Issued: 7:08 AM PDT Sunday, March 16, 2025
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

Overnight, a frontal system delivered heavy precipitation and extreme winds to the Mt Hood area with significant but lighter precipitation further north. This frontal boundary is now slowly slipping south into central Oregon this morning. The Mt Hood area will see a few more hours of moderate precipitation along with a slow cooling trend this morning, and winds will back off as well.  Further north, showers have filled in on radar and we'll see light to moderate showers over the Cascades and Olympics this morning with snow levels around 2000'.  Showers should become more scattered in the afternoon along with skies becoming broken with a few sunbreaks. Sunbreaks should be more plentiful along the east slopes of the Cascades this afternoon, especially north of I-90, and freezing levels will bump up a bit more on the east side vs the west. 

A weak Puget Sound convergence should form tonight as westerly winds pick up, with the convergence zone focusing near and north of Highway 2.  This should add a few inches to affected areas but won't be a big snowmaker or long lived event.  We'll cool off tonight and freezing levels will drop to 1500' or lower by Monday morning.  An upper trough will move over the area on Monday, leading to plenty of afternoon cloud cover and convective showers in a marginally unstable air mass.  Showers will likely increase along the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt Hood Monday night. 

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 Light to moderate rain and snow showers this morning, becoming mostly cloudy with scattered showers this afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to moderate rain and snow showers this morning, becoming mostly cloudy with scattered showers this afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to moderate rain and snow showers this morning, becoming mostly cloudy with scattered showers this afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to moderate rain and snow showers this morning, becoming mostly cloudy with scattered showers this afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to moderate rain and snow showers this morning, becoming mostly cloudy with scattered showers this afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate W ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow showers. Moderate W ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Sunday Light to moderate rain and snow showers this morning, becoming mostly cloudy with scattered showers this afternoon. Light to moderate W ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Moderate W ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers this morning, heaviest near the Cascade crest, becoming partly sunny to mostly cloudy with scattered showers this afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers this morning, heaviest near the Cascade crest, becoming partly sunny to mostly cloudy with scattered showers this afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers this morning, heaviest near the Cascade crest, becoming mostly cloudy with scattered showers this afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Moderate rain and snow this morning, becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light showers this afternoon. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds this morning, easing by mid-day.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

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

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Sunday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 29 / 22 24 / 19
West North 29 / 23 24 / 19
West Central 29 / 23 24 / 19
West South 30 / 24 24 / 17
Stevens Pass 30 / 22 24 / 19
Snoqualmie Pass 30 / 23 24 / 19
East North 31 / 22 24 / 15
East Central 31 / 23 24 / 16
East South 31 / 25 25 / 16
Mt. Hood 31 / 26 28 / 23
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 29 / 22
Sunday Night 24 / 19
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 29 / 23
Sunday Night 24 / 19
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 29 / 23
Sunday Night 24 / 19
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 30 / 24
Sunday Night 24 / 17
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 30 / 22
Sunday Night 24 / 19
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 30 / 23
Sunday Night 24 / 19
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 31 / 22
Sunday Night 24 / 15
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 31 / 23
Sunday Night 24 / 16
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 31 / 25
Sunday Night 25 / 16
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 31 / 26
Sunday Night 28 / 23

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night
Olympics W 5-15 WSW 5-15 SW 5-15 WSW 5-15
West North WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15 SW 5-15 W 5-15
West Central W 5-15 W 5-15 W 5-15 W 5-15
West South W 10-20 WSW 5-15 WSW 10-20 W 5-15
Stevens Pass W 5-15 W 5-15 W 10-20 W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass W 10-20 W 5-15 W 10-20 W 10-20
East North W 5-15 W 5-15 W 10-20 W 10-20
East Central W 15-25 W 10-20 W 15-25 W 15-25
East South W 10-20 W 5-15 W 10-20 W 10-20
Mt. Hood W 20-30 W 10-20 WSW 15-25 WSW 10-20
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon WSW 5-15
Sunday Evening SW 5-15
Sunday Night WSW 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning WSW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon WSW 5-15
Sunday Evening SW 5-15
Sunday Night W 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
Sunday Evening W 5-15
Sunday Night W 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning W 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 5-15
Sunday Evening WSW 10-20
Sunday Night W 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
Sunday Evening W 10-20
Sunday Night W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning W 10-20
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
Sunday Evening W 10-20
Sunday Night W 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
Sunday Evening W 10-20
Sunday Night W 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning W 15-25
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
Sunday Evening W 15-25
Sunday Night W 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning W 10-20
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
Sunday Evening W 10-20
Sunday Night W 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning W 20-30
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
Sunday Evening WSW 15-25
Sunday Night WSW 10-20

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

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’.