Issued: 2:08 PM PST Sunday, March 2, 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 band of precipitation over the southern Washington Cascades fizzles out Sunday evening as the energy from a splitting system drops southward towards California. In it's wake, precipitation will be driven by moderate onshore low-level flow. This will create some light rain and snow showers along with weak convergence for the west slopes of the Cascades and passes with very little spillover to the east slopes. NW flow aloft develops and adds upper-level support to the low-level W-flow, driving a peak in WNW ridgeline winds and shower activity early Monday. Shower activity gradually decreases late Monday as a shortwave ridge axis reaches the coast. Snow levels remain elevated in the 4500-5000 ft Sunday night, dropping to around 4000 ft on Monday.

The final dregs of the onshore flow see weak convergence focusing on the Mountain Loop and North Cascades Monday evening as upper-leve winds shift more southerly ahead of the next system. This system tracks toward Vancouver Island. From mid-morning through the afternoon, expect increasing light rain and snow at 3500 ft snow levels. Mt Baker could experience some strong S winds at times.

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 Partly cloudy with a slight chance of rain or snow showers.
Monday Partly cloudy with a slight chance of rain or snow showers.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with isolated light rain or snow showers.
Monday Mostly cloudy with isolated light rain or snow showers.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with light rain or snow showers and weak convergence.
Monday Mostly cloudy with light rain or snow showers and weak convergence.
Sunday Night Occasional ight rain or snow showers more focused around the Crystal Mountain area. Moderate rigeline winds at times near the Cascade Crest.
Monday Light rain or snow showers. Moderate rigeline winds at times near the Cascade Crest.
Sunday Night Cloudy with a chance of rain or snow showers and weak convergence. Light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Monday Cloudy with a chance of rain or snow showers and weak convergence. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Night Cloudy with a chance of rain or snow showers and weak convergence. Moderate ridgeline and light to moderate W wind at the Pass.
Monday Cloudy with a chance of rain or snow showers and weak convergence. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline and light W wind at the Pass.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy. Mild.
Monday Partly cloudy. Mild.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of light rain or snow showers near the Cascade Crest. Mild. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Partly cloudy with mostly cloudy skies and a slight chance of a rain or snow shower closer to the Cascade Crest. Mild. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of light rain or snow showers near the Cascade Crest. Mild. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Partly cloudy with mostly cloudy skies and a slight chance of a rain or snow shower closer to the Cascade Crest. Mild. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light rain or snow showers focused on the western side of Mt Hood. Moderate ridgeline winds and strong gusts.
Monday Cloudy with light rain or snow showers focused on the western side of Mt Hood. Moderate ridgeline winds and strong gusts becoming mostly light late in the day.

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Sunday, March 2, 2025

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

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Sunday, March 2, 2025

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon*
Olympics 5500' 5000' 5000' 5000' 4500' 4000' 3500' 3500'
West North 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3000' 4000' 3500'
West Central 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3000' 4000' 3500'
West South 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 3000' 3500' 3500'
Stevens Pass 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 3000' 4000' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3000' 4000' 3500'
East North 6000' 5500' 4500' 5500' 5000' 4500' 3500' 3500'
East Central 6000' 5500' 5000' 5500' 5000' 4500' 3500' 3500'
East South 5000' 5500' 5000' 5500' 4500' 4500' 3500' 3500'
Mt. Hood 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 3000' 4000' 4000'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening 5500'
Sunday Night 5000'
Monday Morning 5000'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
Monday Evening 4500'
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday Morning* 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3500'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Monday Evening 3500'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3500'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Monday Evening 3500'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3500'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning* 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Monday Evening 3500'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3500'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening 6000'
Sunday Night 5500'
Monday Morning 4500'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday Morning* 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3500'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 6000'
Sunday Night 5500'
Monday Morning 5000'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening 5000'
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday Morning* 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3500'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening 5000'
Sunday Night 5500'
Monday Morning 5000'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening 4500'
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday Morning* 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 4000'

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Sunday, March 2, 2025

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 35 / 30 37 / 29
West North 35 / 31 34 / 31
West Central 34 / 31 33 / 31
West South 33 / 31 32 / 30
Stevens Pass 34 / 31 33 / 31
Snoqualmie Pass 33 / 31 33 / 31
East North 36 / 30 36 / 29
East Central 34 / 32 34 / 32
East South 35 / 32 35 / 32
Mt. Hood 34 / 32 34 / 31
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 35 / 30
Monday 37 / 29
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 35 / 31
Monday 34 / 31
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 34 / 31
Monday 33 / 31
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 33 / 31
Monday 32 / 30
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 34 / 31
Monday 33 / 31
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 33 / 31
Monday 33 / 31
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 36 / 30
Monday 36 / 29
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 34 / 32
Monday 34 / 32
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 35 / 32
Monday 35 / 32
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 34 / 32
Monday 34 / 31

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Sunday, March 2, 2025

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Sunday, March 2, 2025

Extended Weather Synopsis

The surface low makes landfall over Vancouver Island Tuesday evening with light to moderate rain and snow focusing on the Olympics and west slopes of the Cascades from Snoqualmie Pass northward. A few rain and snow showers linger Wednesday as winds ease and snow levels drop to 2500 ft. A broad cutoff low dropping toward California keeps our region dry and mostly clear/sunny Wednesday night and Thursday.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
West North 3500' 2500' 3000' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 2500' 3500' 3500'
Mt. Hood 3500' 3000' 4000' 4000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday 2500'
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday 2500'
Wednesday Night 3500'
Thursday 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday 3000'
Wednesday Night 4000'
Thursday 4000'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 2, 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’.