Issued: 4:26 PM PDT Thursday, March 28, 2024
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

430pm update: Adjusted sky cover for Friday. 

A deep low pressure center stalled off the Washington coast continues to spin showers over the area in SSW flow aloft. Showers will be the heaviest and most persistent over the Olympic peninsula (especially the southern slopes of the Olympics) today and tonight closer to the low. Further inland, showers are becoming more intense this afternoon with daytime heating and there have been a few lightning strikes over the western WA lowlands. We have a cool, unstable air mass overhead and convective showers may be heavy at times through midnight, contain graupel, along with the chance of thunderstorms mainly over the foothills. Snow levels will plummet to around 3000-3500' during showers. Shower activity and moderate to locally strong ridgeline winds will continue through this evening and begin to ease overnight. 

The low pressure system will pull away from the Pacific Northwest and drop south along the coastline Thursday night and Friday. There should be plenty of leftover cloud cover tonight from the showers that sticks around on Friday. With a weak upper level trough overhead, we'll see a renewed threat of afternoon mountain showers. With the flow aloft becoming light out of the north, showers are more likely to fire up over the north Cascades and along the east slopes of the Cascades and slowly drift S-SW. Shower coverage and intensity will be less compared to Thursday. Freezing/snow levels will be a bit warmer on Friday as well.

The upper level ridge will build further into British Columbia on Saturday with continued northerly flow aloft over the PNW.  We can expect dry conditions with freezing levels topping out around 6000' and mid-mountain temperatures in the mid 30s to low 40s.  

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
Thursday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Cloudy in the morning, then mostly cloudy in the afternoon with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers.
Thursday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Partly sunny to mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Partly sunny to mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Cloudy in the morning, then partly sunny to mostly cloudy in the afternoon. A chance of showers in the morning, then scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate SW ridgeline winds. Light west winds at Pass level.
Friday Partly sunny to mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate SW ridgeline winds. Light west winds at Pass level.
Friday Partly sunny to mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Partly sunny to mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Partly sunny to mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Partly sunny to mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered showers after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Cloudy in the morning, then partly sunny to mostly cloudy in the afternoon. A chance of showers in the morning, then isolated light rain and snow showers in the afternoon.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Evening Thursday Night Friday Morning Friday Afternoon Friday Evening Friday Night Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon
Olympics 3500' 3000' 3500' 4000' 3500' 3500' 4000' 5500'
West North 3500' 3000' 3500' 4500' 4000' 3500' 4000' 6000'
West Central 3500' 3000' 3500' 4500' 4000' 3500' 4000' 6000'
West South 3500' 3000' 3500' 5000' 4000' 3500' 4000' 6000'
Stevens Pass 3500' 3000' 3500' 4500' 4000' 3500' 4000' 6000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 3000' 3500' 4500' 4000' 3500' 4000' 6000'
East North 3500' 3000' 3500' 5000' 4000' 3000' 4000' 6000'
East Central 3500' 3000' 3500' 5000' 4000' 3500' 4000' 6000'
East South 3500' 3000' 3500' 5000' 4000' 3500' 4000' 6000'
Mt. Hood 3500' 3000' 3500' 5000' 4500' 4000' 4500' 6000'
Olympics Elevation
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 4000'
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday Morning 4000'
Saturday Afternoon 5500'
West North Elevation
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
Friday Evening 4000'
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday Morning 4000'
Saturday Afternoon 6000'
West Central Elevation
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
Friday Evening 4000'
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday Morning 4000'
Saturday Afternoon 6000'
West South Elevation
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 5000'
Friday Evening 4000'
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday Morning 4000'
Saturday Afternoon 6000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
Friday Evening 4000'
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday Morning 4000'
Saturday Afternoon 6000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
Friday Evening 4000'
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday Morning 4000'
Saturday Afternoon 6000'
East North Elevation
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 5000'
Friday Evening 4000'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday Morning 4000'
Saturday Afternoon 6000'
East Central Elevation
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 5000'
Friday Evening 4000'
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday Morning 4000'
Saturday Afternoon 6000'
East South Elevation
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 5000'
Friday Evening 4000'
Friday Night 3500'
Saturday Morning 4000'
Saturday Afternoon 6000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening 3500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 5000'
Friday Evening 4500'
Friday Night 4000'
Saturday Morning 4500'
Saturday Afternoon 6000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Thursday Night Friday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 29 / 25 31 / 25
West North 29 / 25 32 / 25
West Central 29 / 24 32 / 26
West South 28 / 26 35 / 25
Stevens Pass 29 / 23 33 / 23
Snoqualmie Pass 29 / 23 33 / 23
East North 29 / 21 35 / 23
East Central 30 / 23 35 / 24
East South 29 / 24 35 / 24
Mt. Hood 29 / 26 35 / 24
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 29 / 25
Friday 31 / 25
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 29 / 25
Friday 32 / 25
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 29 / 24
Friday 32 / 26
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 28 / 26
Friday 35 / 25
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 29 / 23
Friday 33 / 23
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 29 / 23
Friday 33 / 23
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 29 / 21
Friday 35 / 23
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 30 / 23
Friday 35 / 24
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 29 / 24
Friday 35 / 24
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 29 / 26
Friday 35 / 24

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Thursday Evening Thursday Night Friday Morning Friday Afternoon
Olympics S 15-25 S 10-20 S 0-10 N 0-10
West North S 10-20 S 5-15 S 0-10 N 0-10
West Central SW 10-20 SW 5-15 SSW 0-10 N 0-10
West South SW 15-25 SW 5-15 SW 0-10 N 0-10
Stevens Pass SSW 10-20 SW 5-15 SW 0-10 N 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass SSW 10-20 SW 5-15 SW 0-10 N 0-10
East North S 10-20 SW 5-15 VAR 0-10 N 0-10
East Central SW 10-20 WSW 5-15 WSW 0-10 NNE 0-10
East South SW 10-20 WSW 10-20 SW 0-10 NNE 0-10
Mt. Hood SW 20-30 SW 15-25 S 5-15 ENE 5-15
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening S 15-25
Thursday Night S 10-20
Friday Morning S 0-10
Friday Afternoon N 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening S 10-20
Thursday Night S 5-15
Friday Morning S 0-10
Friday Afternoon N 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SW 10-20
Thursday Night SW 5-15
Friday Morning SSW 0-10
Friday Afternoon N 0-10
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SW 15-25
Thursday Night SW 5-15
Friday Morning SW 0-10
Friday Afternoon N 0-10
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SSW 10-20
Thursday Night SW 5-15
Friday Morning SW 0-10
Friday Afternoon N 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SSW 10-20
Thursday Night SW 5-15
Friday Morning SW 0-10
Friday Afternoon N 0-10
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening S 10-20
Thursday Night SW 5-15
Friday Morning VAR 0-10
Friday Afternoon N 0-10
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SW 10-20
Thursday Night WSW 5-15
Friday Morning WSW 0-10
Friday Afternoon NNE 0-10
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SW 10-20
Thursday Night WSW 10-20
Friday Morning SW 0-10
Friday Afternoon NNE 0-10
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SW 20-30
Thursday Night SW 15-25
Friday Morning S 5-15
Friday Afternoon ENE 5-15

Extended Weather Synopsis

Dry and increasingly warm weather will take hold Sunday and Monday as the upper level ridge flops over our area. Freezing levels will continue climbing up to 7000' on Sunday and perhaps become significantly warmer on Monday with freezing levels topping out in the 8000-11,000' range. It remains to be seen how quickly the upper level ridge breaks down and weather systems return to the area next week.  

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
West North 3500' 6500' 5000' 8000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 6500' 5000' 10000'
Mt. Hood 4000' 6500' 5500' 11000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday 6500'
Sunday Night 5000'
Monday 8000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday 6500'
Sunday Night 5000'
Monday 10000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Night 4000'
Sunday 6500'
Sunday Night 5500'
Monday 11000'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 28, 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’.