Issued: 2:14 PM PST Sunday, February 25, 2024
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

A cold trough approaches the Pacific Northwest as it slides down the British Columbia coastline from the NW. A SW-NE-oriented cold front is draped from SW Washington across the central Puget Sound to around Mt Baker as of 2 PM. Moderate to heavy rain and snow pushes to the SE of the front, in a wide swath extending down to Mt Hood. Snow levels remain on the mild side ahead of the front with 3500-4500 ft snow levels in the Washington Cascades and 5500 ft snow levels around Mt Hood.

The front progresses rapidly SE through the evening hours, with plummeting temperatures for the mountains of Washington State as the more continuous precipitation shifts to moderate snow showers and heavier convergence bands focus on the central Washington Cascades. Mt Hood and the southern Washington Volcanoes should also pick up heavy snowfall with around 1" of snow water equivalent expected in the aforementioned areas.

Lighter to moderate snow showers and convergence continue as W winds shift a bit more to the WNW, focusing some of the convergence southward toward Snoqualmie. Snow levels remain below 1000 ft in most areas. Ridgeline winds become mostly light in the north, but remain in the moderate range in the southern half of the forecast region, potentially picking up a bit in the afternoon with a passing disturbance.

NW flow aloft develops Monday night through Tuesday. Mostly light snow showers (moderate in convergence) decrease into Tuesday morning. However, an approaching warm front will bring increasing mostly light, but potentially moderate snow into the region during the afternoon. Snow levels remain below 1000 ft.

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
Sunday Night Light snow showers potentially become moderate overnight. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline winds. Plummeting temperatures.
Monday Decreasing light snow showers. Cold.
Sunday Night Decreasing moderate snow showers becoming light. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline winds. Plummeting temperatures.
Monday Light snow showers. Cold.
Sunday Night Decreasing moderate snow showers (locally heavy in convergence bands). Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds. Plummeting temperatures.
Monday Decreasing light to moderate snow showers (locally heavy in convergence bands). Cold.
Sunday Night Moderate to heavy snow transitions to light to moderate snow showers. Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts. Plummeting temperatures.
Monday Decreasing light to moderate snow showers. Cold.
Sunday Night Decreasing moderate to heavy snow showers and convergence. Decreasing moderate ridgeline and light to moderate W wind at the Pass. Plummeting temperatures.
Monday Decreasing light to moderate snow showers and convergence. Cold. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Night Decreasing moderate to heavy rain and snow rapidly transition to moderate snow showers (locally heavy in convergence). Decreasing moderate ridgeline and light to moderate W wind at the Pass. Plummeting temperatures.
Monday Decreasing light to moderate snow showers (locally heavy in convergence). Cold.
Sunday Night Decreasing light snow showers. Decreasing moderate to strong ridgeline winds. Plummeting temperatures.
Monday Decreasing light snow showers. Cold.
Sunday Night Decreasing moderate snow showers become light (some enhancements with convergence spillover). Decreasing moderate to strong ridgeline winds. Plummeting temperatures.
Monday Decreasing light snow showers with some convergence enhancement near the Cascade Crest. Cold. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Moderate rain and snow transitions to light snow showers. Plummeting temperatures. Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Decreasing light snow showers. Cold. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Heavy rain and snow. Strong ridgeline winds with extreme gusts. Plummeting temperatures overnight.
Monday Moderate snow showers. Cold.

Issued: 2:14 PM PST Sunday, February 25, 2024

Precipitation (in)

Sunday Night Monday Monday Night Tuesday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 1.00 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 1.00 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise 1.00 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
White Pass 1.00 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Mission Ridge 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.75 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.50 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 0.75 -1.00 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25
Timberline 1.00 0.50 0.25 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 1.00
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 1.00
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 1.00
Monday 0.50
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 1.00
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.75 -1.00
Monday 0.50
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 1.00
Monday 0.50
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday 0.25

Issued: 2:14 PM PST Sunday, February 25, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 1500' 500' 500' 1000' 500' 0 0 500'
West North 2000' 0 0 500' 0 0 0 0
West Central 2500' 500' 0 500' 0 0 0 500'
West South 3500' 1000' 0 1000' 500' 0 0 500'
Stevens Pass 3000' 500' 0 500' 0 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 1000' 0 500' 0 0 0 500'
East North 3000' 0 0 500' 0 0 0 0
East Central 3500' 1000' 500' 1000' 500' 0 0 500'
East South 4000' 1500' 500' 1000' 500' 0 0 1000'
Mt. Hood 4500' 3000' 1500' 1000' 1000' 500' 500' 1500'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 0'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 500'
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 0'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 500'
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 500'
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 0'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 500'
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 0'
Monday Morning 0'
Monday Afternoon 500'
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 0'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 500'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
Monday Evening 500'
Monday Night 0'
Tuesday Morning 0'
Tuesday Afternoon 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
Monday Evening 1000'
Monday Night 500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 1500'

Issued: 2:14 PM PST Sunday, February 25, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 21 / 16 22 / 16
West North 22 / 15 20 / 12
West Central 24 / 16 20 / 16
West South 30 / 18 23 / 16
Stevens Pass 26 / 17 22 / 18
Snoqualmie Pass 29 / 17 20 / 17
East North 27 / 10 19 / 9
East Central 31 / 16 21 / 14
East South 33 / 17 22 / 16
Mt. Hood 34 / 22 25 / 21
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 21 / 16
Monday 22 / 16
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 22 / 15
Monday 20 / 12
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 24 / 16
Monday 20 / 16
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 18
Monday 23 / 16
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 26 / 17
Monday 22 / 18
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 17
Monday 20 / 17
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 27 / 10
Monday 19 / 9
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 16
Monday 21 / 14
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 33 / 17
Monday 22 / 16
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 34 / 22
Monday 25 / 21

Issued: 2:14 PM PST Sunday, February 25, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics W 10-20 W 5-15 W 5-15 W 10-20
West North W 15-25 W 10-20 W 5-15 W 10-20
West Central WNW 15-25 WNW 10-20 WSW 10-20 W 10-20
West South W 20-30 W 15-25 W 10-20 WNW 10-20
Stevens Pass WNW 20-30 W 15-25 W 10-20 W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass WNW 20-30 WNW 15-25 W 10-20 WNW 15-25
East North W 25-35 W 20-30 WNW 10-20 W 10-20
East Central W 25-35 W 20-30 W 15-25 WNW 15-25
East South W 20-30 W 20-30 W 15-25 WNW 10-20
Mt. Hood WSW 30-40 W 25-35 W 20-30 WNW 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 10-20
Sunday Night W 5-15
Monday Morning W 5-15
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 15-25
Sunday Night W 10-20
Monday Morning W 5-15
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 15-25
Sunday Night WNW 10-20
Monday Morning WSW 10-20
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 20-30
Sunday Night W 15-25
Monday Morning W 10-20
Monday Afternoon WNW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 20-30
Sunday Night W 15-25
Monday Morning W 10-20
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 20-30
Sunday Night WNW 15-25
Monday Morning W 10-20
Monday Afternoon WNW 15-25
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 25-35
Sunday Night W 20-30
Monday Morning WNW 10-20
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 25-35
Sunday Night W 20-30
Monday Morning W 15-25
Monday Afternoon WNW 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 20-30
Sunday Night W 20-30
Monday Morning W 15-25
Monday Afternoon WNW 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 30-40
Sunday Night W 25-35
Monday Morning W 20-30
Monday Afternoon WNW 15-25

Issued: 2:14 PM PST Sunday, February 25, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

A powerful system brings increasing moderate to heavy snowfall Tuesday night, with very heavy rain and snow along with warming temperatures on Wednesday. Snow levels rise to around 3000 ft in the Mt Baker area, 3500 ft in the Snoqualmie Pass area, and 4500 ft in the Mt Hood area. Expect widespread moderate SW ridgeline winds ahead of the system, with a strong cold front dropping temperatures rapidly as it pushes from NW to SE Wednesday night with very heavy snowfall continuing. Expect Moderat snow showers and 1000-2500 ft snow levels on Thursday.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
West North 1000' 3000' 2500' 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass 2000' 3500' 3000' 1500'
Mt. Hood 2500' 4500' 4000' 2500'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 1000'
Wednesday 3000'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday 3500'
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday 1500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday 4500'
Wednesday Night 4000'
Thursday 2500'

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

Previous forecast from Feb 25, 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’.