Issued: 2:14 PM PST Saturday, February 15, 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 long-duration winter storm will impact the region through Monday. The storm will bring a return to more typical temperatures with the lowlands back firmly in the "rain" category. However, the mountains will pick significant snowfall.

Warm frontal moisture continues to lift through the northern Cascades early Tuesday evening, while the southern half experiences a break in the action in the "warm sector" of the storm. Moderate SW ridgeline winds will buffet the Olympics, Mt Baker, and southern Cascade volcanoes as the primary front approaches and then moves through overnight with moderate to locally heavy rain and snow. Snow levels should rise to around 2500-4500 ft west of the Cascade Crest, but should be 1500 ft lower further east and through the Cascade gaps as light to moderate E flow peaks.

Moderate rain and snow continue with SW flow as an upper low shifts SE. Precipitation gradually becomes more showery as the day progresses. Snow levels remain in the 3500-4500 ft range for the west slopes of the Cascades but rise progressively east of the Cascades.

A secondary pulse of moisture arrives Sunday night, bringing heavy rain and snow to the southern half of the Cascades with more modest precipitation further north. Moderate ridgeline winds target Mt Hood, the mountain gaps, and the east slopes of the Cascades.

On Monday, precipitation will become light to moderate and showery as the upper low moves onshore. The focus of precipitation and decreasing winds will remain on the southern Cascades.

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 Increasing light rain and snow. Gradually moderating temperatures. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light rain and snow showers.
Saturday Night Increasing moderate snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Moderate rain and snow.
Saturday Night Increasing moderate snow.
Sunday Moderate rain and snow.
Saturday Night Increasing moderate rain and snow (becoming heavy at Paradise).
Sunday Rain and snow (light at Crystal, moderate at White Pass, heavy at Paradise). Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Increasing moderate snow. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Moderate snow. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass may become variable in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Increasing moderate snow. Light to moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Moderate to occasionally heavy snow (and low elevation rain). Light to moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass may become variable in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Increasing light snow.
Sunday Decreasing light snow.
Saturday Night Increasing light snow may become moderate closer to the Cascade Crest. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Light snow.
Sunday Light rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Light rain and snow in the evening becomes moderate overnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:14 PM PST Saturday, February 15, 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 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 LT 0.25 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0.25
Paradise 0.75 0.75 1.00 0.50
White Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Washington Pass LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.25 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0.50 0.50 0.75 0.50 - 0.75
Timberline 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 0.75 -1.00 0.50 - 0.75
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.75
Sunday 0.75
Sunday Night 1.00
Monday 0.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday 0.50 - 0.75
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night 0.75 -1.00
Monday 0.50 - 0.75

Issued: 2:14 PM PST Saturday, February 15, 2025

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening* Saturday Night* Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon* Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 3000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500'
West North 2000' 2500' 3000' 3500' 30000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
West Central 2000' 2500' 2500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3000' 3500'
West South 3000' 3500' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500'
Stevens Pass 1500' 1500' 2000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 1500' 2000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
East North 1000' 500' 1500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3500'
East Central 1000' 1000' 2000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
East South 2500' 3000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 4000'
Mt. Hood 4000' 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening* 3000'
Saturday Night* 4000'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Sunday Evening* 3500'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2000'
Saturday Night* 2500'
Sunday Morning* 3000'
Sunday Afternoon* 3500'
Sunday Evening* 30000'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2000'
Saturday Night* 2500'
Sunday Morning* 2500'
Sunday Afternoon* 3500'
Sunday Evening* 3500'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 3000'
Saturday Night* 3500'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Sunday Evening* 3500'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 1500'
Sunday Morning* 2000'
Sunday Afternoon* 3000'
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 1500'
Sunday Morning* 2000'
Sunday Afternoon* 3000'
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1000'
Saturday Night* 500'
Sunday Morning* 1500'
Sunday Afternoon* 2500'
Sunday Evening* 2500'
Sunday Night* 2500'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1000'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning* 2000'
Sunday Afternoon* 3000'
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2500'
Saturday Night* 3000'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening* 4000'
Saturday Night* 4500'
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'

Issued: 2:14 PM PST Saturday, February 15, 2025

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 31 / 28 32 / 29
West North 29 / 26 31 / 28
West Central 29 / 26 32 / 28
West South 31 / 27 32 / 29
Stevens Pass 24 / 21 32 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 26 / 24 32 / 26
East North 16 / 14 29 / 15
East Central 24 / 22 32 / 24
East South 29 / 24 34 / 30
Mt. Hood 33 / 30 34 / 31
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 31 / 28
Sunday 32 / 29
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 26
Sunday 31 / 28
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 26
Sunday 32 / 28
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 31 / 27
Sunday 32 / 29
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 24 / 21
Sunday 32 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 26 / 24
Sunday 32 / 26
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 16 / 14
Sunday 29 / 15
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 24 / 22
Sunday 32 / 24
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 24
Sunday 34 / 30
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 33 / 30
Sunday 34 / 31

Issued: 2:14 PM PST Saturday, February 15, 2025

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:14 PM PST Saturday, February 15, 2025

Extended Weather Synopsis

A weak ridge tries to build Monday night off our coast, but light rain and snow showers linger for our mountains on NNW flow aloft. Most areas get a relative break in the action on Tuesday as the ridge axis moves onshore, but expect significant cloud cover as the next system approaches the area. This system will bring light to moderate precipitation on Tuesday night and moderate to locally heavy rain and snow on Wednesday.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday * Tuesday Night* Wednesday *
West North 3000' 2000' 2500' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 2500' 2000' 2000'
Mt. Hood 3500' 3000' 3500' 3500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday * 2000'
Tuesday Night* 2500'
Wednesday * 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday * 2500'
Tuesday Night* 2000'
Wednesday * 2000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday * 3000'
Tuesday Night* 3500'
Wednesday * 3500'

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

Previous forecast from Feb 15, 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’.