunday Night WSW 5-15
Monday Morning WSW 5-15
Monday Afternoon WSW 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 5-15
Sunday Night WSW 5-15
Monday Morning WSW 5-15
Monday Afternoon WSW 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 5-15
Sunday Night WSW 5-15
Monday Morning WSW 5-15
Monday Afternoon WSW 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 0-10
Sunday Night WSW 5-15
Monday Morning WSW 5-15
Monday Afternoon SW 10-20

Extended Weather Synopsis

A cold front makes its way across the NW Tuesday night, finally returning snow to most trailhead elevations. Onshore (W) winds and plenty of moisture should maintain showers along the west slopes of the Cascades into Wednesday morning. A generally zonal (W to E) jet stream may usher additional waves of precipitation through the area Wednesday evening and Thursday. The timing of each system is a bit unclear. Between bouts of precipitation, clouds may part, and the sun could make an appearance, particularly along the east side of the range. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
West North 4000' 2000' 1500' 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 2500' 1500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 5500' 3500' 2000' 3000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 4000'
Wednesday 2000'
Wednesday Night 1500'
Thursday 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 4000'
Wednesday 2500'
Wednesday Night 1500'
Thursday 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 5500'
Wednesday 3500'
Wednesday Night 2000'
Thursday 3000'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 22, 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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