Issued: 2:38 PM PDT Saturday, April 26, 2025
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

Warm and mostly clear weather predominates across the PNW mountains through the weekend. A closed low moves from California into the Great Basin, maintaining a split flow pattern for our region. This yields light winds aloft and mild temperatures. However, a strong W-to-E pressure gradient sets up conditions for a marine deck to form again Saturday night. Unlike Saturday morning when the marine deck generally retreated by noon, a stronger marine push on Sunday could keep these low clouds around through much of the afternoon, the Puget Sound lowlands and foothills of the Cascades south of the mountain loop. This makes it a great time to get above the 2000 ft cloud deck and enjoy the sunny skies in the mountains. The secondary impact of the pressure gradient will be gusty winds for the eastern foothills of the Cascades through Monday. Gusts could be strong to extreme downwind of mountain gaps, such as in the mountains near Ellensburg.

NW ridgeline winds gradually increase as ridging moves over the Pacific Northwest Sunday afternoon through early Monday. This will decrease the potential for a marine push Sunday night and Monday morning. However, expect an increase in cloud cover over northern Washington as a weak frontal system approaches from the northwest.

Freezing levels remain above seasonal norms (in the 7000-9500 ft range) with the highest freezing levels in southern portions of the forecast region on Monday.

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
Saturday Night Clear skies with fog developing below 2000 ft.
Sunday Mostly sunny with fog lingering through the morning below 2000 ft.
Saturday Night Clear skies.
Sunday Mostly sunny.
Saturday Night Clear skies with marine stratus developing below 2000 ft in the southern part.
Sunday Mostly sunny with marine stratus below 2000 ft in the southern part possibly retreating during the afternoon.
Saturday Night Clear skies with marine stratus developing below 2000 ft.
Sunday Mostly sunny with marine stratus below 2000 ft possibly retreating during the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly clear skies. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Mostly sunny. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night Mostly clear skies. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Mostly sunny with marine stratus below 2000 ft possibly retreating during the afternoon. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night Mostly clear. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Mostly sunny. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds may be moderate to strong down-wind in the eastern foothills.
Saturday Night Mostly clear. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds may be moderate to strong in areas near the I-90 corridor.
Sunday Mostly sunny. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds may be moderate to strong down-wind of mountain gaps and in the eastern foothills.
Saturday Night Mostly clear. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds may be moderate down-wind of mountain gaps.
Sunday Mostly sunny. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds may be moderate to strong down-wind of mountain gaps and in the eastern foothills.
Saturday Night Mostly clear with marine stratus developing below 2000 ft.
Sunday Mostly sunny with marine stratus below 2000 ft possibly retreating during the afternoon. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.

Precipitation (in)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
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)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 7500' 7500' 7000' 7500' 8000' 7500' 8500' 7500'
West North 8000' 7000' 6500' 7000' 7000' 7000' 6500' 5500'
West Central 8000' 7000' 6500' 7000' 7000' 7000' 8000' 6500'
West South 8500' 8500' 7500' 7000' 7000' 8500' 8500' 8500'
Stevens Pass 8000' 8000' 7000' 7000' 7000' 8000' 8500' 8500'
Snoqualmie Pass 8000' 8000' 7000' 7000' 7000' 8500' 8500' 8500'
East North 8500' 8000' 6000' 7500' 7000' 7000' 8000' 7500'
East Central 8500' 8500' 8000' 7500' 7500' 8500' 8000' 8500'
East South 9000' 8500' 8000' 7500' 7500' 9000' 8000' 9000'
Mt. Hood 9000' 9000' 8500' 8500' 8500' 9000' 9500' 9500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening 7500'
Saturday Night 7500'
Sunday Morning 7000'
Sunday Afternoon 7500'
Sunday Evening 8000'
Sunday Night 7500'
Monday Morning 8500'
Monday Afternoon 7500'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening 8000'
Saturday Night 7000'
Sunday Morning 6500'
Sunday Afternoon 7000'
Sunday Evening 7000'
Sunday Night 7000'
Monday Morning 6500'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 8000'
Saturday Night 7000'
Sunday Morning 6500'
Sunday Afternoon 7000'
Sunday Evening 7000'
Sunday Night 7000'
Monday Morning 8000'
Monday Afternoon 6500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening 8500'
Saturday Night 8500'
Sunday Morning 7500'
Sunday Afternoon 7000'
Sunday Evening 7000'
Sunday Night 8500'
Monday Morning 8500'
Monday Afternoon 8500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 8000'
Saturday Night 8000'
Sunday Morning 7000'
Sunday Afternoon 7000'
Sunday Evening 7000'
Sunday Night 8000'
Monday Morning 8500'
Monday Afternoon 8500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 8000'
Saturday Night 8000'
Sunday Morning 7000'
Sunday Afternoon 7000'
Sunday Evening 7000'
Sunday Night 8500'
Monday Morning 8500'
Monday Afternoon 8500'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening 8500'
Saturday Night 8000'
Sunday Morning 6000'
Sunday Afternoon 7500'
Sunday Evening 7000'
Sunday Night 7000'
Monday Morning 8000'
Monday Afternoon 7500'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 8500'
Saturday Night 8500'
Sunday Morning 8000'
Sunday Afternoon 7500'
Sunday Evening 7500'
Sunday Night 8500'
Monday Morning 8000'
Monday Afternoon 8500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening 9000'
Saturday Night 8500'
Sunday Morning 8000'
Sunday Afternoon 7500'
Sunday Evening 7500'
Sunday Night 9000'
Monday Morning 8000'
Monday Afternoon 9000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening 9000'
Saturday Night 9000'
Sunday Morning 8500'
Sunday Afternoon 8500'
Sunday Evening 8500'
Sunday Night 9000'
Monday Morning 9500'
Monday Afternoon 9500'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 45 / 34 46 / 34
West North 46 / 33 44 / 33
West Central 45 / 33 42 / 32
West South 47 / 33 41 / 33
Stevens Pass 46 / 31 44 / 31
Snoqualmie Pass 46 / 33 42 / 32
East North 48 / 32 48 / 32
East Central 48 / 35 47 / 35
East South 48 / 35 47 / 35
Mt. Hood 47 / 33 42 / 33
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 45 / 34
Sunday 46 / 34
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 46 / 33
Sunday 44 / 33
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 45 / 33
Sunday 42 / 32
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 47 / 33
Sunday 41 / 33
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 46 / 31
Sunday 44 / 31
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 46 / 33
Sunday 42 / 32
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 48 / 32
Sunday 48 / 32
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 48 / 35
Sunday 47 / 35
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 48 / 35
Sunday 47 / 35
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 47 / 33
Sunday 42 / 33

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics NNW 0-10 N 0-10 WNW 0-10 WNW 0-10
West North W 0-10 W 5-15 WNW 5-15 WNW 0-10
West Central WNW 5-15 NW 5-15 NNW 5-15 WNW 10-20
West South NW 5-15 NW 5-15 NW 5-15 NW 10-20
Stevens Pass WNW 5-15 NW 5-15 NW 5-15 WNW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass NW 10-20 NNW 10-20 NW 10-20 WNW 10-20
East North WNW 5-15 NW 5-15 NNW 10-20 NW 10-20
East Central WNW 10-20 NW 10-20 NW 10-20 NW 10-20
East South NW 10-20 NW 10-20 NNW 10-20 NW 10-20
Mt. Hood WNW 5-15 WNW 5-15 NW 5-15 NW 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening NNW 0-10
Saturday Night N 0-10
Sunday Morning WNW 0-10
Sunday Afternoon WNW 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 0-10
Saturday Night W 5-15
Sunday Morning WNW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon WNW 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 5-15
Saturday Night NW 5-15
Sunday Morning NNW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon WNW 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening NW 5-15
Saturday Night NW 5-15
Sunday Morning NW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon NW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 5-15
Saturday Night NW 5-15
Sunday Morning NW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon WNW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening NW 10-20
Saturday Night NNW 10-20
Sunday Morning NW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WNW 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 5-15
Saturday Night NW 5-15
Sunday Morning NNW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon NW 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 10-20
Saturday Night NW 10-20
Sunday Morning NW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon NW 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening NW 10-20
Saturday Night NW 10-20
Sunday Morning NNW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon NW 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 5-15
Saturday Night WNW 5-15
Sunday Morning NW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon NW 15-25

Extended Weather Synopsis

A weak frontal system slowly drifts into northern Washington Monday night, accompanied by light rain, higher elevation snow, and cooling temperatures. The remains of the system spread low clouds and a few showers throughout the west slopes of the Cascades on Tuesday morning before most shower activity becomes isolated, with mostly just low cloud lingering along the west slopes of the Cascades by the afternoon. Precipitation amounts have been downgraded to 0-0.25" water equivalent for most areas. A rebounding ridge brings clearing skies Tuesday night and warmer temperatures on Wednesday.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 5500' 5500' 6000' 7000'
Snoqualmie Pass 6000' 6000' 7000' 7000'
Mt. Hood 10000' 8000' 8500' 9500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 5500'
Tuesday 5500'
Tuesday Night 6000'
Wednesday 7000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 6000'
Tuesday 6000'
Tuesday Night 7000'
Wednesday 7000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 10000'
Tuesday 8000'
Tuesday Night 8500'
Wednesday 9500'

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

Previous forecast from Apr 25, 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’.