Issued: 2:01 PM PST Monday, March 3, 2025
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

Isolated light showers across the west slopes of the Cascades, Mt Hood and the Olympics will taper off this evening along with light to moderate NW ridgeline winds as a weak upper level ridge traverses over the Pacific Northwest.  An unimpressive low pressure currently offshore will track northwards late tonight through Tuesday towards Vancouver Island.  An occluded front will sweep from SW to NE during the day on Tuesday, spreading precipitation over the Olymipcs and Mt Hood area before mid-day and areas further north in the afternoon. 

Most areas will see a short-lived burst of heavier precipitation as the front sweeps northward on Tuesday. Snow levels will quickly lower to 3500-4000' with the onset of precipitation. S-SE winds will increase out ahead of the front for the Olymipcs, Mt Baker and Crystal Mt areas and behind the front, all areas will see W-SW winds increase Tuesday afternoon. Significant post-frontal showers will continue for the northwest Cascades including the Mt Baker area Tuesday night. Showers will be more scattered and lighter elsewhere as snow levels fall to 2000-2500' Tuesday night. Moderate to strong post-frontal westerly winds will continue overnight with the highest winds along the east slopes of the Cascades. 

A broad upper level trough offshore will turn the winds S-SE over the area on Wednesday. This should allow a fair amount of cloud cover to drift up over the area along with a chance of showers and may cause moderate SE ridgeline winds. Freezing levels will hang out near 4500-5500' on Wednesday. 

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
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of evening light rain and snow showers. Light ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow developing late morning and becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light showers in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds becoming strong in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of evening light rain and snow showers. Light ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow developing in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of evening light rain and snow showers. Light to moderate ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Tuesday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow developing in the afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Light ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow developing around midday. Light to moderate ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of evening light rain and snow showers. Light to occasionally moderate W winds at ridgeline and Pass level becoming SE late.
Tuesday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate and snow developing around mid-day. Light to moderate ridgeline SSE winds becoming moderate SW in the afternoon. Light east winds at Pass level becoming moderate W in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of evening light rain and snow showers. Light to occasionally moderate W winds at ridgeline and Pass level becoming SE late.
Tuesday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate around mid-day. Light to moderate ridgeline SSE winds becoming moderate SW in the afternoon. Light east winds at Pass level becoming moderate W in the afternoon.
Monday Night Partly cloudy with increasing high clouds after midnight. Light to moderate ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy in the morning, then cloudy with light rain and snow developing in the afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Partly cloudy with increasing high clouds after midnight. Light to moderate ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy in the morning, then cloudy with light rain and snow developing in the afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Partly cloudy with increasing high clouds after midnight. Light to moderate ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy in the morning, then cloudy with light rain and snow developing early in the afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Partly cloudy with increasing high clouds after midnight. Light to moderate ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Tuesday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow developing late morning and becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light showers in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds becoming strong in the afternoon.

Issued: 2:01 PM PST Monday, March 3, 2025

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 2:01 PM PST Monday, March 3, 2025

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning* Wednesday Afternoon*
Olympics 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 4000'
West North 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3000' 2000' 2500' 4500'
West Central 4000' 3500' 4000' 4000' 3000' 2000' 2500' 4500'
West South 4000' 3500' 4000' 4000' 3000' 2000' 2500' 4500'
Stevens Pass 4000' 3500' 4000' 4000' 3000' 2000' 2500' 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 3500' 4000' 4000' 3000' 2000' 2500' 4500'
East North 4000' 3500' 4000' 4500' 3000' 2000' 2500' 5000'
East Central 4000' 3500' 4000' 4000' 3000' 2000' 2500' 5000'
East South 4000' 3500' 4000' 4000' 3000' 2000' 2500' 5000'
Mt. Hood 4000' 4000' 4500' 4000' 3500' 2500' 2500' 4500'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning* 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
Tuesday Evening 3000'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning* 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
Tuesday Evening 3000'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4500'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Tuesday Evening 3000'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4500'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Tuesday Evening 3000'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Tuesday Evening 3000'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Tuesday Evening 3000'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4500'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Tuesday Evening 3000'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 5000'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Tuesday Evening 3000'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 5000'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Tuesday Evening 3000'
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening 4000'
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday Morning* 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4500'

Issued: 2:01 PM PST Monday, March 3, 2025

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 31 / 26 30 / 26
West North 31 / 26 30 / 25
West Central 30 / 26 31 / 25
West South 30 / 25 31 / 25
Stevens Pass 30 / 25 34 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass 30 / 24 32 / 25
East North 32 / 24 34 / 24
East Central 31 / 24 33 / 25
East South 31 / 25 34 / 25
Mt. Hood 31 / 25 33 / 26
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 31 / 26
Tuesday 30 / 26
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 31 / 26
Tuesday 30 / 25
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 30 / 26
Tuesday 31 / 25
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 30 / 25
Tuesday 31 / 25
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 30 / 25
Tuesday 34 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 30 / 24
Tuesday 32 / 25
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 32 / 24
Tuesday 34 / 24
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 31 / 24
Tuesday 33 / 25
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 31 / 25
Tuesday 34 / 25
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 31 / 25
Tuesday 33 / 26

Issued: 2:01 PM PST Monday, March 3, 2025

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics SW 0-10 S 5-15 S 15-25 SW 20-30
West North WSW 0-10 SSE 0-10 SSE 10-20 S 15-25
West Central W 0-10 S 5-15 SSE 5-15 SW 15-25
West South SW 0-10 SW 0-10 S 10-20 SW 15-25
Stevens Pass WNW 5-15 VAR 0-10 SSE 5-15 SW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass WNW 5-15 SSE 0-10 SSE 10-20 SW 15-25
East North WNW 5-15 SW 0-10 S 5-15 SW 10-20
East Central WNW 10-20 S 5-15 SSE 5-15 WSW 15-25
East South WNW 5-15 SW 0-10 S 5-15 WSW 15-25
Mt. Hood WNW 10-20 SW 5-15 SW 10-20 W 20-30
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SW 0-10
Monday Night S 5-15
Tuesday Morning S 15-25
Tuesday Afternoon SW 20-30
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WSW 0-10
Monday Night SSE 0-10
Tuesday Morning SSE 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon S 15-25
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 0-10
Monday Night S 5-15
Tuesday Morning SSE 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon SW 15-25
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SW 0-10
Monday Night SW 0-10
Tuesday Morning S 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 15-25
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WNW 5-15
Monday Night VAR 0-10
Tuesday Morning SSE 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon SW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WNW 5-15
Monday Night SSE 0-10
Tuesday Morning SSE 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 15-25
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WNW 5-15
Monday Night SW 0-10
Tuesday Morning S 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon SW 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WNW 10-20
Monday Night S 5-15
Tuesday Morning SSE 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WNW 5-15
Monday Night SW 0-10
Tuesday Morning S 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 15-25
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening WNW 10-20
Monday Night SW 5-15
Tuesday Morning SW 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon W 20-30

Issued: 2:01 PM PST Monday, March 3, 2025

Extended Weather Synopsis

An upper level ridge offshore on Thursday will shift over the area on Friday.  Despite the high confidence in dry weather, northerly flow aloft should keep freezing levels from soaring too high over this period and may lead to some surprises regarding wind and cloud forecasts. Forecast model alignment starts to fall apart later Friday into the weekend. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night Thursday Thursday Night Friday
West North 3500' 5000' 3500' 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 4500' 3500' 4500'
Mt. Hood 3500' 5500' 3500' 4500'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night 3500'
Thursday 5000'
Thursday Night 3500'
Friday 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night 3500'
Thursday 4500'
Thursday Night 3500'
Friday 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night 3500'
Thursday 5500'
Thursday Night 3500'
Friday 4500'

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

Previous forecast from Mar 3, 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’.