Issued: 2:39 PM PDT Friday, March 14, 2025
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

A weak frontal boundary stalled along the Columbia River gorge will become reinvigorated as an upper-level trough pushes the frontal boundary inland overnight. Precipitation will spread northward overnight along both sides of the Cascade crest, with the heaviest precipitation along the south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood. More significant precipitation will finally reach the northern Cascades around sunrise as the frontal boundary pushes east of the Cascades mid-morning. The frontal passage will usher in a period of post-frontal showers and strong W-SW winds across the area for the rest of the day.  Afternoon showers will be heaviest from roughly the Mt. Loop Highway and north. Snow levels will generally range from 2000-3500'. 

The fun won't stop in this pattern as a new developing frontal wave slams into the south Washington Cascades and the Mt Hood area Saturday night while lighter showers continue for areas further north overnight. There's increased confidence that the Mt Hood area will see a warming trend Saturday night (snow levels may push near or above 5000') along with extreme SW winds and heavy precipitation. It's unclear how far north the axis of heavy precipitation and extreme winds extend into the south/central WA Cascades. The Mt Hood area and possibly the southern WA Cascades will likely see a few feet of snow at mid and upper elevations by the end of the weekend.  

The forecast evolution uncertainty continues into Sunday. The Olympics and WA Cascades will likely be in a cool showery pattern common for spring-time. The Mt Hood area looks to be on the northern fringe of continued heavier precipitation and strong to extreme winds.  

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
Friday Night Cloudy with light rain and snow developing after midnight. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Cloudy with light rain and snow developing after midnight. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds increasing overnight.
Saturday Moderate rain and snow showers. Strong ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Cloudy with light rain and snow developing after midnight. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Moderate rain and snow showers. Strong ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Cloudy with light rain and snow developing around midnight and becoming light to moderate overnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Strong ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Cloudy with light rain and snow developing after midnight. Light to moderate E and SE Pass and ridgeline winds.
Saturday Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Strong ridgeline W winds, moderate at Pass level.
Friday Night Cloudy with light rain and snow developing after midnight. Moderate E and SE Pass and ridgeline winds.
Saturday Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Strong ridgeline W winds, moderate at Pass level.
Friday Night Cloudy with light rain and snow developing after midnight. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers, heaviest near the Cascade crest. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Cloudy with light rain and snow developing after midnight. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds increasing overnight.
Saturday Light to moderate rain and snow showers, heaviest near the Cascade crest. Strong ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Cloudy with light rain and snow developing after midnight. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds increasing overnight.
Saturday Light to moderate rain and snow showers, heaviest near the Cascade crest. Strong ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Cloudy with moderate rain and snow developing in the evening. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Saturday Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Strong to occasionally extreme ridgeline winds.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

Friday Evening* Friday Night* Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics 3000' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2000' 2000' 2500'
West North 2500' 2000' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2000' 2000' 2500'
West Central 3000' 2000' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2000' 2500' 3000'
West South 3000' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000'
Stevens Pass 2500' 1500' 2500' 3000' 2500' 2000' 2500' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 2500' 1500' 2500' 3000' 2500' 2000' 2500' 3000'
East North 2000' 1500' 2500' 3500' 2500' 2000' 2500' 4000'
East Central 2500' 1500' 2500' 3500' 2500' 2000' 2500' 4000'
East South 3000' 2000' 3000' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 4000'
Mt. Hood 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 4000' 5000' 3500' 4000'
Olympics Elevation
Friday Evening* 3000'
Friday Night* 2500'
Saturday Morning 2500'
Saturday Afternoon 2500'
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
West North Elevation
Friday Evening* 2500'
Friday Night* 2000'
Saturday Morning 2500'
Saturday Afternoon 2500'
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
West Central Elevation
Friday Evening* 3000'
Friday Night* 2000'
Saturday Morning 2500'
Saturday Afternoon 2500'
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
West South Elevation
Friday Evening* 3000'
Friday Night* 2500'
Saturday Morning 3000'
Saturday Afternoon 3000'
Saturday Evening 3000'
Saturday Night 3000'
Sunday Morning 3000'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Evening* 2500'
Friday Night* 1500'
Saturday Morning 2500'
Saturday Afternoon 3000'
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening* 2500'
Friday Night* 1500'
Saturday Morning 2500'
Saturday Afternoon 3000'
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
East North Elevation
Friday Evening* 2000'
Friday Night* 1500'
Saturday Morning 2500'
Saturday Afternoon 3500'
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
East Central Elevation
Friday Evening* 2500'
Friday Night* 1500'
Saturday Morning 2500'
Saturday Afternoon 3500'
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
East South Elevation
Friday Evening* 3000'
Friday Night* 2000'
Saturday Morning 3000'
Saturday Afternoon 3500'
Saturday Evening 3000'
Saturday Night 3000'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening* 3500'
Friday Night* 3000'
Saturday Morning 3000'
Saturday Afternoon 3500'
Saturday Evening 4000'
Saturday Night 5000'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Friday Night Saturday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 28 / 25 28 / 25
West North 28 / 23 28 / 24
West Central 25 / 24 28 / 24
West South 28 / 25 29 / 26
Stevens Pass 27 / 24 28 / 23
Snoqualmie Pass 27 / 24 28 / 24
East North 23 / 18 29 / 20
East Central 25 / 21 29 / 23
East South 27 / 24 29 / 24
Mt. Hood 30 / 26 28 / 24
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 28 / 25
Saturday 28 / 25
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 28 / 23
Saturday 28 / 24
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 25 / 24
Saturday 28 / 24
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 28 / 25
Saturday 29 / 26
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 27 / 24
Saturday 28 / 23
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 27 / 24
Saturday 28 / 24
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 23 / 18
Saturday 29 / 20
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 25 / 21
Saturday 29 / 23
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 27 / 24
Saturday 29 / 24
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 30 / 26
Saturday 28 / 24

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Friday Evening Friday Night Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon
Olympics SE 5-15 S 10-20 SW 15-25 SW 15-25
West North SE 5-15 S 10-20 S 20-30 SW 15-25
West Central SE 5-15 S 10-20 SSW 20-30 SW 20-30
West South SSE 10-20 SSE 15-25 SW 30-40 SW 25-35
Stevens Pass SE 5-15 SE 5-15 SW 20-30 WSW 20-30
Snoqualmie Pass SE 10-20 SE 10-20 SW 25-35 WSW 25-35
East North SSE 5-15 S 5-15 S 15-25 WSW 20-30
East Central SSE 5-15 SSE 10-20 SW 20-30 WSW 20-30
East South S 5-15 S 10-20 WSW 20-30 WSW 20-30
Mt. Hood SW 15-25 SW 25-35 WSW 35-50 WSW 30-40
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SE 5-15
Friday Night S 10-20
Saturday Morning SW 15-25
Saturday Afternoon SW 15-25
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SE 5-15
Friday Night S 10-20
Saturday Morning S 20-30
Saturday Afternoon SW 15-25
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SE 5-15
Friday Night S 10-20
Saturday Morning SSW 20-30
Saturday Afternoon SW 20-30
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SSE 10-20
Friday Night SSE 15-25
Saturday Morning SW 30-40
Saturday Afternoon SW 25-35
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SE 5-15
Friday Night SE 5-15
Saturday Morning SW 20-30
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20-30
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SE 10-20
Friday Night SE 10-20
Saturday Morning SW 25-35
Saturday Afternoon WSW 25-35
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SSE 5-15
Friday Night S 5-15
Saturday Morning S 15-25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20-30
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SSE 5-15
Friday Night SSE 10-20
Saturday Morning SW 20-30
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20-30
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening S 5-15
Friday Night S 10-20
Saturday Morning WSW 20-30
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20-30
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SW 15-25
Friday Night SW 25-35
Saturday Morning WSW 35-50
Saturday Afternoon WSW 30-40

Extended Weather Synopsis

The weather pattern will ease up a bit as we head into next week. A showery cool pattern will continue Monday and Tuesday with a trace to a few inches of snow possible each day.  

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Night Monday Monday Night Tuesday
West North 1500' 3000' 1500' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 2000' 3000' 1500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 2500' 3000' 2000' 3000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday 3000'
Monday Night 1500'
Tuesday 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Night 2000'
Monday 3000'
Monday Night 1500'
Tuesday 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday 3000'
Monday Night 2000'
Tuesday 3000'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 14, 2025

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’.