Issued: 2:51 PM PDT Sunday, March 16, 2025
by Josh Lipkowitz

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

Weather Synopsis

The western slopes of the Cascades and Olympics saw some occasional snow showers today, while Mount Hood received a bit more moderate precipitation. Showery activity has become more scattered this afternoon and some mountain locations, especially north and east, have seen a bit of filtered sunshine poking through the clouds. As onshore westerly flow increases this afternoon and evening, a weak and short-lived convergence zone may bring a bit more snow near and north of Highway 2, while the system over Mount Hood continues to produce light snow accumulations during the early evening hours.

Though some slopes may start out with a bit of sun on Monday morning, an upper-level trough will bring increasing cloud cover and westerly winds throughout the day, and another round of convective showery activity in the afternoon and evening. A more substantial convergence zone appears to set up near Snoqualmie Pass Monday night into Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Mount Hood area may get clipped by a more significant system to the south overnight. A partial dry-out is in the cards on Tuesday, perhaps excepting Mt Hood, as a dirty ridge tries to build over Washington. The West Slopes may see a stray shower or two, though the sun looks to make an appearance in many zones. Whatever precipitation does fall during the period should be in the form of snow at all trailhead elevations. If and when the sun pops, expect temperatures to rise quickly.

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 Occasional snow showers and moderate westerly winds, decreasing overnight.
Monday Partly cloudy skies with filtered sunshine in the morning, with clouds increasing throughout the day and a chance of light snow showers. Light to moderate westerly winds increasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Snow showers and moderate westerly winds, decreasing overnight.
Monday Filtered sunshine at times with increasing cloud cover throughout the day and light snow showers. Light to moderate westerly winds increasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Moderate snow showers in the evening, decreasing overnight. Moderate westerly winds decrease overnight.
Monday Filtered sunshine at times with increasing cloud cover throughout the day and light snow showers. Light westerly winds increase to moderate in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Occasional snow showers and moderate westerly winds, decreasing overnight.
Monday Partly cloudy skies with filtered sunshine in the morning, with clouds increasing throughout the day and a chance of light snow showers. Light to moderate westerly winds increasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Snow showers and moderate westerly winds, decreasing overnight.
Monday Partly cloudy skies with filtered sunshine in the morning, with clouds increasing throughout the day and a chance of light snow showers. Light to moderate westerly winds increasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Snow showers and moderate westerly winds, decreasing overnight.
Monday Partly cloudy skies with filtered sunshine in the morning, with clouds increasing throughout the day and a chance of light snow showers. Light to moderate westerly winds increasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Occasional snow showers and moderate westerly winds, decreasing overnight.
Monday Partly cloudy skies with filtered sunshine in the morning, with clouds increasing throughout the day and a chance of light snow showers. Light to moderate westerly winds increasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Occasional snow showers and moderate to strong westerly winds, decreasing overnight.
Monday Partly cloudy skies with filtered sunshine in the morning, with clouds increasing throughout the day and a chance of light snow showers. Moderate westerly winds increasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Occasional snow showers and moderate westerly winds, decreasing overnight.
Monday Partly cloudy skies with filtered sunshine in the morning, with clouds increasing throughout the day and a chance of light snow showers. Light to moderate westerly winds increasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Moderate snow showers in the evening, decreasing overnight. Moderate to strong westerly winds decrease overnight.
Monday Mostly cloudy in the morning, transitioning to filtered sunshine at times early with increasing cloud cover and light snow showers in the afternoon. Moderate westerly winds increasing in the afternoon.

Issued: 2:51 PM PDT Sunday, March 16, 2025

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 2:51 PM PDT Sunday, March 16, 2025

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 2000' 1500' 1000' 1500' 2500' 1500' 1500' 3000'
West North 2000' 1500' 1500' 1500' 2500' 1000' 500' 2500'
West Central 2000' 1500' 1500' 2000' 1500' 1000' 500' 2500'
West South 2000' 1500' 1000' 2000' 1500' 1000' 500' 3000'
Stevens Pass 2000' 1500' 1500' 2000' 1500' 1000' 500' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 2000' 1500' 1500' 2000' 1500' 1000' 1000' 2500'
East North 2000' 1000' 1000' 3500' 2500' 1000' 500' 3000'
East Central 2000' 1500' 1000' 3500' 3000' 2000' 1000' 3000'
East South 2000' 1500' 1000' 4000' 3000' 1500' 500' 3000'
Mt. Hood 3000' 2500' 2000' 2500' 2000' 1500' 1500' 2000'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night 1500'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 2000'
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 2000'
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 2000'
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 2000'
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night 1000'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3000'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Monday Evening 3000'
Monday Night 2000'
Tuesday Morning 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3000'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Monday Evening 3000'
Monday Night 1500'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 2000'
Monday Afternoon 2500'
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 1500'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'

Issued: 2:51 PM PDT Sunday, March 16, 2025

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 26 / 19 29 / 20
West North 28 / 19 28 / 20
West Central 25 / 19 28 / 20
West South 24 / 17 29 / 18
Stevens Pass 24 / 19 29 / 20
Snoqualmie Pass 24 / 19 27 / 20
East North 25 / 15 28 / 16
East Central 24 / 16 29 / 17
East South 25 / 16 30 / 17
Mt. Hood 28 / 23 31 / 24
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 26 / 19
Monday 29 / 20
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 28 / 19
Monday 28 / 20
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 25 / 19
Monday 28 / 20
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 24 / 17
Monday 29 / 18
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 24 / 19
Monday 29 / 20
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 24 / 19
Monday 27 / 20
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 25 / 15
Monday 28 / 16
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 24 / 16
Monday 29 / 17
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 25 / 16
Monday 30 / 17
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 28 / 23
Monday 31 / 24

Issued: 2:51 PM PDT Sunday, March 16, 2025

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:51 PM PDT Sunday, March 16, 2025

Extended Weather Synopsis

More widespread drying out and clearing takes hold Tuesday night through Wednesday midday in advance of the next system. By Wednesday afternoon, the first in a constant parade of storms looks to impact the entire zone. The first system Wednesday into Thursday looks sufficiently cold to bring snow to most trailhead elevations. Expect this storm train to continue through the weekend at least.  

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday * Wednesday Night Thursday
West North 1500' 2500' 2500' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 2500' 2500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 2500' 3000' 3000' 2500'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday * 2500'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday * 2500'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday * 3000'
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday 2500'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 16, 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’.