Issued: 7:04 AM PST Friday, January 24, 2025
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

A weak upper level shortwave passed through the region last night bringing some very light precipitation (likely an inch or less of snow) to the west slopes of the Cascades and Passes along with falling temperatures. The flow aloft is becoming northerly and it quickly ushering in a clearing trend with much drier air moving in at all areas. We'll see low clouds hang on this morning along the west slopes of the Cascades near and south of Hwy 2 to Mt Hood (and along the northern slopes of the Olympics) before joining the rest of the region in mostly sunny skies.  Look for brisk NE ridgeline winds, strongest near the Canadian border today. After a cool start, freezing levels will rebound into the 2500-3500' range today. 

Strong upper level ridging will nose over the PNW and British Columbia this weekend while a cold upper level trough digs over California. We should see mostly clear skies on Saturday with a slow warming trend.  The coolest temperatures will be in the Passes, along the east slopes of the Cascades and down near Mt Hood closer to the upper low. We'll also see slightly stronger NE ridgeline winds tomorrow in this pattern as well.  

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 Mostly sunny except mostly cloudy north slopes of the Olympics this morning with a chance of light snow. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Mostly sunny. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Scattered low clouds in the morning with a chance of a flurry, then mostly sunny. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Mostly cloudy with a chance of a light snow shower in the morning, then mostly sunny in the afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Mostly cloudy with a chance of a light snow shower in the morning, then mostly sunny in the afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate NE ridgeline and E Pass level winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear. Light to occasionally moderate NE ridgeline and E Pass level winds.
Friday Mostly cloudy with a chance of a light snow shower in the morning, then mostly sunny in the afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate NE ridgeline and E Pass level winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear. Light to occasionally moderate NE ridgeline and E Pass level winds.
Friday Partly to mostly sunny. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Mostly sunny except for a few areas of low clouds near the Cascade crest this morning. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Mostly sunny except for a few areas of low clouds near the Cascade crest this morning. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Mostly cloudy this morning becoming mostly sunny. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.

Precipitation (in)

Friday Friday Night Saturday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 0 0
Stevens Pass 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0
Crystal Mt 0 0 0
Paradise 0 0 0
White Pass 0 0 0
Washington Pass 0 0 0
Mission Ridge 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 0 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 0
Timberline 0 0 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0

Snow Level (ft)

Friday Morning Friday Afternoon Friday Evening Friday Night* Saturday Morning* Saturday Afternoon*
Olympics 2000' 3000' 2000' 1500' 2500' 4000'
West North 2000' 2500' 2000' 1000' 2000' 3500'
West Central 2000' 3000' 2000' 1000' 2000' 3500'
West South 2000' 3500' 2000' 1000' 2000' 3500'
Stevens Pass 2000' 3500' 2000' 1000' 2000' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 2000' 3500' 2000' 1000' 2000' 3000'
East North 1500' 3000' 1500' 0 1500' 3000'
East Central 1500' 3500' 1500' 0 1500' 3000'
East South 1500' 3500' 1500' 0 1500' 3000'
Mt. Hood 2000' 3500' 2000' 1000' 1500' 2000'
Olympics Elevation
Friday Morning 2000'
Friday Afternoon 3000'
Friday Evening 2000'
Friday Night* 1500'
Saturday Morning* 2500'
Saturday Afternoon* 4000'
West North Elevation
Friday Morning 2000'
Friday Afternoon 2500'
Friday Evening 2000'
Friday Night* 1000'
Saturday Morning* 2000'
Saturday Afternoon* 3500'
West Central Elevation
Friday Morning 2000'
Friday Afternoon 3000'
Friday Evening 2000'
Friday Night* 1000'
Saturday Morning* 2000'
Saturday Afternoon* 3500'
West South Elevation
Friday Morning 2000'
Friday Afternoon 3500'
Friday Evening 2000'
Friday Night* 1000'
Saturday Morning* 2000'
Saturday Afternoon* 3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Morning 2000'
Friday Afternoon 3500'
Friday Evening 2000'
Friday Night* 1000'
Saturday Morning* 2000'
Saturday Afternoon* 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Morning 2000'
Friday Afternoon 3500'
Friday Evening 2000'
Friday Night* 1000'
Saturday Morning* 2000'
Saturday Afternoon* 3000'
East North Elevation
Friday Morning 1500'
Friday Afternoon 3000'
Friday Evening 1500'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 1500'
Saturday Afternoon* 3000'
East Central Elevation
Friday Morning 1500'
Friday Afternoon 3500'
Friday Evening 1500'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 1500'
Saturday Afternoon* 3000'
East South Elevation
Friday Morning 1500'
Friday Afternoon 3500'
Friday Evening 1500'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 1500'
Saturday Afternoon* 3000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Morning 2000'
Friday Afternoon 3500'
Friday Evening 2000'
Friday Night* 1000'
Saturday Morning* 1500'
Saturday Afternoon* 2000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Friday Friday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 26 / 19 18 / 16
West North 25 / 15 18 / 16
West Central 26 / 18 19 / 16
West South 30 / 19 20 / 15
Stevens Pass 30 / 18 18 / 13
Snoqualmie Pass 28 / 19 20 / 14
East North 26 / 14 16 / 12
East Central 28 / 18 17 / 13
East South 27 / 19 17 / 12
Mt. Hood 27 / 21 19 / 15
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 26 / 19
Friday Night 18 / 16
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 25 / 15
Friday Night 18 / 16
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 26 / 18
Friday Night 19 / 16
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 30 / 19
Friday Night 20 / 15
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 30 / 18
Friday Night 18 / 13
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 28 / 19
Friday Night 20 / 14
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 26 / 14
Friday Night 16 / 12
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 28 / 18
Friday Night 17 / 13
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 27 / 19
Friday Night 17 / 12
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 27 / 21
Friday Night 19 / 15

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Friday Morning Friday Afternoon Friday Evening Friday Night
Olympics NE 5-15 NE 5-15 NE 5-15 NE 5-15
West North NE 5-15 NE 5-15 NE 10-20 NE 10-20
West Central NE 0-10 NE 5-15 NE 5-15 NE 5-15
West South NE 5-15 NE 5-15 NE 5-15 NE 5-15
Stevens Pass NE 5-15 NE 5-15 NE 5-15 NE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass NE 5-15 NE 5-15 NE 5-15 NE 5-15
East North NNE 15-25 NE 15-25 NE 15-25 NE 10-20
East Central NE 5-15 NE 10-20 NE 10-20 NE 10-20
East South NE 5-15 NE 5-15 NE 10-20 NE 10-20
Mt. Hood NE 5-15 ENE 10-20 ENE 15-25 NE 20-30
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Morning NE 5-15
Friday Afternoon NE 5-15
Friday Evening NE 5-15
Friday Night NE 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Morning NE 5-15
Friday Afternoon NE 5-15
Friday Evening NE 10-20
Friday Night NE 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Morning NE 0-10
Friday Afternoon NE 5-15
Friday Evening NE 5-15
Friday Night NE 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Morning NE 5-15
Friday Afternoon NE 5-15
Friday Evening NE 5-15
Friday Night NE 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Morning NE 5-15
Friday Afternoon NE 5-15
Friday Evening NE 5-15
Friday Night NE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Morning NE 5-15
Friday Afternoon NE 5-15
Friday Evening NE 5-15
Friday Night NE 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Morning NNE 15-25
Friday Afternoon NE 15-25
Friday Evening NE 15-25
Friday Night NE 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Morning NE 5-15
Friday Afternoon NE 10-20
Friday Evening NE 10-20
Friday Night NE 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Morning NE 5-15
Friday Afternoon NE 5-15
Friday Evening NE 10-20
Friday Night NE 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Morning NE 5-15
Friday Afternoon ENE 10-20
Friday Evening ENE 15-25
Friday Night NE 20-30

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

Previous forecast from Jan 23, 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’.