Issued: 2:32 PM PDT Tuesday, March 11, 2025
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

A low off the Oregon Coast continues to track NNE toward Vancouver Island Tuesday night. Rain and snow on Tuesday focused on the northern portions of the forecast region, but precipitation should fill in across the region during the evening hours and increase overnight. Most precipitation should be light, but SSW winds will focus moderate precipitation on the volcanoes along with more wind. Expect spillover onto the E slopes of the Cascades with light low-level E flow. Snow levels range from 3000 ft in the north, to 3500 ft around Snoqualmie Pass, and up to 5000 ft for Mt Hood.

The slow-moving front reaches the coastline Wednesday morning and pushes into the Cascades during the mid-day hours, allowing the SSW flow pattern to continue bringing in gradually warmer air. Snow levels rise to 3500-4000 ft in the central Washington Cascades as light to moderate rain and snow continue.

A deep upper trough begins to ease into the region Wednesday night, bringing rapidly cooling temperatures, decreased SSW winds, and a cold, showery, snowy regime ensues. On Thursday, expect a combination of locally intense snow showers with graupel, convergence precipitation in the central Washington Cascades, with increased convection in the afternoon with 1000-2000 ft snow levels and lower snow ratios.

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 Increasing periods of light rain and snow (moderate southern and eastern Olympics). Increasing light ridgeline winds become moderate.
Wednesday Periods of light to moderate rain and snow.
Tuesday Night Increasing moderate to heavy rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds become strong at times overnight.
Wednesday Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow. Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Light to moderate rain and snow.
Wednesday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow.
Tuesday Night Moderate rain and snow. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Light to moderate rain and snow. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Periods of light rain and snow. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Wednesday Periods of light rain and snow. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Night Periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Wednesday Periods of light rain and snow. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Night Periods of light rain and snow.
Wednesday Periods of light rain and snow.
Tuesday Night Periods of light rain and snow.
Wednesday Periods of light rain and snow.
Tuesday Night Periods of light rain and snow.
Wednesday Periods of light rain and snow increasing in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Light to moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:32 PM PDT Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Precipitation (in)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm 5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.75 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 0.50 0.25
Crystal Mt 0.50 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Paradise 0.75 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
White Pass 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Washington Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25
Timberline LT 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.75
Wednesday 0.50 - 0.75
Wednesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday 0.25
Wednesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night 0.50
Thursday 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.50
Wednesday 0.25
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday LT 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.75
Wednesday 0.50
Wednesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday 0.25
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0.25
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0.25
Wednesday Night 0.25
Thursday 0.25

Issued: 2:32 PM PDT Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night* Wednesday Morning* Wednesday Afternoon* Wednesday Evening Wednesday Night Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon
Olympics 2500' 2500' 3000' 3000' 2500' 1500' 1000' 1500'
West North 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3000' 2000' 1500' 1500'
West Central 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 3500' 2500' 1500' 1500'
West South 3500' 3500' 4000' 4000' 3500' 2500' 1500' 1500'
Stevens Pass 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 3500' 2500' 1500' 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 3500' 2500' 1500' 1500'
East North 3500' 3000' 3500' 4000' 3500' 2500' 1500' 1500'
East Central 3500' 3500' 4000' 4000' 3500' 2500' 1500' 1500'
East South 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 3500' 2500' 1500' 2000'
Mt. Hood 5000' 4500' 4500' 4500' 3500' 2500' 2000' 2000'
Olympics Elevation
Tuesday Evening 2500'
Tuesday Night* 2500'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3000'
Wednesday Evening 2500'
Wednesday Night 1500'
Thursday Morning 1000'
Thursday Afternoon 1500'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Evening 3000'
Tuesday Night* 3000'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3500'
Wednesday Evening 3000'
Wednesday Night 2000'
Thursday Morning 1500'
Thursday Afternoon 1500'
West Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night* 3500'
Wednesday Morning* 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
Wednesday Evening 3500'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday Morning 1500'
Thursday Afternoon 1500'
West South Elevation
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night* 3500'
Wednesday Morning* 4000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
Wednesday Evening 3500'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday Morning 1500'
Thursday Afternoon 1500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night* 3500'
Wednesday Morning* 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
Wednesday Evening 3500'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday Morning 1500'
Thursday Afternoon 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night* 3500'
Wednesday Morning* 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
Wednesday Evening 3500'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday Morning 1500'
Thursday Afternoon 1500'
East North Elevation
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night* 3000'
Wednesday Morning* 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
Wednesday Evening 3500'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday Morning 1500'
Thursday Afternoon 1500'
East Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night* 3500'
Wednesday Morning* 4000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
Wednesday Evening 3500'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday Morning 1500'
Thursday Afternoon 1500'
East South Elevation
Tuesday Evening 4000'
Tuesday Night* 4000'
Wednesday Morning* 4000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
Wednesday Evening 3500'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday Morning 1500'
Thursday Afternoon 2000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Evening 5000'
Tuesday Night* 4500'
Wednesday Morning* 4500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4500'
Wednesday Evening 3500'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday Morning 2000'
Thursday Afternoon 2000'

Issued: 2:32 PM PDT Tuesday, March 11, 2025

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Tuesday Night Wednesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 28 / 21 30 / 27
West North 27 / 25 31 / 26
West Central 29 / 26 33 / 26
West South 29 / 27 34 / 27
Stevens Pass 29 / 25 34 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass 29 / 26 33 / 26
East North 28 / 23 33 / 23
East Central 29 / 26 33 / 25
East South 31 / 26 35 / 26
Mt. Hood 36 / 29 35 / 29
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 28 / 21
Wednesday 30 / 27
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 27 / 25
Wednesday 31 / 26
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 29 / 26
Wednesday 33 / 26
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 29 / 27
Wednesday 34 / 27
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 29 / 25
Wednesday 34 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 29 / 26
Wednesday 33 / 26
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 28 / 23
Wednesday 33 / 23
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 29 / 26
Wednesday 33 / 25
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 31 / 26
Wednesday 35 / 26
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 36 / 29
Wednesday 35 / 29

Issued: 2:32 PM PDT Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:32 PM PDT Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Extended Weather Synopsis

A cold, snowy pattern continues. On Thursday night, the cold trough remains over the area, and mostly light snow showers focus on the Cascades' west slopes. As an incoming shortwave trough approaches the coastline Friday morning, expect a break in the action before snowfall returns the southern half of the forecast region in the afternoon. Light snow showers spread throughout the region with the trough overhead Friday night. A moist westerly flow focuses moderate to locally heavy snowfall on the west slopes of the Cascades on Saturday.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Night Friday * Friday Night* Saturday *
West North 1000' 1000' 2000' 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1000' 1500' 2000' 2500'
Mt. Hood 1500' 2000' 3000' 3000'
West North Elevation
Thursday Night 1000'
Friday * 1000'
Friday Night* 2000'
Saturday * 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Night 1000'
Friday * 1500'
Friday Night* 2000'
Saturday * 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Night 1500'
Friday * 2000'
Friday Night* 3000'
Saturday * 3000'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 11, 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’.