Issued: 2:32 PM PDT Thursday, March 27, 2025
by Josh Lipkowitz

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

Weather Synopsis

A bit of filtered sunshine graced some mountain locations this morning, but it was generally short-lived. The stacked low-pressure system offshore is spinning in some bands of light precipitation. Cloud cover has increased through the day and a spritz of light showers has begun in the southern zones and Mount Hood, on their way to the north. Precipitation should increase on both sides of the crest as we move into the overnight hours, with Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes a bit shadowed with the southerly flow. Temperatures have certainly moderated, generally reaching into the 30's and low 40's at 5000ft today. Snow levels will drop from 5000ft to 4000ft overnight.

On Friday, conditions stay showery and breezy in the mountains as the low-pressure center moves to the north and we are left in the trough. The cooling continues as snow levels drop further, down to 3500ft. The west slopes are favored for a bit more precipitation than those spots east of the crest. Though totals are modest by Cascades standards, middle and upper elevations in particular could see a nice refresh of the surface conditions. As the showers move in and out, filtered sunshine may be possible here and there, especially on the east side of the crest and south of I-90, though generally cloudy conditions should prevail.

Saturday, a final wave of very light and scattered showers favors the west slopes of the Cascades before a quick upper-ridge builds late afternoon. Snow levels hover in the 2500-3500ft range and precipitation totals look quite paltry, perhaps with the exception of the volcanoes.

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
Thursday Night Moderate snow showers, could be heavier at times. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Mostly cloudy with occasional snow showers and moderate ridgeline winds. Perhaps some spotty and filtered sunshine later in the day.
Thursday Night Moderate snow showers could be heavier at times. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Mostly cloudy with snow showers, perhaps heavier at times. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Moderate rain and snow showers with moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Mostly cloudy with snow showers and moderate ridgeline winds. Perhaps some spotty and filtered sunshine later in the day.
Thursday Night Moderate snow showers could be heavier at times. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Mostly cloudy with snow showers, heavier at times. Moderate ridgeline winds. Perhaps a filtered sunbreak late in the day near and east of the crest.
Thursday Night Scattered and light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds and light to moderate pass winds.
Friday Mostly cloudy with a chance of light snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds and light to moderate pass winds.
Thursday Night Scattered and light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds and light to moderate pass winds.
Friday Mostly cloudy with a chance of light snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds and light to moderate pass winds.
Thursday Night Scattered rain and snow showers with moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Mostly cloudy with occasional light snow showers and moderate ridgeline winds.
Thursday Night Scattered rain and snow showers with moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Mostly cloudy with light to moderate snow showers and moderate ridgeline winds. Perhaps some filtered sunshine further east, especially later in the day.
Thursday Night Scattered snow showers with moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Scattered rain and snow showers with moderate ridgeline winds. Perhaps some filtered sunshine, especially later in the day.
Thursday Night Moderate snow showers, heavier at times. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Friday Moderate snow showers, heavier at times. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds. Perhaps some filtered sunshine, especially later in the day.

Issued: 2:32 PM PDT Thursday, March 27, 2025

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 2:32 PM PDT Thursday, March 27, 2025

Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Evening Thursday Night Friday Morning Friday Afternoon Friday Evening Friday Night Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon
Olympics 4500' 4000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
West North 5000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500'
West Central 5000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500'
West South 5000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500'
Stevens Pass 5000' 4000' 4000' 4500' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500'
East North 5000' 4500' 4000' 4500' 3500' 3000' 2500' 3500'
East Central 5000' 4500' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3000' 2500' 3500'
East South 5000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 3500' 2500' 2500' 3500'
Mt. Hood 5000' 4500' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3000' 2500' 3500'
Olympics Elevation
Thursday Evening 4500'
Thursday Night 4000'
Friday Morning 3500'
Friday Afternoon 3500'
Friday Evening 3000'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday Morning 3000'
Saturday Afternoon 3500'
West North Elevation
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 4000'
Friday Morning 4000'
Friday Afternoon 4000'
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday Morning 3000'
Saturday Afternoon 3500'
West Central Elevation
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 4000'
Friday Morning 4000'
Friday Afternoon 4000'
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday Morning 3000'
Saturday Afternoon 3500'
West South Elevation
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 4000'
Friday Morning 4000'
Friday Afternoon 4000'
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday Morning 3000'
Saturday Afternoon 3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 4000'
Friday Morning 4000'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday Morning 3000'
Saturday Afternoon 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 4000'
Friday Morning 4000'
Friday Afternoon 4000'
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday Morning 3000'
Saturday Afternoon 3500'
East North Elevation
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 4500'
Friday Morning 4000'
Friday Afternoon 4500'
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday Morning 2500'
Saturday Afternoon 3500'
East Central Elevation
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 4500'
Friday Morning 4000'
Friday Afternoon 4000'
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday Morning 2500'
Saturday Afternoon 3500'
East South Elevation
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 4000'
Friday Morning 4000'
Friday Afternoon 4000'
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 2500'
Saturday Morning 2500'
Saturday Afternoon 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening 5000'
Thursday Night 4500'
Friday Morning 4000'
Friday Afternoon 4000'
Friday Evening 3500'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday Morning 2500'
Saturday Afternoon 3500'

Issued: 2:32 PM PDT Thursday, March 27, 2025

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Thursday Night Friday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 33 / 29 34 / 28
West North 32 / 30 33 / 30
West Central 36 / 29 33 / 30
West South 39 / 31 34 / 29
Stevens Pass 39 / 29 35 / 29
Snoqualmie Pass 36 / 30 35 / 30
East North 40 / 30 36 / 30
East Central 38 / 31 36 / 30
East South 37 / 30 35 / 28
Mt. Hood 34 / 31 35 / 29
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 33 / 29
Friday 34 / 28
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 32 / 30
Friday 33 / 30
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 36 / 29
Friday 33 / 30
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 39 / 31
Friday 34 / 29
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 39 / 29
Friday 35 / 29
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 36 / 30
Friday 35 / 30
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 40 / 30
Friday 36 / 30
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 38 / 31
Friday 36 / 30
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 37 / 30
Friday 35 / 28
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 34 / 31
Friday 35 / 29

Issued: 2:32 PM PDT Thursday, March 27, 2025

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Thursday Evening Thursday Night Friday Morning Friday Afternoon
Olympics S 10-20 S 15-25 SSW 10-20 SSW 15-25
West North SSE S 15-25 S 15-25 S 15-25
West Central SE S 10-20 SSW 10-20 SSW 15-25
West South SSW 15-25 SW 15-25 SW 20-30 SW 15-25
Stevens Pass SE 10-20 S 5-15 S 5-15 SW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass SSE 15-25 SW 10-20 SSW 10-20 WSW 15-25
East North SSE 10-20 S 10-20 SSW 10-20 WSW 15-25
East Central SSW 15-25 SSW 15-25 SSW 15-25 WSW 15-25
East South SSW 15-25 SW 15-25 SW 15-25 SW 20-30
Mt. Hood SW SW 35-50 SW 35-50 SW 35-50
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening S 10-20
Thursday Night S 15-25
Friday Morning SSW 10-20
Friday Afternoon SSW 15-25
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SSE
Thursday Night S 15-25
Friday Morning S 15-25
Friday Afternoon S 15-25
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SE
Thursday Night S 10-20
Friday Morning SSW 10-20
Friday Afternoon SSW 15-25
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SSW 15-25
Thursday Night SW 15-25
Friday Morning SW 20-30
Friday Afternoon SW 15-25
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SE 10-20
Thursday Night S 5-15
Friday Morning S 5-15
Friday Afternoon SW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SSE 15-25
Thursday Night SW 10-20
Friday Morning SSW 10-20
Friday Afternoon WSW 15-25
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SSE 10-20
Thursday Night S 10-20
Friday Morning SSW 10-20
Friday Afternoon WSW 15-25
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SSW 15-25
Thursday Night SSW 15-25
Friday Morning SSW 15-25
Friday Afternoon WSW 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SSW 15-25
Thursday Night SW 15-25
Friday Morning SW 15-25
Friday Afternoon SW 20-30
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SW
Thursday Night SW 35-50
Friday Morning SW 35-50
Friday Afternoon SW 35-50

Issued: 2:32 PM PDT Thursday, March 27, 2025

Extended Weather Synopsis

The aforementioned ridge helps us dry out for 12-18 hours Saturday night into Sunday, but it won't last long. On Sunday, the next weather maker arrives as showers spread south to north. We will have to hash out the timing as we get closer, but as of now, it appears that Hood and the southern zones see a little bit of precipitation midday while points I-90 and north get into the action in the evening, though this could change. The storm should ramp up overnight, with snow levels somewhere starting around 4500ft and descending to 3500ft on Monday. After the front pushes through, things look troughy, cool, and showery for much of the week. Come on Winter!

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
West North 3500' 5000' 4000' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 5000' 4000' 3500'
Mt. Hood 3500' 4000' 4000' 3500'
West North Elevation
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday 5000'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Night 3000'
Sunday 5000'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday 4000'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday 3500'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 27, 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’.