Issued: 2:02 PM PST Saturday, January 25, 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

The Pacific Northwest is sandwiched between two large scale weather features; a strong ridge of high pressure offshore and an closed upper low over California. This blocking pattern will keep the storm track well away from our neck of the woods with dry conditions extending into at least the middle of next week. 

We'll see a slow warming trend start tonight and continue over the next few days as the upper ridge of high pressure noses its way closer to the coast and into British Columbia. This will cause some unusual freezing level forecasts for Sunday with milder air first showing over the Olympics and north Cascades and cooler freezing levels further south. The Passes and terrain near the Cascade crest will be a battleground, with above freezing temperatures trying to poke in at upper elevations. Persistent E-NE winds (strongest near Mt Hood) will continue Saturday night through Sunday morning before finally starting to taper down Sunday afternoon. No matter where you are, you'll enjoy full sun to close out the weekend.

By Sunday night and Monday, we'll see freezing levels "pop" to 10,000-11,000' across the region as high pressure becomes the dominant weather feature. Temperatures inversions will abound with cooler temperatures down low and milder temperatures found at upper elevations. 

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 Mostly clear. Light ridgeline winds.
Sunday Sunny. Light ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Mostly clear. Moderate ridgeline winds becoming light to moderate after midnight.
Sunday Sunny. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Mostly clear. Moderate ridgeline winds becoming light to moderate after midnight.
Sunday Sunny. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Mostly clear. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Sunny. Cooler east part of the zone including near White Pass. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Mostly clear. Moderate E ridgeline winds becoming lighter after midnight. Light E winds at Pass level.
Sunday Sunny. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Mostly clear. Moderate E ridgeline winds becoming lighter after midnight. Light E winds at Pass level.
Sunday Sunny. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Mostly clear. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Sunny. Milder western part of the zone near the Cascade crest and upper slopes. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Mostly clear. Moderate ridgeline winds becoming light to moderate after midnight.
Sunday Sunny. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Mostly clear. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Sunny. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Mostly clear. Strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Sunny. Moderate ridgeline winds.

Precipitation (in)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
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)
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

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening* Saturday Night* Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon* Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon*
Olympics 4000' 4500' 9000' 10000' 11000' 11000' 11000' 11000'
West North 2000' 1500' 4000' 10000' 11000' 11000' 11000' 11000'
West Central 1500' 1000' 3500' 9000' 10000' 10500' 10500' 10500'
West South 1500' 1000' 2500' 7500' 9000' 10000' 10500' 10500'
Stevens Pass 1500' 1000' 3000' 7000' 9000' 10500' 10500' 10500'
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 1000' 3000' 9000' 10000' 10500' 10500' 10500'
East North 1500' 0 3500' 8500' 10000' 10500' 10500' 10500'
East Central 1500' 0 2000' 4000' 9000' 10500' 10500' 10500'
East South 1500' 0 2000' 3500' 9000' 10000' 10500' 10500'
Mt. Hood 1000' 0 1500' 3000' 7000' 9000' 10000' 10000'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening* 4000'
Saturday Night* 4500'
Sunday Morning* 9000'
Sunday Afternoon* 10000'
Sunday Evening* 11000'
Sunday Night* 11000'
Monday Morning* 11000'
Monday Afternoon* 11000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2000'
Saturday Night* 1500'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon* 10000'
Sunday Evening* 11000'
Sunday Night* 11000'
Monday Morning* 11000'
Monday Afternoon* 11000'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning* 3500'
Sunday Afternoon* 9000'
Sunday Evening* 10000'
Sunday Night* 10500'
Monday Morning* 10500'
Monday Afternoon* 10500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning* 2500'
Sunday Afternoon* 7500'
Sunday Evening* 9000'
Sunday Night* 10000'
Monday Morning* 10500'
Monday Afternoon* 10500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning* 3000'
Sunday Afternoon* 7000'
Sunday Evening* 9000'
Sunday Night* 10500'
Monday Morning* 10500'
Monday Afternoon* 10500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning* 3000'
Sunday Afternoon* 9000'
Sunday Evening* 10000'
Sunday Night* 10500'
Monday Morning* 10500'
Monday Afternoon* 10500'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 3500'
Sunday Afternoon* 8500'
Sunday Evening* 10000'
Sunday Night* 10500'
Monday Morning* 10500'
Monday Afternoon* 10500'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 2000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Sunday Evening* 9000'
Sunday Night* 10500'
Monday Morning* 10500'
Monday Afternoon* 10500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 2000'
Sunday Afternoon* 3500'
Sunday Evening* 9000'
Sunday Night* 10000'
Monday Morning* 10500'
Monday Afternoon* 10500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1000'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 1500'
Sunday Afternoon* 3000'
Sunday Evening* 7000'
Sunday Night* 9000'
Monday Morning* 10000'
Monday Afternoon* 10000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 27 / 22 38 / 28
West North 26 / 23 37 / 26
West Central 26 / 21 36 / 25
West South 23 / 16 38 / 23
Stevens Pass 21 / 16 35 / 22
Snoqualmie Pass 23 / 17 34 / 23
East North 22 / 13 35 / 16
East Central 19 / 15 32 / 18
East South 17 / 12 32 / 17
Mt. Hood 19 / 15 31 / 19
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 27 / 22
Sunday 38 / 28
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 26 / 23
Sunday 37 / 26
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 26 / 21
Sunday 36 / 25
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 23 / 16
Sunday 38 / 23
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 21 / 16
Sunday 35 / 22
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 23 / 17
Sunday 34 / 23
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 22 / 13
Sunday 35 / 16
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 19 / 15
Sunday 32 / 18
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 17 / 12
Sunday 32 / 17
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 19 / 15
Sunday 31 / 19

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics NE 5-15 NE 0-10 N 0-10 N 0-10
West North NE 10-20 NE 5-15 N 5-15 N 5-15
West Central NE 10-20 NE 5-15 N 5-15 N 5-15
West South ENE 15-25 ENE 10-20 ENE 10-20 E 5-15
Stevens Pass ENE 10-20 E 5-15 E 5-15 E 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass ENE 10-20 E 5-15 E 5-15 E 5-15
East North NE 10-20 NE 10-20 N 10-20 N 5-15
East Central NE 10-20 NE 5-15 NE 5-15 NE 5-15
East South NE 15-25 NE 10-20 NE 10-20 NE 5-15
Mt. Hood ENE 25-35 ENE 20-30 E 15-25 E 10-20
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening NE 5-15
Saturday Night NE 0-10
Sunday Morning N 0-10
Sunday Afternoon N 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening NE 10-20
Saturday Night NE 5-15
Sunday Morning N 5-15
Sunday Afternoon N 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening NE 10-20
Saturday Night NE 5-15
Sunday Morning N 5-15
Sunday Afternoon N 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ENE 15-25
Saturday Night ENE 10-20
Sunday Morning ENE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon E 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ENE 10-20
Saturday Night E 5-15
Sunday Morning E 5-15
Sunday Afternoon E 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ENE 10-20
Saturday Night E 5-15
Sunday Morning E 5-15
Sunday Afternoon E 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening NE 10-20
Saturday Night NE 10-20
Sunday Morning N 10-20
Sunday Afternoon N 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening NE 10-20
Saturday Night NE 5-15
Sunday Morning NE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon NE 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening NE 15-25
Saturday Night NE 10-20
Sunday Morning NE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon NE 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ENE 25-35
Saturday Night ENE 20-30
Sunday Morning E 15-25
Sunday Afternoon E 10-20

Extended Weather Synopsis

High pressure will be in control with increasingly warm temperatures Monday through Wednesday.  We'll see a shift in the pattern and with an actual storm moving into the region sometime Thursday through Friday.  

Extended Snow Level (ft)

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

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

Previous forecast from Jan 25, 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’.