Issued: 2:44 PM PDT Saturday, March 15, 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

Post-frontal showers are peppering the mountains in W-SW flow this afternoon along with blustery ridgeline winds. Many areas are nearing or over a foot of fresh snow from last night through early this afternoon. Showers will continue in earnest for Olympics and Washington Cascades through the evening, adding several more inches to our growing storm totals. 

The latest wrinkle in our busy weather pattern is on the way as a frontal wave off the Oregon coast develops into a low pressure system this evening. The low pressure will pass inland through the southern WA Cascades Saturday night.  We'll see steady, heavy precipitation return to the Mt Hood area and the far south Washington Cascades including the Mt St Helens area overnight.  These same areas will see a warming trend along with extreme SW winds. Further north, snow levels will be much cooler, storm amounts will be much lighter, and winds will be much lighter. This juicy quasi-stationary frontal boundary will shift south during the day on Sunday, shoving the heavier precipitation further south into Oregon.  How fast that boundary drifts south is a bit of a question mark, but the heaviest precipitation should wrap up for the Mt Hood area before mid-day Sunday.  An upper level trough will keep showers in the forecast over the WA Cascades and Olymipcs, but showers will be much lighter than they were on Saturday. 

After a cold Sunday night with scattered showers, an upper trough over our region will maintain a cool and unstable air mass, leading to an uptick in afternoon and evening showers on Monday.  

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 Light to moderate rain and snow showers, becoming lighter after midnight. Light to moderate ridgeline winds easing overnight.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate rain or snow showers. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers, becoming lighter after midnight. Light to moderate ridgeline winds easing overnight.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate rain or snow showers. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers, becoming lighter after midnight. Light to moderate ridgeline winds easing overnight.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate rain or snow showers. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then light to moderate rain and snow developing around midnight. Heavier precipitation further south near Mt St Helens and Mt Adams. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow early, becoming lighter showers later in the morning. Moderate ridgeline winds easing during the morning.
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then light to moderate rain and snow increasing after midnight. Moderate W ridgeline winds becoming S, W Pass level winds becoming light E.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate rain or snow showers. Light to occasionally W ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then light to moderate rain and snow increasing after midnight. Moderate W ridgeline winds becoming S, W Pass level winds becoming light E.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate rain or snow showers. Light to occasionally W ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Saturday Night Light rain and snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds easing overnight.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain or snow showers. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then light to moderate rain and snow increasing after midnight. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain or snow showers. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the evening, then light to moderate rain and snow increasing around midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow early, becoming lighter showers later in the morning. Moderate ridgeline winds easing during the morning.
Saturday Night Moderate to heavy rain and snow. Extreme ridgeline winds.
Sunday Moderate rain and snow in the morning, becoming light showers mid-day. Moderate ridgeline winds easing in the afternoon.

Issued: 2:44 PM PDT Saturday, March 15, 2025

Precipitation (in)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm 5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise 0.50 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
White Pass 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 1.00 - 1.50 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Timberline 1.00 - 1.50 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10

Issued: 2:44 PM PDT Saturday, March 15, 2025

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 2500' 2000' 2500' 3500' 2500' 2000' 2500' 3000'
West North 2500' 2000' 2500' 3500' 2500' 1500' 2500' 3000'
West Central 2500' 2000' 2500' 3500' 2500' 1500' 2500' 3000'
West South 2500' 2500' 3000' 3500' 2500' 1500' 2500' 3500'
Stevens Pass 2500' 2000' 2500' 4000' 2500' 1500' 2500' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 2500' 2000' 2500' 3500' 2500' 1500' 2500' 3000'
East North 2500' 2000' 2500' 4500' 2500' 1000' 2500' 3500'
East Central 2500' 2000' 2500' 4500' 2500' 1500' 2500' 3500'
East South 2500' 2500' 3000' 4500' 2500' 1500' 2500' 3500'
Mt. Hood 3500' 4500' 3500' 4000' 2500' 2000' 2500' 3500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 2000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 2500'
Sunday Morning 3000'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 4500'
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 4500'
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 2500'
Sunday Morning 3000'
Sunday Afternoon 4500'
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening 3500'
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 2000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'

Issued: 2:44 PM PDT Saturday, March 15, 2025

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 28 / 23 30 / 25
West North 28 / 23 30 / 25
West Central 28 / 24 30 / 25
West South 28 / 25 30 / 25
Stevens Pass 28 / 24 31 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass 28 / 24 30 / 25
East North 28 / 21 32 / 24
East Central 28 / 24 32 / 25
East South 28 / 26 31 / 25
Mt. Hood 32 / 28 32 / 28
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 23
Sunday 30 / 25
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 23
Sunday 30 / 25
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 24
Sunday 30 / 25
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 25
Sunday 30 / 25
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 24
Sunday 31 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 24
Sunday 30 / 25
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 21
Sunday 32 / 24
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 24
Sunday 32 / 25
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 26
Sunday 31 / 25
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 28
Sunday 32 / 28

Issued: 2:44 PM PDT Saturday, March 15, 2025

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics SW 10-20 VAR 5-15 W 5-15 W 5-15
West North SW 10-20 S 5-15 W 5-15 W 5-15
West Central SW 10-20 SE 5-15 W 5-15 W 5-15
West South SSW 10-20 SSW 15-25 W 5-15 W 10-20
Stevens Pass WSW 5-15 SE 5-15 W 5-15 W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass WSW 10-20 SE 5-15 W 5-15 W 10-20
East North WSW 5-15 S 0-10 W 5-15 W 5-15
East Central WSW 10-20 S 10-20 W 10-20 W 10-20
East South WSW 10-20 SW 15-25 W 5-15 W 5-15
Mt. Hood SW 25-35 WSW 35-50 WSW 15-25 WSW 10-20
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 10-20
Saturday Night VAR 5-15
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 10-20
Saturday Night S 5-15
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 10-20
Saturday Night SE 5-15
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSW 10-20
Saturday Night SSW 15-25
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 5-15
Saturday Night SE 5-15
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 10-20
Saturday Night SE 5-15
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 5-15
Saturday Night S 0-10
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 10-20
Saturday Night S 10-20
Sunday Morning W 10-20
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 10-20
Saturday Night SW 15-25
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 25-35
Saturday Night WSW 35-50
Sunday Morning WSW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10-20

Issued: 2:44 PM PDT Saturday, March 15, 2025

Extended Weather Synopsis

Generally spring time-ish weather with cool temperatures and isolated to scattered mountain showers peaking in the afternoon and evening will continue through midweek.  Active weather returns later in the week. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 1500' 3500' 2500' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 3500' 2500' 4000'
Mt. Hood 2000' 4000' 3000' 4500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 1500'
Tuesday 3500'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 1500'
Tuesday 3500'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 2000'
Tuesday 4000'
Tuesday Night 3000'
Wednesday 4500'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 15, 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’.