Issued: 2:34 PM PST Sunday, February 23, 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

235 PM Update - Added Extended Synopsis

We're smack dab in the middle of an active storm cycle.  After an atmospheric river pushed east of the area this morning, a series of fast moving Pacific frontal systems will impact the area through Tuesday. The first frontal system is lifting heavy precipitation from the south to the north this afternoon. This system will deliver a burst of heavier precipitation (high elevation snow, low/mid-elevation rain) and strong to extreme winds through late this evening, with precipitation tapering off in the south and lingering longest in the northern areas tonight. 

We'll enjoy a short respite from the active weather later tonight and tomorrow morning in between frontal systems.  A deep low pressure system will begin to spread warm frontal precipitation up again from the south during the morning, with precipitation reaching the Canadian border by 4pm.  Winds will become strong for areas west of the Cascade crest, including the Mt Hood area, as the storm approaches Monday. A secondary impulse will bring another round of significant precipitation and strong to extreme wind Monday night into Tuesday morning. Post-frontal showers will pepper the west slopes of the Cascades and Passes on Tuesday, and strong winds will slowly decrease. Snow levels will be slightly cooler with the Monday night/Tuesday precipitation, sticking around 3500-4500'. 

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
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow easing after midnight. Strong ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Monday Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow developing in the afternoon. Light ridgeline winds becoming strong in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Moderate to heavy rain and snow easing after midnight. Strong to extreme ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Monday Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow developing in the afternoon. Light ridgeline winds becoming strong in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Moderate rain and snow easing after midnight. Strong to extreme ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Monday Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow developing mid-day. Light ridgeline winds becoming strong in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow easing after midnight. Strong to extreme ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Monday Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow developing mid-day. Light ridgeline winds becoming strong in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow easing after midnight. Strong to extreme W ridgeline and strong Pass level winds easing after midnight.
Monday Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow developing mid-day. Light ridgeline winds becoming strong in the afternoon. Light SE ridgeline winds becoming moderate in the afternoon. Light E pass level winds.
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow easing after midnight. Strong to extreme W ridgeline and strong Pass level winds easing after midnight.
Monday Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow developing during the morning. Light SE ridgeline winds becoming moderate in the afternoon. Light E pass level winds.
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow, heaviest near the crest, becoming lighter after midnight. Strong ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Monday Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow developing in the afternoon. Light ridgeline winds becoming moderate in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow, heaviest near the crest, becoming lighter after midnight. Strong to extreme ridgeline winds, tapering late.
Monday Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow developing mid-day. Light ridgeline winds becoming moderate to strong in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow, heaviest near the crest, becoming lighter after midnight. Strong to extreme ridgeline winds, tapering late.
Monday Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow developing late morning. Light ridgeline winds becoming moderate to strong in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Moderate to heavy rain and snow becoming lighter after midnight. Strong to extreme ridgeline winds, tapering late.
Monday Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow developing during the morning. Light to moderate ridgeline winds becoming strong in the afternoon.

Issued: 2:34 PM PST Sunday, February 23, 2025

Precipitation (in)

Sunday Night Monday Monday Night Tuesday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.75 -1.00 0.25 - 0.50 1.00 - 1.50 0.50 - 0.75
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 0.75 -1.00 1.00
Stevens Pass 0.50 LT 0.25 0.50 - 0.75 0.75 -1.00
Snoqualmie Pass 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 1.00 - 1.50
Crystal Mt 0.25 0.50 1.00 0.75 -1.00
Paradise 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 - 0.75 1.00 - 1.50 1.00 - 1.50
White Pass 0.50 0.50 0.75 -1.00 0.75 -1.00
Washington Pass 0.50 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Mission Ridge 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 0.50 - 0.75
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.25 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 - 0.75
Mt Hood Meadows 0.50 - 0.75 0.75 1.00 0.50 - 0.75
Timberline 0.50 - 0.75 0.75 1.00 - 1.50 0.75
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night 0.75
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.75 -1.00
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 0.50
Monday Night 0.75 -1.00
Tuesday 1.00
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday 1.00 - 1.50
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.50
Monday Night 1.00
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 0.50 - 0.75
Monday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Tuesday 1.00 - 1.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.50
Monday Night 0.75 -1.00
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night 0.50
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.50
Monday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 0.75
Monday Night 1.00
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 0.75
Monday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Tuesday 0.75

Issued: 2:34 PM PST Sunday, February 23, 2025

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon* Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 5000' 4000' 5500' 4500' 4500' 4000' 3500' 4000'
West North 4500' 3500' 4000' 4500' 4500' 4000' 3500' 3500'
West Central 5000' 3500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4000' 3500' 4000'
West South 6000' 3500' 5000' 5000' 5000' 4000' 3500' 4500'
Stevens Pass 5500' 3500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 3500' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 5500' 3500' 5000' 4500' 4500' 4000' 3500' 4000'
East North 5000' 3000' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 4500'
East Central 5500' 3500' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 4500'
East South 6000' 3500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4000' 3500' 4500'
Mt. Hood 6500' 6500' 6500' 6500' 7000' 4000' 3500' 4000'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening 5000'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning* 5500'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
Monday Evening 4500'
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday Morning 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning* 4000'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
Monday Evening 4500'
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday Morning 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 5000'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning* 4500'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
Monday Evening 4500'
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday Morning 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening 6000'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning* 5000'
Monday Afternoon* 5000'
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday Morning 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 5500'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning* 4500'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday Morning 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 5500'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning* 5000'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
Monday Evening 4500'
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday Morning 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening 5000'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning* 4000'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
Monday Evening 3500'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 5500'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning* 4000'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
Monday Evening 3500'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening 6000'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday Morning* 4500'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
Monday Evening 4500'
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday Morning 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening 6500'
Sunday Night 6500'
Monday Morning* 6500'
Monday Afternoon* 6500'
Monday Evening 7000'
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday Morning 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'

Issued: 2:34 PM PST Sunday, February 23, 2025

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 35 / 28 35 / 28
West North 35 / 29 36 / 29
West Central 36 / 28 35 / 28
West South 37 / 28 36 / 28
Stevens Pass 36 / 28 35 / 27
Snoqualmie Pass 36 / 29 32 / 27
East North 34 / 28 33 / 26
East Central 36 / 27 34 / 27
East South 39 / 28 34 / 29
Mt. Hood 39 / 33 38 / 32
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 35 / 28
Monday 35 / 28
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 35 / 29
Monday 36 / 29
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 36 / 28
Monday 35 / 28
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 37 / 28
Monday 36 / 28
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 36 / 28
Monday 35 / 27
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 36 / 29
Monday 32 / 27
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 34 / 28
Monday 33 / 26
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 36 / 27
Monday 34 / 27
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 39 / 28
Monday 34 / 29
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 39 / 33
Monday 38 / 32

Issued: 2:34 PM PST Sunday, February 23, 2025

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics SW 30-40 SW 15-25 SSE 5-15 SW 30-40
West North SW 35-50 SW 15-25 S 5-15 S 25-35
West Central SW 35-50 SW 15-25 S 5-15 S 25-35
West South WSW 35-50 SW 15-25 SSE 10-20 SSW 30-40
Stevens Pass SW 30-40 WSW 20-30 SSE 5-15 SSW 15-25
Snoqualmie Pass SW 35-50 WSW 20-30 SSE 10-20 SSW 20-30
East North SW 20-30 WSW 25-35 SW 10-20 S 10-20
East Central WSW 35-50 WSW 30-40 S 10-20 S 20-30
East South WSW 35-50 WSW 25-35 S 5-15 S 15-25
Mt. Hood WSW 40-55 WSW 20-30 S 15-25 SW 30-40
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 30-40
Sunday Night SW 15-25
Monday Morning SSE 5-15
Monday Afternoon SW 30-40
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 35-50
Sunday Night SW 15-25
Monday Morning S 5-15
Monday Afternoon S 25-35
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 35-50
Sunday Night SW 15-25
Monday Morning S 5-15
Monday Afternoon S 25-35
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 35-50
Sunday Night SW 15-25
Monday Morning SSE 10-20
Monday Afternoon SSW 30-40
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 30-40
Sunday Night WSW 20-30
Monday Morning SSE 5-15
Monday Afternoon SSW 15-25
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 35-50
Sunday Night WSW 20-30
Monday Morning SSE 10-20
Monday Afternoon SSW 20-30
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 20-30
Sunday Night WSW 25-35
Monday Morning SW 10-20
Monday Afternoon S 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 35-50
Sunday Night WSW 30-40
Monday Morning S 10-20
Monday Afternoon S 20-30
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 35-50
Sunday Night WSW 25-35
Monday Morning S 5-15
Monday Afternoon S 15-25
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 40-55
Sunday Night WSW 20-30
Monday Morning S 15-25
Monday Afternoon SW 30-40

Issued: 2:34 PM PST Sunday, February 23, 2025

Extended Weather Synopsis

Mainly dry and mild weather will take hold beginning Tuesday night as showers quickly wind down overnight. A strong ridge of high pressure will build over the area but briefly flatten on Thursday, allowing some very light precipitation to reach the west slopes of the WA Cascades.  Look for freezing levels to soar into the 7000-10,000' in the extended. 

 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday * Wednesday Night* Thursday
West North 3000' 7500' 7000' 6000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 8500' 8000' 8000'
Mt. Hood 6500' 9500' 10000' 10500'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 3000'
Wednesday * 7500'
Wednesday Night* 7000'
Thursday 6000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday * 8500'
Wednesday Night* 8000'
Thursday 8000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 6500'
Wednesday * 9500'
Wednesday Night* 10000'
Thursday 10500'

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

Previous forecast from Feb 23, 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’.