Issued: 2:44 PM PDT Monday, March 23, 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 moderately deep low tracking toward the northern end of Vancouver Island will bring stormy weather to the Pacific Northwest through Wednesday.

Clouds gradually lower thicken Monday night, with SW winds increasing. In most areas, these winds remain light, but push into the moderate range for Mt Hood, the Olympics, and Mt Baker areas. A warm front spreads precipitation into the mountains in the early morning hours on Tuesday, starting with the Olympics, Mt Baker, the Mountain Loop, and Mt Rainier areas. A brief period of low-level SE winds will favor the Olympics during this time period, when precipitation likely starts with snow levels around 3000 ft. Snow levels quickly rise with a warm frontal passage on Tuesday morning, changing snow to rain as it spreads throughout the region.  Expect moderate to occasionally heavy rain and high-elevation snow throughout areas near and west of the Cascade Crest, with low-level E winds providing plenty of spillover onto the east slopes of the Cascades. The heaviest precipitation shifts from the northern Cascades to the southern Cascades as the day progresses.

The cold front likely crosses the Olympics at the end of the day, then progresses through the Cascades in the evening, initiating cooling and a drying trend. Rain and snow showers will generally be light on Tuesday night, but convergence enhancement will favor the Mt Baker area for moderate intensities. Convergence shifts south as the upper trough approaches on Wednesday, with more vigorous snowshower activity across the region and snow levels dropping below 2500 ft. Convergence is likely to reach the vicinity of Stevens Pass later in the day and could bring intense snowfall at times.

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 Night High clouds lower and thicken with light rain and snow developing in the early morning hours.
Tuesday Moderate snow changing to rain in the morning, decreasing or becoming showery in the afternoon. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Night High clouds lower and thicken with light rain and snow developing in the early morning hours. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Heavy rain and snow in the morning, decreasing slightly in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Night High clouds lower and thicken.
Tuesday Heavy rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Night High clouds lower and thicken with a chance of very light rain or snow in the early morning hours.
Tuesday Heavy rain and snow at Paradse; moderate at White Pass and Crystal. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Night High clouds lowering and thickening. Increasing light to occasionally moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Moderate to heavy rain and snow. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds. Light E winds at the Pass.
Monday Night High clouds lowering and thickening. Increasing light to occasionally moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Moderate to heavy rain and snow. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds. Light E winds at the Pass.
Monday Night High clouds lowering and thickening.
Tuesday Moderate to heavy rain and snow. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Night High clouds lowering and thickening.
Tuesday Increasing moderate to heavy rain and snow. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Night High clouds lowering and thickening.
Tuesday Increasing moderate rain and snow. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Night High clouds lowering and thickening. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Light rain and snow become moderate in the afternoon. Increasing moderate to strong ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:44 PM PDT Monday, March 23, 2026

Precipitation (in)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm 5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 0.25 0.25 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 1.00 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 - 0.75
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.10 1.00 LT 0.10 0.50
Stevens Pass 0 0.75 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass 0 1.00 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 1.00 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Paradise LT 0.10 1.50 0.25 0.25
White Pass 0 0.75 -1.00 0.25 0.25
Washington Pass 0 0.75 LT 0.25 0.25
Mission Ridge 0 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 0.75 LT 0.10 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25
Timberline 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0.25
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 1.00
Tuesday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Wednesday 0.50 - 0.75
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 1.00
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0.75
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 1.00
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 1.00
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 1.50
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0.75
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0.50
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0.75
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday 0.25

Issued: 2:44 PM PDT Monday, March 23, 2026

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 2:44 PM PDT Monday, March 23, 2026

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 36 / 29 38 / 32
West North 35 / 29 37 / 29
West Central 37 / 31 39 / 30
West South 40 / 35 39 / 34
Stevens Pass 38 / 30 38 / 29
Snoqualmie Pass 38 / 31 39 / 30
East North 38 / 27 33 / 24
East Central 40 / 32 38 / 29
East South 45 / 37 40 / 35
Mt. Hood 46 / 39 49 / 40
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 36 / 29
Tuesday 38 / 32
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 35 / 29
Tuesday 37 / 29
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 37 / 31
Tuesday 39 / 30
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 40 / 35
Tuesday 39 / 34
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 38 / 30
Tuesday 38 / 29
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 38 / 31
Tuesday 39 / 30
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 38 / 27
Tuesday 33 / 24
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 40 / 32
Tuesday 38 / 29
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 45 / 37
Tuesday 40 / 35
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 46 / 39
Tuesday 49 / 40

Issued: 2:44 PM PDT Monday, March 23, 2026

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics SSW 0-10 SSW 10-20 SSW 15-25 SSW 20-30
West North SSW 0-10 S 10-20 S 20-30 SSW 25-35
West Central SW 5-15 SW 5-15 SSW 15-25 SW 20-30
West South SW 5-15 SW 10-20 SW 20-30 SW 20-30
Stevens Pass WSW 0-10 SW 5-15 SW 10-20 SW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass WSW 5-15 SW 10-20 S 10-20 SW 20-30
East North SW 0-10 SW 5-15 S 10-20 S 15-25
East Central WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15 SW 10-20 SW 20-30
East South WSW 5-15 WSW 10-20 SW 15-25 SW 20-30
Mt. Hood SW 15-25 SW 25-35 SW 20-30 SW 25-35
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SSW 0-10
Monday Night SSW 10-20
Tuesday Morning SSW 15-25
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 20-30
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SSW 0-10
Monday Night S 10-20
Tuesday Morning S 20-30
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 25-35
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SW 5-15
Monday Night SW 5-15
Tuesday Morning SSW 15-25
Tuesday Afternoon SW 20-30
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SW 5-15
Monday Night SW 10-20
Tuesday Morning SW 20-30
Tuesday Afternoon SW 20-30
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WSW 0-10
Monday Night SW 5-15
Tuesday Morning SW 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WSW 5-15
Monday Night SW 10-20
Tuesday Morning S 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 20-30
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SW 0-10
Monday Night SW 5-15
Tuesday Morning S 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon S 15-25
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WSW 5-15
Monday Night WSW 5-15
Tuesday Morning SW 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 20-30
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WSW 5-15
Monday Night WSW 10-20
Tuesday Morning SW 15-25
Tuesday Afternoon SW 20-30
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SW 15-25
Monday Night SW 25-35
Tuesday Morning SW 20-30
Tuesday Afternoon SW 25-35

Issued: 2:44 PM PDT Monday, March 23, 2026

Extended Weather Synopsis

Snow showers and convergence ease and lift northward on Wednesday night with very light snow showers lingering on Thursday as a ridge moves into the area and expands with rising freezing levels through Friday.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night Thursday Thursday Night Friday
West North 1500' 1000' 2000' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 2000' 1500' 2500' 3500'
Mt. Hood 2500' 3000' 4500' 6000'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night 1500'
Thursday 1000'
Thursday Night 2000'
Friday 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night 2000'
Thursday 1500'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday 3000'
Thursday Night 4500'
Friday 6000'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 23, 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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