Weather
This forecast was created at 10 a.m. PST on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
A pair of warm, relatively dense early-season storms will build bases across the Washington and Oregon Cascades this week while open Whistler sees only a light refresh before a cooler, drier weekend. Expect low- to mid-double-digit snow totals at several Washington passes, modest but wind-affected accumulations on the higher Oregon volcanoes, and just a light coating at Whistler, all with snow levels riding near and above pass elevation for much of the week. By the weekend and into early December, colder and generally drier conditions take over, which should firm up the new snowpack while setting the stage for the next, likely colder, round of storms in the first week of December.
The first Tuesday-to-Wednesday storm delivers a solid round of base-building snow to the Washington Cascades while bringing wetter, higher-elevation snowfall to the Oregon volcanoes. Moist southwest flow ahead of a warm front spreads precipitation into the mountains by late morning, with snow starting near pass level as snow levels sit around 2,400 to 3,500 feet in Washington and near 3,700 feet around Timberline. Through tonight, steady snowfall piles up across Stevens Pass, Crystal Mountain, Snoqualmie Pass, and Mt. Baker, with upper-mountain totals pushing into the low double digits, where precipitation remains all snow. Snow-to-liquid ratios mostly cluster between about 8:1 and 11:1, so this will be medium-density, base-building snow rather than blower powder. As warmer air arrives overnight, snow levels climb toward and above 5,000 feet by Wednesday, so any lingering showers early Wednesday are likely to fall as rain or a sloppy mix at pass level. At the same time, open Whistler to the north stays mostly quiet until its midweek wave arrives.
A second system from Wednesday night into Friday keeps things unsettled with more modest snow additions and rising snow levels, especially south into Oregon. At Stevens Pass and Crystal Mountain, this wave tacks on only a few more inches, mainly on the higher slopes. At the same time, Mt Baker picks up a couple of extra inches, and Snoqualmie Pass sees little additional accumulation after Tuesday night. Snow-to-liquid ratios hover near 8:1 to 9:1, and temperatures hover close to freezing, so the new snow stays on the denser, cream-cheese side and helps consolidate the early base in these still-closed Washington areas, with Stevens already looking better for its scheduled December 5 opening. Farther south, the Thursday-to-Friday wave focuses on Timberline and Mt. Bachelor, with higher snow levels that spend a lot of time above 5,800 feet, so the upper mountain terrain collects several inches of heavy, wind-affected snow. At the same time, mid-mountain and base elevations endure more of a rain or slush mix and strong ridge top gusts that can exceed 50 miles per hour, even as Mt Bachelor and Crystal Mountain gear up for their November 28 openings. For those chasing actual lift-served turns this week, open Whistler should ride nicest on Thursday, after its midweek refresh, when cool temperatures and light winds combine for smooth, chalky surfaces rather than deep powder.
Heading into the weekend and early next week, the pattern turns cooler and gradually drier across the region, setting the stage for firmer conditions but also a better base for future storms. As the mid-level ridge builds over the eastern Pacific, showers taper on Friday and skies trend quieter, with northerly and offshore flow allowing overnight temperatures at the mountain bases to drop well below freezing. Any wet snow that fell earlier in the week will settle and refreeze, so expect a crustier feel on lower-angle terrain and more supportable, chalky surfaces on steeper north aspects by Sunday. Medium range guidance through the first week of December favors temperatures running below seasonal norms across Washington and at least near normal across Oregon, with precipitation below average at first and then returning to near or slightly above average later in the period, which points to fewer storms overall but a better chance that the next meaningful system delivers colder, drier snow than this week’s warm frontal episodes. Timberline, Mt Baker, and Snoqualmie Pass remain closed during this stretch. Still, the denser snow from these storms will continue to lay down early-season coverage ahead of future opening announcements, while Whistler’s snowpack gradually firms and primes itself for the next colder cycle.
Resort Forecast Totals
- Stevens Pass – 14″–18″ total (9″–12″ Tue (11/25) – Wed (11/26) + 5″–7″ Wed night (11/26) – Fri (11/28))
- Crystal Mountain – 10″–14″ total (6″–7″ Tue (11/25) – Wed (11/26) + 4″–6″ Wed night (11/26) – Fri (11/28))
- Timberline – 8″–12″ total (4″–5″ Tue (11/25) – Tue night (11/25) + 4″–7″ Thu (11/27) – Fri night (11/28))
- Snoqualmie Pass – 8″–10″ Tue (11/25) – Tue night (11/25)
- Mt Baker – 6″–8″ total (3″–4″ Tue (11/25) – Wed (11/26) + 2″–3″ Wed night (11/26) – Fri (11/28))
- Whistler – 1″–2″ Wed night (11/26) – Thu night (11/27)
- Mt Bachelor – 1″ Thu night (11/27) – Fri night (11/28)
