Weather
This forecast was created at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, 2025
A round of tranquil spring-like conditions will dominate most of the PNW through the weekend before a wetter and cooler pattern arrives Sunday into early next week. Expect mostly dry weather and mild afternoons into Sunday, then increasing mountain snowfall beginning late Sunday with more consistent accumulations through Wednesday. The major exception is Whistler, who will see wet conditions from Friday into Tuesday. They are far enough north that nearly constant moisture should dump 2-3 feet of snow over this period.
Thursday through Sunday Morning: Sunny and dry weather prevails on Thursday. No new snowfall is expected south of Mt. Baker, and conditions remain mild. From Friday through Sunday morning, high pressure settles in for everything south of Mt Baker, with clear skies, warmer temperatures, and gentle afternoon breezes, making for classic spring skiing on existing snowpack. Meanwhile, up north, Mt. Baker and Whistler will see steady moisture streaming in, bringing heavy snowfall, especially after Saturday morning. This is a polarizing setup with a sharp north-south gradient: classic spring conditions in most Washington and Oregon and hammering snow north of Mt. Baker. The snow at Whistler & Baker will be on the denser side, with SLRs between 8 and 12:1.
Sunday Afternoon through Monday: A shift to a more active pattern for most of the region (finally including south of Mt. Baker) begins Sunday afternoon. Initial precipitation in the North Cascades will start as rain but quickly transition to snow as snow levels fall from around 4000 feet to 2500–3000 feet by Sunday night. A few inches of fresh snow are possible at mid- to upper-mountain, particularly in the northern Washington Cascades. Elsewhere across the eastern Washington Cascades, Idaho Panhandle, and into the Oregon Cascades, snowfall will generally be light, on the order of a dusting to a couple of inches, with slightly higher totals favoring areas with more persistent upslope flow. Winds should remain manageable for skiing, although some moderate gusts may occur in exposed locales.
Tuesday through Wednesday: A stronger, wetter system arrives Tuesday and lingers into Wednesday, favoring consistent mountain snowfall. The Washington Cascades should pick up new snow both days, with an additional boost in totals on Wednesday. In the Oregon Cascades and northern Blue Mountains, snow levels hover in the 3,500–4,500-foot range, supporting accumulations of a few inches on Tuesday and a more notable shot of 3–6 inches possible on Wednesday. Breezier conditions could return midweek, but nothing that should significantly compromise upper-mountain skiing; still, expect some gusty moments in more wind-prone valleys or ridgelines.
Extended Outlook (6-10/8-14 Day): Medium-range guidance favors below-normal temperatures and increased precipitation across western mountain areas. This pattern should keep the door open for additional spring snowfall opportunities, especially in the higher terrain of Washington and Oregon. Any shifts in storm track could alter snow amounts, but generally, the Pacific Northwest stands a good chance of maintaining a colder and wetter setup, benefiting late-season conditions.
Resort Forecast Totals
- Whistler – 24”–41” Fri night (03/07) – Tue night (03/11)
- Mt Baker – 9”–17” Fri night (03/07) – Tue night (03/11)
- Crystal Mountain – 3”–8” Sun night (03/09) – Tue night (03/11)
- Stevens Pass – 3”–8” Sat night (03/08) – Tue night (03/11)
- Timberline – 3”–8” Sun night (03/09) – Tue night (03/11)
- Mt Bachelor – 2”–6” Mon night (03/10) – Tue night (03/11)
- Snoqualmie Pass – 2”–6” Sun night (03/09) – Tue night (03/11)
