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.
Issued: 2:03 PM PST Friday, January 24, 2025
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
Issued: 2:03 PM PST Friday, January 24, 2025
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'
Issued: 2:03 PM PST Friday, January 24, 2025
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
Issued: 2:03 PM PST Friday, January 24, 2025
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
Issued: 2:03 PM PST Friday, January 24, 2025
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.
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).