Issued: 7:00 AM PDT Saturday, March 22, 2025
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

It was a stormy night across much of the forecast area, but the main front has pushed east. A few lingering convergence bands continue to bring snow mainly to locations from Snoqualmie Pass to the Mountain Loop Highway. Any showers should quickly draw to a close this morning as a subtle ridge shifts over the region. This will give us 12-18 hrs of relative calm before a major storm arrives overnight. 

On Saturday, most locations will start mostly cloudy, breezy, and with a few showers. As showers end, winds should drop, and you could even see some filtered sunshine or sunbreaks. The best chance for enjoying some sunshine will be near Hurricane Ridge and in locations further south and east in the region. High and mid clouds will start to increase late in the day as the next storm arrives on our doorstep. 

An atmospheric river will take aim at the Pacific Northwest. Weather models have been shifting this feature further and further south, increasing its impact on our forecast zones. Rain and snow start for most locations late Saturday night along with increasing winds and warming temperatures. By Sunday morning, the fire hose is squarely aimed at the Olympics and Central Washington Cascades. Expect very stormy conditions with heavy rain, gusty winds, and freezing levels quickly rising to upper elevations. Because atmospheric rivers are so narrow, a shift in the main precipitation band north or south could have a big influence on how much precipitation falls and just how warm it gets. 

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 Partly cloudy in the morning with a few very isolated sprinkles possible. Clouds increasing.
Saturday Night Cloudy with rain and snow developing overnight. Warming. SW winds becoming moderate and gusty.
Saturday Cloudy with occasional snow showers mainly in the morning. Some filtered sun or sun breaks possible in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with rain and snow developing overnight. Warming. Moderate and gusty SSW winds.
Saturday Cloudy with showers mainly in the morning. Heaviest under a convergence band. Some filtered sunshine possible in the afternoon. Light to moderate W winds decreasing.
Saturday Night Cloudy with rain and snow developing overnight. Warming. SW winds becoming moderate and gusty.
Saturday Cloudy with a few isolated showers possible in the morning. Filtered sunshine and sunbreaks possible in the afternoon. Light to moderate W winds decreasing.
Saturday Night Cloudy with rain and snow developing overnight. Heaviest on Mt Rainier. Warming. Moderate and gusty SW winds.
Saturday Cloudy in the morning with a few showers. Filtered sunshine and sunbreaks possible in the afternoon. Light to moderate W winds decreasing.
Saturday Night Cloudy with rain and snow developing overnight. Warming. Light to moderate W winds.
Saturday Cloudy in the morning with a few showers possible. Filtered sunshine and sunbreaks possible in the afternoon. Moderate W winds decreasing.
Saturday Night Cloudy with rain and snow developing overnight. Warming. Light to moderate W winds.
Saturday Partly cloudy with a few showers possible mainly in the morning. Light to moderate W winds.
Saturday Night Cloudy with precipitation developing overnight. Winds becoming WSW light to moderate.
Saturday Partly to mostly cloudy in the morning with a few showers. Moderate to strong and gusty WNW winds decreasing.
Saturday Night Cloudy with rain and snow developing overnight. Warming. W winds becoming moderate and gusty.
Saturday Partly cloudy with filtered sunshine and significant sun breaks. Moderate W winds decreasing.
Saturday Night Cloudy with rain and snow developing overnight. Warming. W winds becoming moderate and gusty.
Saturday Partly to mostly cloudy with showers mainly in the morning. Filtered sunshine and sunbreaks in the afternoon. Strong and gusty W winds decreasing.
Saturday Night Cloudy with rain and snow developing overnight. Warming. W winds becoming strong and gusty.

Precipitation (in)

Saturday Saturday Night Sunday
5 am - 5 pm 5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 LT 0.25 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.25 0.50 1.00 - 1.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.25 0.50 1.50 - 2.00
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 1.00 - 1.50
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 0.50 1.00 - 1.50
Crystal Mt 0 LT 0.25 0.50
Paradise LT 0.10 0.50 1.00 - 1.50
White Pass LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 -1.00
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.75 -1.00
Mission Ridge 0 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 1.00
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 -1.00
Timberline LT 0.10 0.50 0.75 -1.00
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 1.00 - 1.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 1.50 - 2.00
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 1.00 - 1.50
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 1.00 - 1.50
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.50
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 1.00 - 1.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.75 -1.00
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.75 -1.00
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 1.00
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.75 -1.00
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 0.75 -1.00

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics 2000' 2500' 2500' 4500' 6500' 7500'
West North 2000' 2500' 2000' 2500' 4000' 5500'
West Central 2000' 2500' 2500' 3000' 4500' 6500'
West South 2000' 3000' 3000' 4000' 5000' 7000'
Stevens Pass 2000' 2500' 2500' 3000' 4500' 6000'
Snoqualmie Pass 2000' 3000' 2500' 3000' 4500' 6500'
East North 2000' 2500' 2000' 2500' 4500' 5500'
East Central 2000' 2500' 2500' 3000' 4500' 6500'
East South 2000' 3000' 3000' 4500' 5500' 7000'
Mt. Hood 2500' 3000' 4000' 5500' 6500' 7000'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Morning 2000'
Saturday Afternoon 2500'
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday Morning 6500'
Sunday Afternoon 7500'
West North Elevation
Saturday Morning 2000'
Saturday Afternoon 2500'
Saturday Evening 2000'
Saturday Night 2500'
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 5500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Morning 2000'
Saturday Afternoon 2500'
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 3000'
Sunday Morning 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 6500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Morning 2000'
Saturday Afternoon 3000'
Saturday Evening 3000'
Saturday Night 4000'
Sunday Morning 5000'
Sunday Afternoon 7000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning 2000'
Saturday Afternoon 2500'
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 3000'
Sunday Morning 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 6000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning 2000'
Saturday Afternoon 3000'
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 3000'
Sunday Morning 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 6500'
East North Elevation
Saturday Morning 2000'
Saturday Afternoon 2500'
Saturday Evening 2000'
Saturday Night 2500'
Sunday Morning 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 5500'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Morning 2000'
Saturday Afternoon 2500'
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 3000'
Sunday Morning 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 6500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Morning 2000'
Saturday Afternoon 3000'
Saturday Evening 3000'
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday Morning 5500'
Sunday Afternoon 7000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning 2500'
Saturday Afternoon 3000'
Saturday Evening 4000'
Saturday Night 5500'
Sunday Morning 6500'
Sunday Afternoon 7000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Saturday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 31 / 20 32 / 28
West North 31 / 23 31 / 28
West Central 31 / 24 31 / 27
West South 31 / 23 31 / 27
Stevens Pass 31 / 23 31 / 27
Snoqualmie Pass 30 / 23 32 / 28
East North 28 / 20 28 / 22
East Central 32 / 24 32 / 26
East South 32 / 24 32 / 28
Mt. Hood 32 / 25 34 / 29
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 31 / 20
Saturday Night 32 / 28
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 31 / 23
Saturday Night 31 / 28
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 31 / 24
Saturday Night 31 / 27
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 31 / 23
Saturday Night 31 / 27
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 31 / 23
Saturday Night 31 / 27
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 30 / 23
Saturday Night 32 / 28
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 28 / 20
Saturday Night 28 / 22
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 32 / 24
Saturday Night 32 / 26
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 32 / 24
Saturday Night 32 / 28
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 32 / 25
Saturday Night 34 / 29

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon Saturday Evening Saturday Night
Olympics WSW 5-15 SW 5-15 SW 10-20 SW 15-25
West North W 5-15 SW 5-15 SSW 15-25 SSW 15-25
West Central W 10-20 SW 5-15 SW 10-20 SW 15-25
West South W 10-20 W 5-15 SW 10-20 WSW 10-20
Stevens Pass W 10-20 W 5-15 W 10-20 W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass W 15-25 W 10-20 W 10-20 W 10-20
East North W 10-20 W 10-20 W 5-15 WSW 10-20
East Central WNW 20-30 WNW 10-20 W 10-20 W 15-25
East South W 15-25 W 5-15 W 10-20 W 15-25
Mt. Hood W 25-35 W 15-25 W 15-25 W 25-35
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning WSW 5-15
Saturday Afternoon SW 5-15
Saturday Evening SW 10-20
Saturday Night SW 15-25
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning W 5-15
Saturday Afternoon SW 5-15
Saturday Evening SSW 15-25
Saturday Night SSW 15-25
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning W 10-20
Saturday Afternoon SW 5-15
Saturday Evening SW 10-20
Saturday Night SW 15-25
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning W 10-20
Saturday Afternoon W 5-15
Saturday Evening SW 10-20
Saturday Night WSW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning W 10-20
Saturday Afternoon W 5-15
Saturday Evening W 10-20
Saturday Night W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning W 15-25
Saturday Afternoon W 10-20
Saturday Evening W 10-20
Saturday Night W 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning W 10-20
Saturday Afternoon W 10-20
Saturday Evening W 5-15
Saturday Night WSW 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning WNW 20-30
Saturday Afternoon WNW 10-20
Saturday Evening W 10-20
Saturday Night W 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning W 15-25
Saturday Afternoon W 5-15
Saturday Evening W 10-20
Saturday Night W 15-25
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning W 25-35
Saturday Afternoon W 15-25
Saturday Evening W 15-25
Saturday Night W 25-35

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

Previous forecast from Mar 21, 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’.