Issued: 2:30 PM PST Sunday, December 28, 2025
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

Overall, it's been a nice day in the mountains. Recent snow, cool temperatures, generally light winds, and even a little sunshine... High clouds moved into many locations this afternoon, with Hurricane Ridge and Mt Hood looking like the last sunny holdouts. Easterly flow also began pushing low clouds and fog into the Passes, decreasing visibility at lower elevations. This pattern will persist overnight. 

A high pressure ridge off the coast expands this evening and flops to the east, drawing in much warmer air. This will create some very tricky temperature profiles as you ascend the mountains. Freezing levels won't paint a clear picture of what you might experience, and differences valley to valley might be common. Mostly cloudy skies tonight could prevent significant cooling, but there may be enough clearing for some patch fog and low clouds to develop in the mountain valleys. Easterly flow should maintain low clouds near and east of the passes. Even though we're in a dry pattern, you could see a few flurries near Mt Baker or with upslope winds in the eastern forecast zones. 

It will be downright chilly at the trailhead to start the day. With temperature inversions from overnight, expect warmer weather as you ascend. The warm air continues to push north and east on Monday, sending higher elevation temperatures on a steady march upward. Much of the coldest air near and west of the Cascades could mix out during the day, but expect below freezing temperatures to stay entrenched in the eastside valleys and passes. You may find some nice sunshine, but overall expect mostly thin clouds. 

Monday night into Tuesday is a rinse and repeat of the previous 24 hours. Temperatures continue to climb as the ridge expands even further. Above freezing temperatures reach well above our forecast elevations on Tuesday, to 9000-11000 ft. Cold air may cling to the east side valleys and passes despite the significant warming above. Temperatures seem to peak Tuesday afternoon, but this warm, dry stretch is far from over. 

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 Mostly cloudy with calm winds. Temperature inversions possible. Warming overnight.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy with mainly higher thin clouds. Warming.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with the chance for a few flurries. Gradual warming.
Monday Mostly cloudy with the chance for a few flurries. Warming.
Sunday Night Partly to mostly cloudy. Temperature inversions possible. Warming at higher elevations.
Monday Partly cloudy to partly sunny. Warming.
Sunday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with the chance for low clouds/fog. Temperature inversions developing. Warming at higher elevations.
Monday Partly sunny with generally thin clouds. Warming.
Sunday Night Partly to mostly cloudy. Low clouds and fog possible mainly near and east of the Pass. Inversions developing. Generally light easterly flow. Temperature inversions forming.
Monday Partly cloudy with mostly thin clouds. Low clouds/fog could persist near and east of the Pass. Generally light easterly flow. Warming at higher elevations.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy. Warming at higher elevations with temperature inversions forming. Low clouds/fog mainly near and east of the Pass. Generally light easter flow.
Monday Partly cloudy with mainly thin clouds. Low clouds/fog could cling near and east of the Summit. Light easterly flow. Warming at higher elevations.
Sunday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with patchy fog possible. Upslope flurries could develop mainly in the easter portions of the zones.
Monday Partly to mostly sunny with a few lingering low clouds. Warming at the highest elevations.
Sunday Night Partly to mostly cloudy. Low clouds and fog particularly in the western part of the zone. Inversions forming in the valleys and passes. Warming at higher elevations.
Monday Partly cloudy to partly sunny. Low clouds and fog could linger in the western part of the zone. Warming at higher elevations.
Sunday Night Partly to mostly cloudy. Low clouds and fog, mainly in the eastern part of the zone. Temperature inversions forming. Warming at higher elevations.
Monday Partly cloudy to partly sunny. Low clouds and fog could persist in some locations. Warming higher in the terrain.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy. Warming at higher elevations, with temperature inversions forming. Chance for low clouds and fog to develop.
Monday Partly sunny with thin high clouds and lingering low clouds. Warming at higher elevations.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon* Monday Evening* Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon*
Olympics 4500' 6000' 6500' 8000' 9500' 9500' 9500' 10000'
West North 3000' 4000' 4500' 5500' 8500' 9000' 9000' 9500'
West Central 3500' 5000' 5500' 6500' 8500' 9500' 9500' 10000'
West South 4500' 6500' 7000' 8500' 9500' 10000' 10000' 10500'
Stevens Pass 2500' 3500' 5500' 6500' 8500' 9000' 9500' 10000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 5000' 6500' 7500' 9000' 9500' 10000' 10500'
East North 500' 1000' 1000' 1500' 6500' 9000' 9000' 9500'
East Central 1000' 1500' 1500' 6500' 8500' 9500' 9500' 10000'
East South 1000' 5500' 7000' 8500' 9500' 10000' 10000' 10500'
Mt. Hood 6500' 7500' 9000' 10000' 11000' 11500' 11500' 11500'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 6000'
Monday Morning* 6500'
Monday Afternoon* 8000'
Monday Evening* 9500'
Monday Night* 9500'
Tuesday Morning* 9500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 10000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday Morning* 4500'
Monday Afternoon* 5500'
Monday Evening* 8500'
Monday Night* 9000'
Tuesday Morning* 9000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 9500'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening* 3500'
Sunday Night* 5000'
Monday Morning* 5500'
Monday Afternoon* 6500'
Monday Evening* 8500'
Monday Night* 9500'
Tuesday Morning* 9500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 10000'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening* 4500'
Sunday Night* 6500'
Monday Morning* 7000'
Monday Afternoon* 8500'
Monday Evening* 9500'
Monday Night* 10000'
Tuesday Morning* 10000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 10500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening* 2500'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning* 5500'
Monday Afternoon* 6500'
Monday Evening* 8500'
Monday Night* 9000'
Tuesday Morning* 9500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 10000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 5000'
Monday Morning* 6500'
Monday Afternoon* 7500'
Monday Evening* 9000'
Monday Night* 9500'
Tuesday Morning* 10000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 10500'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening* 500'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 1000'
Monday Afternoon* 1500'
Monday Evening* 6500'
Monday Night* 9000'
Tuesday Morning* 9000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 9500'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening* 1000'
Sunday Night* 1500'
Monday Morning* 1500'
Monday Afternoon* 6500'
Monday Evening* 8500'
Monday Night* 9500'
Tuesday Morning* 9500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 10000'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening* 1000'
Sunday Night* 5500'
Monday Morning* 7000'
Monday Afternoon* 8500'
Monday Evening* 9500'
Monday Night* 10000'
Tuesday Morning* 10000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 10500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening* 6500'
Sunday Night* 7500'
Monday Morning* 9000'
Monday Afternoon* 10000'
Monday Evening* 11000'
Monday Night* 11500'
Tuesday Morning* 11500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 11500'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 32 / 28 36 / 31
West North 28 / 26 33 / 27
West Central 29 / 25 34 / 28
West South 32 / 26 37 / 28
Stevens Pass 30 / 24 33 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 32 / 23 34 / 24
East North 20 / 17 25 / 18
East Central 26 / 23 32 / 22
East South 26 / 22 34 / 24
Mt. Hood 32 / 24 34 / 28
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 28
Monday 36 / 31
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 28 / 26
Monday 33 / 27
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 25
Monday 34 / 28
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 26
Monday 37 / 28
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 24
Monday 33 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 23
Monday 34 / 24
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 20 / 17
Monday 25 / 18
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 26 / 23
Monday 32 / 22
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 26 / 22
Monday 34 / 24
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 24
Monday 34 / 28

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics W 5-15 W 5-15 W 5-15 W 5-15
West North W 5-15 W 5-15 W 5-15 W 5-15
West Central NW 5-15 NW 5-15 WNW 5-15 WNW 5-15
West South N 5-15 NW 0-10 NW 0-10 NW 0-10
Stevens Pass NW 5-15 NW 5-15 WNW 5-15 WNW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass NNW 5-15 NW 5-15 WNW 5-15 WNW 5-15
East North W 5-15 W 5-15 W 5-15 W 5-15
East Central WNW 5-15 WNW 5-15 WNW 5-15 WNW 5-15
East South NW 5-15 NW 0-10 NW 0-10 WNW 0-10
Mt. Hood VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10 NW 5-15 NNW 5-15
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 5-15
Sunday Night W 5-15
Monday Morning W 5-15
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 5-15
Sunday Night W 5-15
Monday Morning W 5-15
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening NW 5-15
Sunday Night NW 5-15
Monday Morning WNW 5-15
Monday Afternoon WNW 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening N 5-15
Sunday Night NW 0-10
Monday Morning NW 0-10
Monday Afternoon NW 0-10
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening NW 5-15
Sunday Night NW 5-15
Monday Morning WNW 5-15
Monday Afternoon WNW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening NNW 5-15
Sunday Night NW 5-15
Monday Morning WNW 5-15
Monday Afternoon WNW 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 5-15
Sunday Night W 5-15
Monday Morning W 5-15
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 5-15
Sunday Night WNW 5-15
Monday Morning WNW 5-15
Monday Afternoon WNW 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening NW 5-15
Sunday Night NW 0-10
Monday Morning NW 0-10
Monday Afternoon WNW 0-10
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening VAR 0-10
Sunday Night VAR 0-10
Monday Morning NW 5-15
Monday Afternoon NNW 5-15

Extended Weather Synopsis

The high-pressure ridge continues to keep us warm and dry through the extended forecast period. Even as the ridge begins to moderate, freezing levels stay near or above the top of our forecast elevations. One question is, how long will the cold air persist in the eastside valleys? This is the primary source for the most persistent and complex temperature inversions in the eastern zones and passes. South of I-90, we could see the cold air dissipate Tuesday or Wednesday, but it's hard to say. Even the cold air stronghold, the Methow Valley, could eventually lose the battle to warmer temperatures before this ridge finally weakens. Another major weather factor will be cloud cover. With the main jet pointed just to our north, passing bands of clouds seem to be the norm during this period. In general, clouds will be more prominent further north. Right now, the ridge appears to giveway to an incoming storm Thursday night into Friday, with a return to an active weather pattern. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night* Wednesday * Wednesday Night* Thursday *
West North 9500' 9000' 7500' 5500'
Snoqualmie Pass 10000' 10000' 8000' 7000'
Mt. Hood 11500' 11500' 9500' 8000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night* 9500'
Wednesday * 9000'
Wednesday Night* 7500'
Thursday * 5500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night* 10000'
Wednesday * 10000'
Wednesday Night* 8000'
Thursday * 7000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night* 11500'
Wednesday * 11500'
Wednesday Night* 9500'
Thursday * 8000'

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

Previous forecast from Dec 28, 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’.

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