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.
Issued: 2:38 PM PDT Saturday, April 26, 2025
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
Issued: 2:38 PM PDT Saturday, April 26, 2025
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'
Issued: 2:38 PM PDT Saturday, April 26, 2025
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
Issued: 2:38 PM PDT Saturday, April 26, 2025
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
Issued: 2:38 PM PDT Saturday, April 26, 2025
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.
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).