Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, December 6, 2025
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

A westerly feed of moisture continues to round the top of an offshore ridge, bringing rain and snow showers into the Pacific Northwest. Snow levels have settled around 4000 ft for the northern Cascades and closer to 5000 ft for Mt Hood. We're not expecting much change in snow levels overnight as moderate westerly winds ease and light shower activity generally decreases overnight. 

The reprieve will be short-lived as the next pulse of moisture spreads rapidly early Sunday. A closed low should track toward the Olympic Mountains, spreading a warm front from SW to NE across the region Saturday morning. This will bring rising snow levels along with moderate to heavy rain and snow. Easterly low-level flow during most of the day won't hold off the warming very much as increasing moderate SSW winds stream mild air into the region. The low center should cross the Cascades late in the day and will bring 1-2" of water, equivalent to the southern Cascade Volcanoes and 0.25-1" further north.

Another short relative reprieve arrives Sunday night with only subtle cooling in the northern areas. The main event arrives on Monday in the form of a strong atmospheric river. Models have shifted the aim of the firehose slightly south relative to this time yesterday. Therefore, water amounts will be in the 1-3" range for the southern and central Cascades with 1-2" amounts further north. Snow levels will rise up to 6000-7500 ft during the afternoon and could peak around 7000-8000 ft late in the day.

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 Night Cloudy in the evening with isolated rain or snow showers overnight for the NE Olympics. Steadier light snow developing for the S and W Olympics.
Sunday Light rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Decreasing light rain and snow showers taper overnight.
Sunday Light rain and snow develop and increase in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Decreasing mostly light rain and snow showers.
Sunday Light rain and snow develop in the morning and increase in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Decreasing moslty light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgleine winds become light.
Sunday Heavy rain and snow at Paradise. Light to moderate rain and snow at White Pass and Crystal. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Decreasing light rain and snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Increasing light to moderate rain and snow. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline and light E winds at the Pass switch W late in the day.
Saturday Night Decreasing light rain and snow showers. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Moderate rain and snow, becoming heavy late in the day. Increasing moderate ridgeline and light E winds at the Pass switch W late in the day.
Saturday Night Decreasing light snow showers. Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Increasing light snow. Moderate ridgeline winds develop by the afternoon.
Saturday Night Light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Increasing light to moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds develop by the afternoon.
Saturday Night Light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Increasing moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds develop by the afternoon.
Saturday Night Decreasing light to moderate rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Heavy rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds become strong.

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, December 6, 2025

Precipitation (in)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 1.00
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 1.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.25 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 1.50 - 2.00
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 0.50 0.25 1.50
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 0.75 -1.00 0.25 2.00 - 2.50
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.10 1.00
Paradise 0.25 - 0.50 1.00 - 1.50 0.25 2.50 - 3.50
White Pass 0.25 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 1.00 - 1.50
Washington Pass LT 0.25 0.25 0.25 1.00
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.25 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25 1.50
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.25 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.10 0.75
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 1.00 - 1.50 0.50 1.50 - 2.00
Timberline 0.25 - 0.50 1.00 - 1.50 0.50 - 0.75 2.00
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 1.00
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 1.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 1.50 - 2.00
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 1.50
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.75 -1.00
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 2.00 - 2.50
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 1.00
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 2.50 - 3.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 1.00 - 1.50
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 1.00
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 1.50
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.75
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 1.50 - 2.00
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 2.00

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, December 6, 2025

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 3500' 4000' 5000' 5500' 4500' 4500' 5000' 7000'
West North 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4500' 4000' 4000' 5500'
West Central 4000' 4000' 4000' 4500' 5000' 4500' 5000' 6000'
West South 4500' 4000' 4500' 5500' 5500' 5000' 5500' 7000'
Stevens Pass 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 6000'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 4000' 4000' 4500' 5000' 5000' 5500' 7000'
East North 2000' 2000' 2000' 3500' 4000' 4500' 4500' 5000'
East Central 4000' 4000' 4000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 6000'
East South 4500' 4500' 5000' 5500' 5500' 5500' 6000' 7000'
Mt. Hood 5000' 5000' 5500' 6500' 6500' 6500' 7000' 7500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening 3500'
Saturday Night 4000'
Sunday Morning* 5000'
Sunday Afternoon 5500'
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning 5000'
Monday Afternoon 7000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening 3500'
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday Morning* 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 4000'
Saturday Night 4000'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 4500'
Sunday Evening 5000'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning 5000'
Monday Afternoon 6000'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening 4500'
Saturday Night 4000'
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 5500'
Sunday Evening 5500'
Sunday Night 5000'
Monday Morning 5500'
Monday Afternoon 7000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 4000'
Saturday Night 4000'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 5000'
Sunday Night 5000'
Monday Morning 5000'
Monday Afternoon 6000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 4000'
Saturday Night 4000'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 4500'
Sunday Evening 5000'
Sunday Night 5000'
Monday Morning 5500'
Monday Afternoon 7000'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening 2000'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning* 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning 4500'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 4000'
Saturday Night 4000'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 5000'
Sunday Evening 5000'
Sunday Night 5000'
Monday Morning 5000'
Monday Afternoon 6000'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening 4500'
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday Morning* 5000'
Sunday Afternoon 5500'
Sunday Evening 5500'
Sunday Night 5500'
Monday Morning 6000'
Monday Afternoon 7000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening 5000'
Saturday Night 5000'
Sunday Morning* 5500'
Sunday Afternoon 6500'
Sunday Evening 6500'
Sunday Night 6500'
Monday Morning 7000'
Monday Afternoon 7500'

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, December 6, 2025

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 31 / 29 36 / 29
West North 30 / 28 34 / 28
West Central 31 / 29 35 / 30
West South 33 / 31 36 / 32
Stevens Pass 32 / 31 36 / 31
Snoqualmie Pass 32 / 31 36 / 31
East North 28 / 26 33 / 26
East Central 32 / 30 36 / 30
East South 33 / 31 36 / 30
Mt. Hood 34 / 32 40 / 33
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 31 / 29
Sunday 36 / 29
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 30 / 28
Sunday 34 / 28
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 31 / 29
Sunday 35 / 30
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 33 / 31
Sunday 36 / 32
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 31
Sunday 36 / 31
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 31
Sunday 36 / 31
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 26
Sunday 33 / 26
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 30
Sunday 36 / 30
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 33 / 31
Sunday 36 / 30
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 34 / 32
Sunday 40 / 33

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, December 6, 2025

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, December 6, 2025

Extended Weather Synopsis

Heavy rain and snow continue with the main atmospheric river event, with moisture decreasing as a front brings cooler, drier air from N to S. A secondary wave of significant moisture arrives late Tuesday and likely lasts through Wednesday. Fluctuating snow levels throughout this phase will determine whether middle elevations receive rain or snow. Northern portions of the forecast region are much more likely to see a majority of snow at these elevations in the latest model runs.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 5000' 3500' 3500' 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass 6000' 4000' 4500' 5000'
Mt. Hood 7500' 6500' 8000' 7500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 5000'
Tuesday 3500'
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 6000'
Tuesday 4000'
Tuesday Night 4500'
Wednesday 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 7500'
Tuesday 6500'
Tuesday Night 8000'
Wednesday 7500'

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

Previous forecast from Dec 6, 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’.