Issued: 2:10 PM PST Tuesday, February 4, 2025
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

The deep upper low off the Pacific Northwest coastline wabbles back towards the coastline. Following a primarily dry Tuesday evening will enable instability and showers wrapping around the low to move back into the region during the overnight hours. Light to occasionally moderate snow showers will focus initially on Mt Hood and the southern Cascade Volcanoes, then spread into the Mt Rainier area. The upper low spawns a surface feature off the mouth of the Columbia River early Wednesday, focusing a more organized band of light to moderate snowfall (or snow showers) out ahead of it. This precipitation will be accompanied by a shift to increasing light to moderate winds focusing on the same general areas. Low-level ENE winds also create upslope flow and light snowfall for the easternmost part of the Cascades (Mission Ridge). Snow showers and snowfall expand and intensify as the surface low lifts northward Wednesday afternoon, but the heaviest snowfall remains around Mt St. Helens, which could pick up 1 ft of snow by the end of the day. Paradise, Mt Adams, and Mt Hood can expect 2-5" of snowfall while other areas generally can expect up to 3". Expect another helping of similar amounts over the same general areas Wednesday night as the precipitation expands northward.

The upper low morphs into an elongated trough by Thursday, keeping a few weak instability snow showers over the area, but winds should be light, temperatures continue cold, and snowfall amounts quite limited.

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
Tuesday Night Decreasing chances of light snow or snow showers.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy to start, then increasing light snow showers from mid morning onwards.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy in the early morning hours.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy to start, then increasing light snow showers from late morning onwards.
Tuesday Night Partly cloudy with clouds increasing and a chance of light snow in the early morning hours.
Wednesday Increasing light snow showers.
Tuesday Night Increasing light to moderate snow showers starting in the late evening and focusing on the southern Cascade Volcanoes.
Wednesday Increasing moderate to heavy snow showers focused more on the southern Cascade Volcanoes. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy with light snow developing overnight. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Wednesday Periods of light snow or snow showers. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy with light snow developing overnight. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Wednesday Periods of light snow or snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy with very light snow possible in some areas.
Wednesday Increasing periods of light snowfall.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with light snowfall in the eastern half of the zone during the evening hours. Increasing light snow throughout the zone overnight.
Wednesday Increasing light snow or snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with light snowfall in the eastern half of the zone during the evening hours. Increasing light snow throughout the zone overnight.
Wednesday Light to moderate snow showers increasing during the afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Light snow showers in the evening become light to moderate overnight. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Increasing moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Evening* Tuesday Night* Wednesday Morning* Wednesday Afternoon* Wednesday Evening* Wednesday Night* Thursday Morning* Thursday Afternoon*
Olympics 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1000'
West North 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1000'
West Central 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1000'
West South 0 0 0 500' 500' 0 0 1000'
Stevens Pass 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1000'
East North 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 500'
East Central 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1000'
East South 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1000'
Mt. Hood 500' 0 0 1000' 500' 500' 0 1500'
Olympics Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 0'
Wednesday Evening* 0'
Wednesday Night* 0'
Thursday Morning* 0'
Thursday Afternoon* 1000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 0'
Wednesday Evening* 0'
Wednesday Night* 0'
Thursday Morning* 0'
Thursday Afternoon* 1000'
West Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 0'
Wednesday Evening* 0'
Wednesday Night* 0'
Thursday Morning* 0'
Thursday Afternoon* 1000'
West South Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 500'
Wednesday Evening* 500'
Wednesday Night* 0'
Thursday Morning* 0'
Thursday Afternoon* 1000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 0'
Wednesday Evening* 0'
Wednesday Night* 0'
Thursday Morning* 0'
Thursday Afternoon* 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 0'
Wednesday Evening* 0'
Wednesday Night* 0'
Thursday Morning* 0'
Thursday Afternoon* 1000'
East North Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 0'
Wednesday Evening* 0'
Wednesday Night* 0'
Thursday Morning* 0'
Thursday Afternoon* 500'
East Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 0'
Wednesday Evening* 0'
Wednesday Night* 0'
Thursday Morning* 0'
Thursday Afternoon* 1000'
East South Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 0'
Wednesday Evening* 0'
Wednesday Night* 0'
Thursday Morning* 0'
Thursday Afternoon* 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 500'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1000'
Wednesday Evening* 500'
Wednesday Night* 500'
Thursday Morning* 0'
Thursday Afternoon* 1500'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Tuesday Night Wednesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 16 / 13 20 / 16
West North 16 / 12 18 / 12
West Central 16 / 15 20 / 16
West South 19 / 17 25 / 20
Stevens Pass 16 / 14 23 / 16
Snoqualmie Pass 18 / 15 23 / 16
East North 10 / 5 16 / 6
East Central 15 / 12 22 / 12
East South 26 / 14 24 / 14
Mt. Hood 23 / 19 26 / 20
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 16 / 13
Wednesday 20 / 16
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 16 / 12
Wednesday 18 / 12
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 16 / 15
Wednesday 20 / 16
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 19 / 17
Wednesday 25 / 20
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 16 / 14
Wednesday 23 / 16
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 18 / 15
Wednesday 23 / 16
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 10 / 5
Wednesday 16 / 6
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 15 / 12
Wednesday 22 / 12
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 26 / 14
Wednesday 24 / 14
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 23 / 19
Wednesday 26 / 20

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon
Olympics ESE 0-10 SSE 0-10 S 5-15 SSW 0-10
West North ENE 5-15 S 0-10 S 0-10 S 5-15
West Central SE 5-15 S 0-10 SSW 5-15 S 5-15
West South SSE 0-10 SW 0-10 SW 10-20 SSW 10-20
Stevens Pass ESE 5-15 S 0-10 SSW 5-15 S 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass ESE 5-15 SE 0-10 SSE 5-15 SE 10-20
East North ESE 5-15 SW 0-10 SW 5-15 SSW 5-15
East Central SE 5-15 SW 5-15 WSW 10-20 SSW 5-15
East South SSE 0-10 SW 0-10 SW 10-20 SSW 5-15
Mt. Hood SE 5-15 WSW 15-25 SW 20-30 SW 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening ESE 0-10
Tuesday Night SSE 0-10
Wednesday Morning S 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon SSW 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening ENE 5-15
Tuesday Night S 0-10
Wednesday Morning S 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon S 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SE 5-15
Tuesday Night S 0-10
Wednesday Morning SSW 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon S 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSE 0-10
Tuesday Night SW 0-10
Wednesday Morning SW 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon SSW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening ESE 5-15
Tuesday Night S 0-10
Wednesday Morning SSW 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon S 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening ESE 5-15
Tuesday Night SE 0-10
Wednesday Morning SSE 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon SE 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening ESE 5-15
Tuesday Night SW 0-10
Wednesday Morning SW 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon SSW 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SE 5-15
Tuesday Night SW 5-15
Wednesday Morning WSW 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon SSW 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSE 0-10
Tuesday Night SW 0-10
Wednesday Morning SW 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon SSW 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SE 5-15
Tuesday Night WSW 15-25
Wednesday Morning SW 20-30
Wednesday Afternoon SW 15-25

Extended Weather Synopsis

The aforementioned trough guides another system into California Thursday night. Some moisture from this system will keep the Mt Hood area mostly cloudy with a chance of light snow or snow showers through Friday. Other areas dry out with partly to mostly sunny skies. NW flow develops from Friday night into Saturday. Expect increasing chances of light snowfall for the W slopes of the Cascades with some convergence likely near or south of Snoqualmie Pass on Saturday as a weak disturbance passes to our east.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Night* Friday Friday Night Saturday
West North 500' 1000' 500' 0
Snoqualmie Pass 500' 1000' 500' 500'
Mt. Hood 500' 1000' 500' 1000'
West North Elevation
Thursday Night* 500'
Friday 1000'
Friday Night 500'
Saturday 0'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Night* 500'
Friday 1000'
Friday Night 500'
Saturday 500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Night* 500'
Friday 1000'
Friday Night 500'
Saturday 1000'

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

Previous forecast from Feb 4, 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’.