Issued: 2:03 PM 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 Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis

We're in for a dry, clear weekend with breezy to locally strong E-NE ridgeline winds and a slow warming trend. The Pacific Northwest is between two large scale weather features this weekend, an upper ridge of high pressure offshore and a closed area of low pressure over California. This High over Low pattern, or Rex Block, will keep weather systems away from our area through the weekend and well into next week. 

After a cold clear Friday night featuring mountain temperatures in the teens and even a few single digits, mid-mountain temperatures will largely rebound into the 20s under sunny skies Saturday. We'll see more in the way of warming on Sunday as milder air to the west makes its way over the Olympics and inroads along the western slopes of the Cascades. It's unclear how far east warm air will push in at upper elevations for the Passes, and along the Cascade crest on Sunday. Mt. Hood will likely be the coldest spot over the weekend closer to the southern upper low.  

E-NE winds will be another unusual piece with this weather pattern. Winds will start to increase tonight, touching moderate in many areas through Sunday morning.  However, closer to the California low, Mt Hood will see a long duration period of strong E-NE winds starting tonight through Sunday.  

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 Mostly clear. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Mostly sunny. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Mostly sunny. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Mostly sunny. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Mostly sunny. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear. Light to occasionally moderate NE ridgeline and E Pass level winds.
Saturday Mostly sunny. Light to moderate E-NE ridgeline and E Pass level winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear. Light to occasionally moderate NE ridgeline and E Pass level winds.
Saturday Mostly sunny. Light to moderate E-NE ridgeline and E Pass level winds.
Friday Night Partly cloudy to mostly clear. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Mostly sunny. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Mostly sunny. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Mostly sunny. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Saturday Mostly sunny. Strong ridgeline winds.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

Friday Evening Friday Night* Saturday Morning* Saturday Afternoon* Saturday Evening* Saturday Night* Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon*
Olympics 2000' 1500' 2500' 3500' 4000' 5000' 7500' 9000'
West North 2000' 1000' 2000' 3000' 2000' 1500' 5000' 8000'
West Central 2000' 1000' 2000' 3500' 2000' 1000' 4000' 7000'
West South 2000' 1000' 2000' 3500' 2000' 1000' 3500' 6000'
Stevens Pass 2000' 1000' 2000' 3000' 2000' 1000' 2000' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 2000' 1000' 2000' 3000' 2000' 1000' 2000' 3500'
East North 1500' 0 1500' 3000' 1500' 0 3500' 3500'
East Central 1500' 0 1500' 3000' 1500' 0 2000' 3500'
East South 1500' 0 1500' 3000' 1500' 0 2000' 3500'
Mt. Hood 2000' 1000' 1500' 2000' 1000' 0 2000' 3000'
Olympics Elevation
Friday Evening 2000'
Friday Night* 1500'
Saturday Morning* 2500'
Saturday Afternoon* 3500'
Saturday Evening* 4000'
Saturday Night* 5000'
Sunday Morning* 7500'
Sunday Afternoon* 9000'
West North Elevation
Friday Evening 2000'
Friday Night* 1000'
Saturday Morning* 2000'
Saturday Afternoon* 3000'
Saturday Evening* 2000'
Saturday Night* 1500'
Sunday Morning* 5000'
Sunday Afternoon* 8000'
West Central Elevation
Friday Evening 2000'
Friday Night* 1000'
Saturday Morning* 2000'
Saturday Afternoon* 3500'
Saturday Evening* 2000'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon* 7000'
West South Elevation
Friday Evening 2000'
Friday Night* 1000'
Saturday Morning* 2000'
Saturday Afternoon* 3500'
Saturday Evening* 2000'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning* 3500'
Sunday Afternoon* 6000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Evening 2000'
Friday Night* 1000'
Saturday Morning* 2000'
Saturday Afternoon* 3000'
Saturday Evening* 2000'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning* 2000'
Sunday Afternoon* 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening 2000'
Friday Night* 1000'
Saturday Morning* 2000'
Saturday Afternoon* 3000'
Saturday Evening* 2000'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning* 2000'
Sunday Afternoon* 3500'
East North Elevation
Friday Evening 1500'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 1500'
Saturday Afternoon* 3000'
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 3500'
Sunday Afternoon* 3500'
East Central Elevation
Friday Evening 1500'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 1500'
Saturday Afternoon* 3000'
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 2000'
Sunday Afternoon* 3500'
East South Elevation
Friday Evening 1500'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 1500'
Saturday Afternoon* 3000'
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 2000'
Sunday Afternoon* 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening 2000'
Friday Night* 1000'
Saturday Morning* 1500'
Saturday Afternoon* 2000'
Saturday Evening* 1000'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 2000'
Sunday Afternoon* 3000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Friday Night Saturday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 20 / 17 29 / 20
West North 19 / 17 27 / 19
West Central 18 / 16 26 / 16
West South 20 / 16 26 / 15
Stevens Pass 19 / 16 24 / 15
Snoqualmie Pass 18 / 15 24 / 15
East North 16 / 9 24 / 9
East Central 18 / 12 23 / 12
East South 15 / 11 21 / 11
Mt. Hood 19 / 14 21 / 14
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 20 / 17
Saturday 29 / 20
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 19 / 17
Saturday 27 / 19
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 18 / 16
Saturday 26 / 16
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 20 / 16
Saturday 26 / 15
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 19 / 16
Saturday 24 / 15
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 18 / 15
Saturday 24 / 15
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 16 / 9
Saturday 24 / 9
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 18 / 12
Saturday 23 / 12
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 15 / 11
Saturday 21 / 11
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 19 / 14
Saturday 21 / 14

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Extended Weather Synopsis

We'll see the same weather pattern continue into early next week with clear and increasingly mild weather. The upper level ridge will exert more control over the region and we'll see higher freezing levels and less of a west to east temperature gradient across the Cascades. A stormy and more unsettled weather pattern may be on the horizon beginning at the end of next week. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Night* Monday * Monday Night* Tuesday *
West North 10000' 10000' 11000' 11000'
Snoqualmie Pass 10000' 10000' 10500' 11000'
Mt. Hood 9000' 9000' 10000' 11000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Night* 10000'
Monday * 10000'
Monday Night* 11000'
Tuesday * 11000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Night* 10000'
Monday * 10000'
Monday Night* 10500'
Tuesday * 11000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Night* 9000'
Monday * 9000'
Monday Night* 10000'
Tuesday * 11000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 24, 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’.