The strong high pressure bringing a taste of summer to the region keeps its grip on the region through Tuesday but gradually shifts southward. Freezing levels remain around 10500-11000 ft Monday night and lower to 9000-10000 ft on Tuesday. Overnight, expect low-level inversions to drop temperatures in deeper valley locations into the 30s (and perhaps 20s around Washington Pass). However, most 5000 ft locations will remain well above freezing with light winds. Tuesday's highs will be a few degrees cooler than Monday, with light WSW ridgeline winds increasing into the 10-15 mph range for the mountain gaps, east slopes of the Cascades, and Mt Hood by the afternoon.
The ridge flattens more significantly Tuesday night, opening the door to increasing high and low cloud cover. A weak open trough approaches from the WSW as the ridge shifts east. Clouds lower and thicken with a slight chance of rain and high-elevation snow in the morning, but increasing chances late in the day. Most light precipitation will be limited to near and west of the Cascade Crest, with snow levels in the 5500-6500 ft range. Most areas should have ridgeline winds in the 10-15 mph range, but moderate winds likely develop for Mt Hood.
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
Unseasonably mild, mostly clear with a few thin high clouds, and light winds.
Tuesday
Warm, mostly sunny with a few low clouds late in the day, and light winds.
Monday
Night
Unseasonably mild, mostly clear with a few thin high clouds, and light winds.
Tuesday
Warm, mostly sunny with a few low clouds late in the day, and light winds.
Monday
Night
Unseasonably mild, mostly clear with a few thin high clouds, and light winds.
Tuesday
Warm, mostly sunny with a few low clouds late in the day, and light winds.
Monday
Night
Unseasonably mild, clear, and light winds.
Tuesday
Warm, mostly sunny with a few low clouds late in the day, and light winds.
Monday
Night
Unseasonably mild and mostly clear. Light ridgeline and variable shifting W wind at the Pass.
Tuesday
Warm and mostly sunny. Increasing light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Monday
Night
Unseasonably mild and mostly clear. Light ridgeline and variable shifting W wind at the Pass.
Tuesday
Warm and mostly sunny. Increasing light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Monday
Night
Unseasonably mild and clear. Low-level inversion forming below 5500 ft.
Tuesday
Warm and mostly sunny. Low-level inversion mixing out around 10 AM.
Monday
Night
Unseasonably mild, clear, and light winds. Low-level inversion forming below 5000 ft.
Tuesday
Warm and mostly sunny. Low-level inversion mixing out around 10 AM.
Monday
Night
Unseasonably mild, clear, and light winds. Low-level inversion forming below 5000 ft.
Tuesday
Warm and mostly sunny. Low-level inversion mixing out around 10 AM.
Monday
Night
Unseasonably mild, clear, and light winds.
Tuesday
Warm and mostly sunny with a few low clouds late in the day. Increasing light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds
Issued: 2:36 PM PDT Monday, March 18, 2024
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
0
0
0
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
0
0
0
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
0
0
0
0
Stevens Pass
0
0
0
0
Snoqualmie Pass
0
0
0
0
Crystal Mt
0
0
0
0
Paradise
0
0
0
0
White Pass
0
0
0
0
Washington Pass
0
0
0
0
Mission Ridge
0
0
0
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
0
0
0
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
0
0
0
0
Mt Hood Meadows
0
0
0
0
Timberline
0
0
0
0
Hurricane Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Issued: 2:36 PM PDT Monday, March 18, 2024
Snow Level (ft)
Monday
Evening
Monday
Night
Tuesday
Morning
Tuesday
Afternoon
Tuesday
Evening
Tuesday
Night
Wednesday
Morning
Wednesday
Afternoon
Olympics
11000'
10500'
10000'
9000'
8500'
8000'
7500'
5500'
West North
11000'
10500'
9500'
8500'
8000'
7500'
7000'
5500'
West Central
11000'
10500'
10000'
9000'
8000'
7500'
7500'
6000'
West South
11000'
10500'
10000'
9500'
8500'
8500'
8000'
6500'
Stevens Pass
11000'
10500'
10000'
9000'
8500'
8000'
7500'
6500'
Snoqualmie Pass
11000'
10500'
10000'
9000'
8500'
8000'
7500'
6000'
East North
11000'
10500'
9500'
9000'
8500'
8000'
7500'
7500'
East Central
11000'
10500'
10000'
9500'
9000'
9000'
8500'
8000'
East South
11000'
10500'
10500'
10000'
9500'
9500'
9000'
8000'
Mt. Hood
11000'
11000'
10500'
10000'
10000'
10000'
9000'
7500'
Olympics
Elevation
Monday
Evening
11000'
Monday
Night
10500'
Tuesday
Morning
10000'
Tuesday
Afternoon
9000'
Tuesday
Evening
8500'
Tuesday
Night
8000'
Wednesday
Morning
7500'
Wednesday
Afternoon
5500'
West North
Elevation
Monday
Evening
11000'
Monday
Night
10500'
Tuesday
Morning
9500'
Tuesday
Afternoon
8500'
Tuesday
Evening
8000'
Tuesday
Night
7500'
Wednesday
Morning
7000'
Wednesday
Afternoon
5500'
West Central
Elevation
Monday
Evening
11000'
Monday
Night
10500'
Tuesday
Morning
10000'
Tuesday
Afternoon
9000'
Tuesday
Evening
8000'
Tuesday
Night
7500'
Wednesday
Morning
7500'
Wednesday
Afternoon
6000'
West South
Elevation
Monday
Evening
11000'
Monday
Night
10500'
Tuesday
Morning
10000'
Tuesday
Afternoon
9500'
Tuesday
Evening
8500'
Tuesday
Night
8500'
Wednesday
Morning
8000'
Wednesday
Afternoon
6500'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Monday
Evening
11000'
Monday
Night
10500'
Tuesday
Morning
10000'
Tuesday
Afternoon
9000'
Tuesday
Evening
8500'
Tuesday
Night
8000'
Wednesday
Morning
7500'
Wednesday
Afternoon
6500'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Monday
Evening
11000'
Monday
Night
10500'
Tuesday
Morning
10000'
Tuesday
Afternoon
9000'
Tuesday
Evening
8500'
Tuesday
Night
8000'
Wednesday
Morning
7500'
Wednesday
Afternoon
6000'
East North
Elevation
Monday
Evening
11000'
Monday
Night
10500'
Tuesday
Morning
9500'
Tuesday
Afternoon
9000'
Tuesday
Evening
8500'
Tuesday
Night
8000'
Wednesday
Morning
7500'
Wednesday
Afternoon
7500'
East Central
Elevation
Monday
Evening
11000'
Monday
Night
10500'
Tuesday
Morning
10000'
Tuesday
Afternoon
9500'
Tuesday
Evening
9000'
Tuesday
Night
9000'
Wednesday
Morning
8500'
Wednesday
Afternoon
8000'
East South
Elevation
Monday
Evening
11000'
Monday
Night
10500'
Tuesday
Morning
10500'
Tuesday
Afternoon
10000'
Tuesday
Evening
9500'
Tuesday
Night
9500'
Wednesday
Morning
9000'
Wednesday
Afternoon
8000'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Monday
Evening
11000'
Monday
Night
11000'
Tuesday
Morning
10500'
Tuesday
Afternoon
10000'
Tuesday
Evening
10000'
Tuesday
Night
10000'
Wednesday
Morning
9000'
Wednesday
Afternoon
7500'
Issued: 2:36 PM PDT Monday, March 18, 2024
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Monday
Night
Tuesday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
48 / 40
49 / 39
West North
48 / 40
48 / 39
West Central
49 / 41
48 / 40
West South
53 / 42
53 / 41
Stevens Pass
51 / 39
52 / 40
Snoqualmie Pass
50 / 41
49 / 40
East North
49 / 40
51 / 39
East Central
51 / 41
52 / 41
East South
53 / 41
55 / 41
Mt. Hood
54 / 43
57 / 42
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
48 / 40
Tuesday
49 / 39
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
48 / 40
Tuesday
48 / 39
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
49 / 41
Tuesday
48 / 40
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
53 / 42
Tuesday
53 / 41
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
51 / 39
Tuesday
52 / 40
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
50 / 41
Tuesday
49 / 40
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
49 / 40
Tuesday
51 / 39
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
51 / 41
Tuesday
52 / 41
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
53 / 41
Tuesday
55 / 41
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
54 / 43
Tuesday
57 / 42
Issued: 2:36 PM PDT Monday, March 18, 2024
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
Monday
Night
Tuesday
Morning
Tuesday
Afternoon
Olympics
SSW 0-10
SW 5-15
WSW 0-10
WSW 0-10
West North
SW 0-10
WSW 0-10
SW 0-10
SW 0-10
West Central
SW 0-10
WSW 0-10
WSW 0-10
WSW 5-15
West South
WSW 0-10
WSW 0-10
WSW 0-10
W 5-15
Stevens Pass
WSW 0-10
SW 0-10
WSW 5-15
W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass
WSW 0-10
WSW 0-10
W 5-15
WNW 10-20
East North
W 0-10
WSW 0-10
WSW 5-15
WSW 10-20
East Central
W 0-10
WSW 5-15
W 5-15
W 10-20
East South
WSW 0-10
W 5-15
W 5-15
W 5-15
Mt. Hood
SW 0-10
WSW 5-15
WSW 10-20
WSW 10-20
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
SSW
0-10
Monday
Night
SW
5-15
Tuesday
Morning
WSW
0-10
Tuesday
Afternoon
WSW
0-10
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
SW
0-10
Monday
Night
WSW
0-10
Tuesday
Morning
SW
0-10
Tuesday
Afternoon
SW
0-10
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
SW
0-10
Monday
Night
WSW
0-10
Tuesday
Morning
WSW
0-10
Tuesday
Afternoon
WSW
5-15
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
WSW
0-10
Monday
Night
WSW
0-10
Tuesday
Morning
WSW
0-10
Tuesday
Afternoon
W
5-15
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
WSW
0-10
Monday
Night
SW
0-10
Tuesday
Morning
WSW
5-15
Tuesday
Afternoon
W
5-15
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
WSW
0-10
Monday
Night
WSW
0-10
Tuesday
Morning
W
5-15
Tuesday
Afternoon
WNW
10-20
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
W
0-10
Monday
Night
WSW
0-10
Tuesday
Morning
WSW
5-15
Tuesday
Afternoon
WSW
10-20
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
W
0-10
Monday
Night
WSW
5-15
Tuesday
Morning
W
5-15
Tuesday
Afternoon
W
10-20
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
WSW
0-10
Monday
Night
W
5-15
Tuesday
Morning
W
5-15
Tuesday
Afternoon
W
5-15
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
SW
0-10
Monday
Night
WSW
5-15
Tuesday
Morning
WSW
10-20
Tuesday
Afternoon
WSW
10-20
Issued: 2:36 PM PDT Monday, March 18, 2024
Extended Weather Synopsis
The weak open trough passes over the area Wednesday night with light rain and higher elevation snow at times. Some moisture continues after the trough, with W flow aloft on Thursday. Moisture decreases Thursday night as a closed low approaches the coastline, switching winds to the SW. Light rain and high-elevation snow return late in the day on Friday. Temperatures should be slightly above seasonal norms.
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).