Issued: 3:05 PM PST Saturday, December 13, 2025
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

The December subtropical connection is in its final days, but it won't quit without more significant rainfall and another atmospheric river.

Saturday evening, high clouds spread into the region with a narrow band of briefly moderate rainfall moving into the region overnight. This band reaches Hurricane Ridge around 10PM, Mt Baker by around midnight, and Snoqualmie Pass around 4 AM. The rain band peters out as it moves SE through the morning hours, barely reaching Mt. Hood in the afternoon. A convergence could develop over the northern Cascades or the Mountain Loop as the day progresses, keeping precipitation in the forecast up north. Snow levels hover around 6000-7000 ft, with limited cooling behind the front as an atmospheric river approaches our offshore waters. Mt Baker gets the most of the unwanted water (around 0.7"), with other areas receiving around 0.25" or less.

The main atmospheric river approaches as a low moves toward Heida Guaii, spreading a wide swath of moisture-laden air directly toward Washington State on a brisk SSW flow. This is a different flow pattern than the previous atmospheric river so that Mt Baker will be more favored. However, weak E flow should help wring out the moisture on the E slopes of the Cascades as well. Expect moderate to strong winds and heavy precipitation for many areas from late Sunday night through Monday, with the trailing cold front reaching the coastline during the afternoon.

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 Periods of light rain and highest elevation snow mainly after 10 PM. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Periods of light rain and high elevation snow. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night High clouds lower and thicken in the evening, with moderate rain and high-elevation snow arriving overnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to moderate rain and highest-elevation snow, with some convergence possible. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night High clouds lower and thicken in the evening, with rain and highest-elevation snow arriving in the early morning hours.
Sunday Mostly light rain and highest-elevation snow, with some convergence possible.
Saturday Night High clouds lower and thicken. Increasing light to moderate ridgleine winds.
Sunday Periods of mostly light rain and highest elevation snow. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night High clouds lower and thicken in the evening, with rain and highest-elevation snow arriving in the early morning hours. Increasing mostly light ridgeline and light E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Periods of mostly light rain and highest elevation snow. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night High clouds lower and thicken in the evening, with rain and highest-elevation snow arriving in the early morning hours. Increasing mostly light ridgeline and light E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Periods of mostly light rain and highest elevation snow. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night High clouds lower and thicken in the evening with light rain, snow, and perhaps valley freezing rain arriving in the early morning hours. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Periods of mostly light rain and highest elevation snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night High clouds lower and thicken. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Periods of mostly light rain and highest elevation snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night High clouds lower and thickening overnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Periods of mostly light rain and highest elevation snow. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night High clouds lower and thickening overnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with increasing chances for occasional light rain and higher elevation snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.

Issued: 3:05 PM PST Saturday, December 13, 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 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.75 1.00
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 2.00 1.50 - 2.00
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.10 0.25 0.75 2.00 - 2.50
Stevens Pass 0 LT 0.25 0.25 1.00
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 1.50
Crystal Mt 0 0 0.25 0.75
Paradise 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 1.50 - 2.00
White Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 1.00
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.50 - 0.75 1.50
Mission Ridge 0 0 LT 0.10 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 LT 0.25 0.25 1.00
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.75
Timberline 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.75
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday 1.00
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 2.00
Monday 1.50 - 2.00
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday 2.00 - 2.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 1.00
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 1.50
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.75
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 1.50 - 2.00
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 1.00
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 1.50
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 1.00
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.75
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.75

Issued: 3:05 PM PST Saturday, December 13, 2025

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening* Saturday Night* Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon*
Olympics 9500' 7500' 6000' 6500' 7000' 8500' 9000' 6500'
West North 9000' 6000' 6000' 6000' 6500' 7500' 8500' 7500'
West Central 9500' 6000' 6500' 6000' 7000' 8000' 9000' 7500'
West South 10500' 10000' 7000' 7000' 7500' 8500' 9000' 8500'
Stevens Pass 9500' 8500' 6000' 6500' 7000' 8000' 9000' 8000'
Snoqualmie Pass 10000' 9000' 7000' 6500' 7000' 8500' 9000' 8000'
East North 7000' 3000' 3500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 5000' 7500'
East Central 10500' 9000' 7000' 6500' 7000' 8000' 9000' 8000'
East South 11000' 11000' 7000' 7500' 8500' 85000' 9500' 8500'
Mt. Hood 12000' 11500' 6500' 7000' 7500' 8500' 9500' 9500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening* 9500'
Saturday Night* 7500'
Sunday Morning 6000'
Sunday Afternoon 6500'
Sunday Evening* 7000'
Sunday Night* 8500'
Monday Morning* 9000'
Monday Afternoon* 6500'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 9000'
Saturday Night* 6000'
Sunday Morning 6000'
Sunday Afternoon 6000'
Sunday Evening* 6500'
Sunday Night* 7500'
Monday Morning* 8500'
Monday Afternoon* 7500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 9500'
Saturday Night* 6000'
Sunday Morning 6500'
Sunday Afternoon 6000'
Sunday Evening* 7000'
Sunday Night* 8000'
Monday Morning* 9000'
Monday Afternoon* 7500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 10500'
Saturday Night* 10000'
Sunday Morning 7000'
Sunday Afternoon 7000'
Sunday Evening* 7500'
Sunday Night* 8500'
Monday Morning* 9000'
Monday Afternoon* 8500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 9500'
Saturday Night* 8500'
Sunday Morning 6000'
Sunday Afternoon 6500'
Sunday Evening* 7000'
Sunday Night* 8000'
Monday Morning* 9000'
Monday Afternoon* 8000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 10000'
Saturday Night* 9000'
Sunday Morning 7000'
Sunday Afternoon 6500'
Sunday Evening* 7000'
Sunday Night* 8500'
Monday Morning* 9000'
Monday Afternoon* 8000'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 7000'
Saturday Night* 3000'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday Morning* 5000'
Monday Afternoon* 7500'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 10500'
Saturday Night* 9000'
Sunday Morning 7000'
Sunday Afternoon 6500'
Sunday Evening* 7000'
Sunday Night* 8000'
Monday Morning* 9000'
Monday Afternoon* 8000'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 11000'
Saturday Night* 11000'
Sunday Morning 7000'
Sunday Afternoon 7500'
Sunday Evening* 8500'
Sunday Night* 85000'
Monday Morning* 9500'
Monday Afternoon* 8500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening* 12000'
Saturday Night* 11500'
Sunday Morning 6500'
Sunday Afternoon 7000'
Sunday Evening* 7500'
Sunday Night* 8500'
Monday Morning* 9500'
Monday Afternoon* 9500'

Issued: 3:05 PM PST Saturday, December 13, 2025

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 40 / 38 39 / 37
West North 43 / 36 39 / 36
West Central 43 / 37 40 / 36
West South 46 / 41 44 / 39
Stevens Pass 41 / 36 41 / 37
Snoqualmie Pass 43 / 38 42 / 37
East North 33 / 28 34 / 28
East Central 41 / 37 41 / 38
East South 47 / 42 44 / 41
Mt. Hood 49 / 44 49 / 43
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 40 / 38
Sunday 39 / 37
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 43 / 36
Sunday 39 / 36
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 43 / 37
Sunday 40 / 36
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 46 / 41
Sunday 44 / 39
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 41 / 36
Sunday 41 / 37
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 43 / 38
Sunday 42 / 37
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 33 / 28
Sunday 34 / 28
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 41 / 37
Sunday 41 / 38
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 47 / 42
Sunday 44 / 41
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 49 / 44
Sunday 49 / 43

Issued: 3:05 PM PST Saturday, December 13, 2025

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 3:05 PM PST Saturday, December 13, 2025

Extended Weather Synopsis

The trailing cold front cuts off the heaviest precipitation and brings in cooling on Monday evening. Winds shift WSW and could be strong on the E slopes of the Cascades overnight. Snow levels lower to 3500-5500 ft by Tuesday, bringing accumulations to some higher Cascade passes and ski area bases. Precipitation intensifies Tuesday afternoon and peaks Tuesday evening ahead of another cold front. This cold front will bring in a much stronger push of cold air, bringing heavy snowfall above 3500-4500 ft, late Tuesday night, and moderate to heavy snow showers with 2000-3000 ft snow levels on Wednesday. A taste of winter at long last!

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 4000' 3500' 4000' 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 4500' 4500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 6500' 6000' 5500' 3000'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday 3500'
Tuesday Night 4000'
Wednesday 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday 4500'
Tuesday Night 4500'
Wednesday 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 6500'
Tuesday 6000'
Tuesday Night 5500'
Wednesday 3000'

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

Previous forecast from Dec 13, 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’.