Issued: 2:41 PM PDT Tuesday, March 31, 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 broad, cold low drops southward from the Gulf of Alaska on Tuesday night. As the associated frontal system approaches, widespread high clouds lower and thicken. During the evening hours, expect disorganized light precipitation to spread into the region on SSW flow aloft. This precipitation increases in coverage overnight, but doesn't reach the Washington Pass area. Easterly flow remains mostly light while SSW winds increase, potentially bringing more sustained moderate winds to the Baker area.

On Wednesday, a frontal rain band pivots over the area, bringing increasing moderate rain and snow, with precipitation favoring southern Washington. SW ridgeline winds will increase throughout the day, along with E flow. The cold front crosses the Olympics in the late morning hours and the Cascades in the afternoon.  Snow levels rise from around 3000 ft in the morning to closer to 4000 ft in the afternoon. East flow may hold off the transition to rain at Snoqualmie Pass level until around 10 AM to noon.

The frontal rain band lifts northeast and focuses on northern Washington State on Wednesday night as lighter shower activity fills in further south and snow levels gradually lower. Expect decreasing light snow showers with decreasing light to moderate W winds on Thursday.  Expect warmer temperatures and more sun breaks east of the Cascade Crest.

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
Tuesday Night Periods of light rain and snow develop in the late evening and increase overnight.
Wednesday Increasing moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds at times.
Tuesday Night Periods of light rain and snow develop in the late evening and increase overnight. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds likely peak in the morning hours.
Tuesday Night Periods of light rain and snow develop in the late evening and increase overnight. Moderate ridgeline winds at times near the Cascade Crest.
Wednesday Increasing moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds near the Cascade Crest.
Tuesday Night Periods of light rain and snow develop in the evening and increase overnight. Moderate ridgeline winds at times near the Cascade Crest.
Wednesday Increasing moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds near the Cascade Crest.
Tuesday Night Periods of light rain and snow develop in the late evening and increase overnight. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Wednesday Increasing mostly light rain and snow. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Night Periods of light rain and snow develop in the late evening and increase overnight. Light to moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Wednesday Increasing mostly light rain and snow. Mostly light ridgeline and easterly pass-level winds become moderate.
Tuesday Night High clouds lower and thicken.
Wednesday Increasing light rain and snow.
Tuesday Night Periods of light rain and snow develop in the late evening and increase overnight.
Wednesday Increasing light rain and snow in the morning may become moderate in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Periods of light rain and snow develop in the evening and increase overnight.
Wednesday Increasing light rain and snow in the morning may become moderate in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night A few light rain or snow showers in the evening, then increasing light rain or snow overnight. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Increasing moderate rain and snow. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Evening* Tuesday Night* Wednesday Morning* Wednesday Afternoon* Wednesday Evening Wednesday Night Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon
Olympics 4000' 3000' 3000' 3500' 2500' 2000' 1500' 3000'
West North 3000' 3000' 3000' 4000' 3500' 2500' 2000' 3000'
West Central 3000' 3000' 3000' 4000' 3500' 2500' 2000' 3000'
West South 4500' 4000' 3500' 4500' 3000' 2500' 2000' 3000'
Stevens Pass 3000' 3000' 3000' 4000' 3500' 2500' 2500' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 3000' 3000' 4000' 3500' 2500' 2500' 3000'
East North 3000' 2500' 2500' 4000' 4000' 3000' 2500' 3000'
East Central 3000' 3000' 3000' 4000' 4000' 2500' 2500' 3000'
East South 4500' 4000' 3500' 4500' 3500' 2500' 2500' 3000'
Mt. Hood 5000' 4500' 4000' 4500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3000'
Olympics Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 4000'
Tuesday Night* 3000'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3500'
Wednesday Evening 2500'
Wednesday Night 2000'
Thursday Morning 1500'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 3000'
Tuesday Night* 3000'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
Wednesday Evening 3500'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday Morning 2000'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'
West Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 3000'
Tuesday Night* 3000'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
Wednesday Evening 3500'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday Morning 2000'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'
West South Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 4500'
Tuesday Night* 4000'
Wednesday Morning* 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4500'
Wednesday Evening 3000'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday Morning 2000'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 3000'
Tuesday Night* 3000'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
Wednesday Evening 3500'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday Morning 2500'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 3000'
Tuesday Night* 3000'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
Wednesday Evening 3500'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday Morning 2500'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'
East North Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 3000'
Tuesday Night* 2500'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
Wednesday Evening 4000'
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday Morning 2500'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'
East Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 3000'
Tuesday Night* 3000'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
Wednesday Evening 4000'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday Morning 2500'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'
East South Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 4500'
Tuesday Night* 4000'
Wednesday Morning* 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4500'
Wednesday Evening 3500'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday Morning 2500'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 5000'
Tuesday Night* 4500'
Wednesday Morning* 4000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4500'
Wednesday Evening 3000'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday Morning 2500'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Tuesday Night Wednesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 37 / 25 33 / 26
West North 37 / 27 34 / 27
West Central 37 / 28 34 / 27
West South 38 / 29 34 / 29
Stevens Pass 36 / 25 35 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 36 / 27 34 / 26
East North 35 / 24 34 / 21
East Central 35 / 26 35 / 27
East South 34 / 28 36 / 26
Mt. Hood 37 / 29 37 / 29
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 37 / 25
Wednesday 33 / 26
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 37 / 27
Wednesday 34 / 27
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 37 / 28
Wednesday 34 / 27
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 38 / 29
Wednesday 34 / 29
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 36 / 25
Wednesday 35 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 36 / 27
Wednesday 34 / 26
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 35 / 24
Wednesday 34 / 21
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 35 / 26
Wednesday 35 / 27
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 34 / 28
Wednesday 36 / 26
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 37 / 29
Wednesday 37 / 29

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Extended Weather Synopsis

A ridge expands eastward into our region from the offshore waters on Thursday night, replacing the unsettled weather with drier conditions. Westerly winds maintain cooler and somewhat cloudier conditions west of the Cascade Crest, with a few snow flurries possible early. The ridge mostly fends off a passing front to our north on Friday, but it is likely to bring some cloud cover to areas near the Canadian border. Friday night continues a moderating temperature trend. The ridge of high pressure should be centered on the west coast by Saturday, bringing significant warming from south to north as the day progresses. Expect mostly light winds and sunny skies.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Night Friday Friday Night Saturday
West North 3500' 3500' 4500' 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 4000' 4500' 6500'
Mt. Hood 3500' 5000' 7000' 8500'
West North Elevation
Thursday Night 3500'
Friday 3500'
Friday Night 4500'
Saturday 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Night 3500'
Friday 4000'
Friday Night 4500'
Saturday 6500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Night 3500'
Friday 5000'
Friday Night 7000'
Saturday 8500'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 31, 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’.

📱 Download Avy App today ( iOS | Android )