Issued: 2:11 PM PST Tuesday, February 18, 2025
by Josh Lipkowitz

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

Weather Synopsis

Tuesday was a generally pleasant day in the mountains. Shower activity tapered off, winds backed down, and the sun graced many slopes, if only for a short time. Upper and mid-level clouds are beginning to stream in ahead of the next weather maker. Though impacts from this next frontal system will begin late tonight, there is still lots of uncertainty associated with the track of the storm. This uncertainty is driving a pretty significant difference in total precipitation and local winds between the models, especially for Wednesday night into Thursday morning after the front passes through.

Here's the general trend: Precipitation begins a little before midnight and increases in intensity in the overnight hours. This storm will spread precipitation on both the east and west sides of the range, with some big bullseyes on the volcanoes. Snow levels start around 3000-3500ft on the west side and 2500ft on the east side, and rise a bit during the day on Wednesday. Snoqualmie Pass and other low-elevation trailheads will lsee some rain out of this system, while mid-elevations and above should see snow, if a little wet at times. Easterly flow subsides late in the day Wednesday as the front passes by. This is where things diverge. Post-frontal storm totals Wednesday night into Thursday could be significant for I-90 and points south, but it all depends on the actual storm track. That track could drive a significant wind event at Mount Hood if it takes the southern route.  

Though Thursday should be much less stormy, some model solutions keep things wet, especially for the northern portion of the zone, while others show a short-lived ridge building and keeping things calm until the next storm makes landfall over the weekend. 

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 Light snow and rain showers increase overnight. Moderate southerly winds.
Wednesday Snow and rain showers with moderate southerly winds, gusty at times.
Tuesday Night Light snow and rain showers increase overnight. Moderate southeast winds.
Wednesday Snow and rain, heavy at times. Moderate and gusty southeast winds.
Tuesday Night Light snow and rain showers increase overnight. Moderate southeast winds.
Wednesday Snow and rain showers. Moderate and gusty easterly winds.
Tuesday Night Light snow and rain showers increase overnight. Moderate southeast winds. Precipitation is heavy at times on the volcanoes.
Wednesday Snow and rain, heavy at times, especially on the volcanoes. Moderate and gusty southeast winds.
Tuesday Night Light snow showers increase overnight. Moderate southeast winds at ridgeline and pass level.
Wednesday Snow showers. Moderate and gusty easterly winds at ridgeline and pass level.
Tuesday Night Light snow and rain showers increase overnight. Moderate southeast winds at ridgeline and moderate to strong southeast winds at pass level.
Wednesday Snow and rain showers. Moderate and gusty easterly winds at ridgeline and pass level.
Tuesday Night Light snow showers increase overnight. Light to moderate southeast winds.
Wednesday Snow showers with light to moderate southeast winds.
Tuesday Night Light snow and rain showers increase overnight. Moderate and gusty southeast winds.
Wednesday Snow showers with moderate and gusty southeast winds.
Tuesday Night Light snow showers increase overnight. Moderate southeast winds.
Wednesday Snow with moderate and gusty easterly winds.
Tuesday Night Snow, heavy at times. Increasing moderate to strong southwest winds.
Wednesday Snow, heavy at times. Strong southwest winds.

Issued: 2:11 PM PST Tuesday, February 18, 2025

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 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.25 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.25 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 0.25 0.50 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.10
Paradise 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 - 0.75 0.75 -1.00 LT 0.10
White Pass LT 0.25 0.25 0.50 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0.50 0.75 1.00 LT 0.10
Timberline 0.50 0.75 1.00 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0.50 - 0.75
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0.25
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday LT 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0.25
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0.25
Wednesday Night 0.50
Thursday LT 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Wednesday 0.50 - 0.75
Wednesday Night 0.75 -1.00
Thursday LT 0.10
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0.25
Wednesday Night 0.50
Thursday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.50
Wednesday 0.75
Wednesday Night 1.00
Thursday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.50
Wednesday 0.75
Wednesday Night 1.00
Thursday LT 0.10

Issued: 2:11 PM PST Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Evening* Tuesday Night* Wednesday Morning* Wednesday Afternoon* Wednesday Evening Wednesday Night Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon
Olympics 4500' 5500' 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000'
West North 3500' 3000' 3500' 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500'
West Central 3000' 2500' 3000' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
West South 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 3500'
Stevens Pass 3000' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 2500' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500'
East North 2500' 1500' 1500' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 4000'
East Central 2500' 2000' 2000' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3500'
East South 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 3500'
Mt. Hood 4500' 5000' 5000' 4500' 3500' 3000' 2500' 3500'
Olympics Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 4500'
Tuesday Night* 5500'
Wednesday Morning* 4500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4500'
Wednesday Evening 4000'
Wednesday Night 4000'
Thursday Morning 4000'
Thursday Afternoon 4000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 3500'
Tuesday Night* 3000'
Wednesday Morning* 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
Wednesday Evening 3500'
Wednesday Night 3500'
Thursday Morning 3500'
Thursday Afternoon 3500'
West Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 3000'
Tuesday Night* 2500'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3500'
Wednesday Evening 3000'
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday Morning 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 3500'
West South Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 4000'
Tuesday Night* 4000'
Wednesday Morning* 4000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
Wednesday Evening 3500'
Wednesday Night 3500'
Thursday Morning 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 3000'
Tuesday Night* 2500'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3000'
Wednesday Evening 3000'
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday Morning 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 3000'
Tuesday Night* 2500'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3500'
Wednesday Evening 3500'
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday Morning 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 3500'
East North Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 2500'
Tuesday Night* 1500'
Wednesday Morning* 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2500'
Wednesday Evening 3000'
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday Morning 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 4000'
East Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 2500'
Tuesday Night* 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2500'
Wednesday Evening 2500'
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday Morning 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 3500'
East South Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 3500'
Tuesday Night* 3500'
Wednesday Morning* 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
Wednesday Evening 3500'
Wednesday Night 3500'
Thursday Morning 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 4500'
Tuesday Night* 5000'
Wednesday Morning* 5000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4500'
Wednesday Evening 3500'
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday Morning 2500'
Thursday Afternoon 3500'

Issued: 2:11 PM PST Tuesday, February 18, 2025

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Tuesday Night Wednesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 29 / 28 34 / 29
West North 29 / 27 32 / 30
West Central 32 / 30 32 / 30
West South 32 / 31 34 / 32
Stevens Pass 31 / 27 31 / 27
Snoqualmie Pass 29 / 27 31 / 27
East North 27 / 23 29 / 23
East Central 28 / 25 31 / 25
East South 32 / 29 32 / 29
Mt. Hood 32 / 29 34 / 30
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 29 / 28
Wednesday 34 / 29
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 29 / 27
Wednesday 32 / 30
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 32 / 30
Wednesday 32 / 30
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 32 / 31
Wednesday 34 / 32
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 31 / 27
Wednesday 31 / 27
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 29 / 27
Wednesday 31 / 27
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 27 / 23
Wednesday 29 / 23
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 28 / 25
Wednesday 31 / 25
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 32 / 29
Wednesday 32 / 29
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 32 / 29
Wednesday 34 / 30

Issued: 2:11 PM PST Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon
Olympics S 5-15 SSE 10-20 SSE 10-20 S 5-15
West North SE 10-20 SE 10-20 SE 10-20 E 5-15
West Central SE 10-20 SE 10-20 ESE 10-20 ESE 10-20
West South SSE 5-15 SE 5-15 SE 10-20 SE 10-20
Stevens Pass SE 5-15 ESE 10-20 ESE 5-15 ESE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass ESE 10-20 ESE 10-20 ESE 10-20 SE 10-20
East North SE 5-15 SE 5-15 SE 5-15 ESE 5-15
East Central S 10-20 SE 10-20 ESE 10-20 ESE 10-20
East South SE 5-15 SE 5-15 ESE 5-15 SSE 5-15
Mt. Hood SSW 15-25 SW 20-30 S 25-35 SW 30-40
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening S 5-15
Tuesday Night SSE 10-20
Wednesday Morning SSE 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon S 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SE 10-20
Tuesday Night SE 10-20
Wednesday Morning SE 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon E 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SE 10-20
Tuesday Night SE 10-20
Wednesday Morning ESE 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSE 5-15
Tuesday Night SE 5-15
Wednesday Morning SE 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon SE 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SE 5-15
Tuesday Night ESE 10-20
Wednesday Morning ESE 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening ESE 10-20
Tuesday Night ESE 10-20
Wednesday Morning ESE 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon SE 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SE 5-15
Tuesday Night SE 5-15
Wednesday Morning SE 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening S 10-20
Tuesday Night SE 10-20
Wednesday Morning ESE 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SE 5-15
Tuesday Night SE 5-15
Wednesday Morning ESE 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon SSE 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSW 15-25
Tuesday Night SW 20-30
Wednesday Morning S 25-35
Wednesday Afternoon SW 30-40

Issued: 2:11 PM PST Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Extended Weather Synopsis

The aforementioned uncertainty will largely dictate how Thursday night and Friday play out. An upper-level ridge should be in place over Washington, but a warm front passing to our north could drop precipitation into the northern half of the forecast area. Either way, the big news in the extended forecast is the atmospheric river that is looking more and more likely to impact the northwest over the weekend. As of now, the system arrives sometime early Saturday and sticks around through Sunday, if not longer. Models are currently showing snow levels pushing up to 7000ft. Things could change between now and then, but things look wet and warm!

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Night Friday * Friday Night* Saturday *
West North 3500' 4500' 4500' 5500'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 4500' 5000' 6000'
Mt. Hood 4000' 4500' 5500' 7000'
West North Elevation
Thursday Night 3500'
Friday * 4500'
Friday Night* 4500'
Saturday * 5500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Night 4000'
Friday * 4500'
Friday Night* 5000'
Saturday * 6000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Night 4000'
Friday * 4500'
Friday Night* 5500'
Saturday * 7000'

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

Previous forecast from Feb 18, 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’.