Issued: 2:01 PM PST Thursday, November 20, 2025
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

For the next 48 hrs or so, the PNW will be stuck between two major weather features: a strong jet stream aimed at British Columbia and a cut-off Low pressure wobbling around California. This will create a stark difference from north to south across the region. Expect generally cloudier conditions and a better chance of precipitation from Highway 2 (Stevens Pass) to the Canadian border. 

For nearly the entire forecast area, things should be dry Thursday night. Clouds in the Olympics and in the north Cascades will keep conditions mild. Meanwhile, clearer skies and generally light winds in the southern zones should allow for temperature inversions to form in some of the mountain valleys and passes. This could result in patchy fog, particularly near lakes and creeks. 

A short-wave system passing well to our north will drag high clouds across nearly the entire area on Friday, with only the southernmost locations remaining sunny. A few showers could begin to impact the Olympic Mountains in the morning, but precipitation won't trickle into the Mt Baker region around lunchtime. Mild conditions should result in rain at most trailhead elevations with a few inches of snow in the higher terrain. 

Conditions don't change much from Friday night into Saturday. Mild temperatures, cloudy skies, and occasional light showers prevail from the Mountain Loop Highway northward. Further south, you'll likely find warm weather, periods of sunshine, and passing high clouds. As a more substantial weather system approaches the area late Saturday afternoon, look for clouds to increase, thicken, and lower. This heralds a bigger change to come overnight. 

 

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 Partly to mostly clear with increasing high clouds.
Friday Mostly cloudy with showers possible mainly in the western Olympics. A few sprinkles possible near Hurricane Ridge.
Thursday Night Mostly cloudy with mid and low level clouds. Generally dry with the chance for a few isolated sprinkles.
Friday Cloudy and dry in the morning, with showers mainly after lunchtime. SW winds increasing in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Partly to mostly cloudy and dry.
Friday Mostly cloudy with a few isolated showers possible in the afternoon mainly in the northern half of the zone.
Thursday Night Mostly clear with cooling. Temperature inversions forming in the mountain valleys and passes with patchy fog possible
Friday Partly to mostly cloudy with general high clouds. Warming.
Thursday Night Becoming partly to mostly clear with temperature inversions possible.
Friday Increasing high clouds with a few isolated sprinkles possible later in the day.
Thursday Night Partly to mostly clear with temperature inversions possible and the potential for patchy fog.
Friday Increasing high clouds, becoming partly to mostly cloudy. W ridgeline winds becoming light to moderate in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Mainly low clouds. Mostly clear above.
Friday Becoming cloudy with the chance for a few showers near the crest and in the far northern extent of the zone. Light to moderate W winds.
Thursday Night Partly to mostly clear with some valley inversions and patchy fog. Light to moderate W winds.
Friday Increasing high clouds, especially in the northern half of the zone. W winds becoming moderate in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Partly to mostly clear with temperature inversions and valley fog possible
Friday Partly to mostly sunny with a few passing high clouds.
Thursday Night Mostly clear with temperature inversions and patchy fog possible.
Friday Mostly sunny with a few passing high clouds possible.

Precipitation (in)

Thursday Night Friday Friday Night Saturday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0 0
Crystal Mt 0 0 0 0
Paradise 0 0 0 0
White Pass 0 0 0 0
Washington Pass 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge 0 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 0 0 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 0 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 0 0
Timberline 0 0 0 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night 0
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0

Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Evening Thursday Night Friday Morning Friday Afternoon Friday Evening Friday Night Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon
Olympics 4500' 4500' 5000' 7000' 7000' 6500' 6000' 5500'
West North 4500' 3500' 4500' 5000' 6000' 6500' 6000' 5500'
West Central 4500' 3500' 4500' 5000' 6500' 6500' 6000' 6000'
West South 4500' 3000' 5000' 7000' 8500' 8500' 8500' 8000'
Stevens Pass 4500' 3000' 4000' 6000' 8000' 7000' 6500' 6000'
Snoqualmie Pass 4500' 3000' 4500' 6500' 8000' 7500' 7000' 6500'
East North 4000' 3000' 3000' 5500' 5500' 5500' 5500' 5000'
East Central 4500' 3000' 4000' 6500' 8000' 8000' 7000' 7600'
East South 4000' 3000' 4000' 7000' 8500' 8500' 8500' 8000'
Mt. Hood 4500' 4500' 5000' 9000' 9000' 9000' 9000' 9000'
Olympics Elevation
Thursday Evening 4500'
Thursday Night 4500'
Friday Morning 5000'
Friday Afternoon 7000'
Friday Evening 7000'
Friday Night 6500'
Saturday Morning 6000'
Saturday Afternoon 5500'
West North Elevation
Thursday Evening 4500'
Thursday Night 3500'
Friday Morning 4500'
Friday Afternoon 5000'
Friday Evening 6000'
Friday Night 6500'
Saturday Morning 6000'
Saturday Afternoon 5500'
West Central Elevation
Thursday Evening 4500'
Thursday Night 3500'
Friday Morning 4500'
Friday Afternoon 5000'
Friday Evening 6500'
Friday Night 6500'
Saturday Morning 6000'
Saturday Afternoon 6000'
West South Elevation
Thursday Evening 4500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 5000'
Friday Afternoon 7000'
Friday Evening 8500'
Friday Night 8500'
Saturday Morning 8500'
Saturday Afternoon 8000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening 4500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 4000'
Friday Afternoon 6000'
Friday Evening 8000'
Friday Night 7000'
Saturday Morning 6500'
Saturday Afternoon 6000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening 4500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 4500'
Friday Afternoon 6500'
Friday Evening 8000'
Friday Night 7500'
Saturday Morning 7000'
Saturday Afternoon 6500'
East North Elevation
Thursday Evening 4000'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 3000'
Friday Afternoon 5500'
Friday Evening 5500'
Friday Night 5500'
Saturday Morning 5500'
Saturday Afternoon 5000'
East Central Elevation
Thursday Evening 4500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 4000'
Friday Afternoon 6500'
Friday Evening 8000'
Friday Night 8000'
Saturday Morning 7000'
Saturday Afternoon 7600'
East South Elevation
Thursday Evening 4000'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday Morning 4000'
Friday Afternoon 7000'
Friday Evening 8500'
Friday Night 8500'
Saturday Morning 8500'
Saturday Afternoon 8000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening 4500'
Thursday Night 4500'
Friday Morning 5000'
Friday Afternoon 9000'
Friday Evening 9000'
Friday Night 9000'
Saturday Morning 9000'
Saturday Afternoon 9000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Thursday Night Friday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 34 / 30 38 / 31
West North 34 / 30 35 / 30
West Central 34 / 30 35 / 30
West South 31 / 27 35 / 27
Stevens Pass 32 / 28 37 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass 32 / 27 36 / 26
East North 29 / 25 34 / 26
East Central 31 / 28 39 / 28
East South 31 / 27 38 / 27
Mt. Hood 34 / 28 40 / 28
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 34 / 30
Friday 38 / 31
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 34 / 30
Friday 35 / 30
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 34 / 30
Friday 35 / 30
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 31 / 27
Friday 35 / 27
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 32 / 28
Friday 37 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 32 / 27
Friday 36 / 26
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 29 / 25
Friday 34 / 26
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 31 / 28
Friday 39 / 28
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 31 / 27
Friday 38 / 27
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Thursday Night 34 / 28
Friday 40 / 28

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Thursday Evening Thursday Night Friday Morning Friday Afternoon
Olympics VAR 0-10 W 5-15 W 5-15 W 5-15
West North SW 5-15 SW 5-15 SW 5-15 SW 10-20
West Central SW 5-15 WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15 W 5-15
West South WSW 5-15 W 5-15 W 5-15 W 0-10
Stevens Pass W 0-10 W 5-15 W 5-15 W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass W 5-15 W 5-15 W 10-20 W 10-20
East North W 5-15 W 10-20 W 10-20 W 10-20
East Central W 5-15 W 10-20 W 10-20 W 15-25
East South NW 0-10 W 5-15 W 5-15 WNW 5-15
Mt. Hood VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10 NW 5-15 NW 5-15
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening VAR 0-10
Thursday Night W 5-15
Friday Morning W 5-15
Friday Afternoon W 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SW 5-15
Thursday Night SW 5-15
Friday Morning SW 5-15
Friday Afternoon SW 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening SW 5-15
Thursday Night WSW 5-15
Friday Morning WSW 5-15
Friday Afternoon W 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening WSW 5-15
Thursday Night W 5-15
Friday Morning W 5-15
Friday Afternoon W 0-10
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening W 0-10
Thursday Night W 5-15
Friday Morning W 5-15
Friday Afternoon W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening W 5-15
Thursday Night W 5-15
Friday Morning W 10-20
Friday Afternoon W 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening W 5-15
Thursday Night W 10-20
Friday Morning W 10-20
Friday Afternoon W 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening W 5-15
Thursday Night W 10-20
Friday Morning W 10-20
Friday Afternoon W 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening NW 0-10
Thursday Night W 5-15
Friday Morning W 5-15
Friday Afternoon WNW 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday Evening VAR 0-10
Thursday Night VAR 0-10
Friday Morning NW 5-15
Friday Afternoon NW 5-15

Extended Weather Synopsis

A stronger storm system should impact our region Saturday night into Sunday with increasing winds and periods of moderate precipitation. With warm air in place, most locations begin the storm as rain. However, a cold front passing over the area Sunday evening should result in a sharp decline in temperatures. It's hard to say how much precipitation will fall after snow levels drop. A trailing short-wave system could provide an extra dose of moisture on Monday, helping keep snowflakes flying in the mountains a little longer. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
West North 5000' 4000' 2500' 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass 5500' 45000' 3000' 2500'
Mt. Hood 6000' 5000' 3500' 3000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Night 5000'
Sunday 4000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Night 5500'
Sunday 45000'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Night 6000'
Sunday 5000'
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday 3000'

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

Previous forecast from Nov 19, 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’.