MT HOOD SNOW FORECAST
Hey skiers and snowboarders! This might be the most exciting three days of the entire 2025-2026 ski season! An atmospheric river takes aim at the Pacific Northwest for three days. With cold air just north of us and potentially dipping as far south as Mt. Hood, we’re set for significant snowfall through Saturday morning.
As of right now, forecasts have us sitting pretty, but a 50 mile shift in the cooler air in one direction or another will have a huge impact on outcomes. The intraquartile range for snowfall through the end of this event, Saturday morning, is 38-50” snowfall. So, here’s my best shot at it this morning…
Short term Mt Hood snow forecast
Wednesday’s starting with a foot of fresh snow on the ground all the way from Teacup on up to Timberline. The snow level today will be 2500′ early and will rise to 5000-5500′ this afternoon as temps at 850mb rise to +1C (33F). Given the intensity of the incoming precipitation, there’s a decent chance we’ll stay snow, wet snow, at 5000′. During the day, we’re expecting 1.5” water equivalent (WE), for 12-15” new snow. Overnight, models currently call for 2.4” WE (!!!). If we can hold on to snow, we’ll have 12-18” dense fresh (high water content) by Thursday morning. Wind builds during the day: WSW 35-40 early, W 60 in the afternoon (that’ll impact lifts), and W 50 after midnight.
The fun continues on Thursday – models have somewhat cooler weather in the morning and marginally warm weather in the afternoon. The associated snow level currently looks like 4000′ in the morning, briefly 3000′ in the afternoon, and 5000-5500′ overnight. Temps at 850mb (~5000′) are forecast to max out around +2C (35F) which could result in a switch from snow to rain or snain. Forecast precip is 1.6” WE during the day for 16-18” decent-quality snow. Overnight, 1.1” WE is forecast. This is likely to include period of mixed precipitation. Call it 5-8” wet snow. Wind will be W 50 in the morning, W 40-50 in the afternoon, and W 50-55 overnight. W 50 is right on the edge for shutdown territory, so do keep an eye on the resort website.
Extended Mt Hood Snow Forecast
Intense precipitation continues on Friday. The snow level starts around 5000-5500′ with 850mb temps at +1C (33F). Overnight, a cold front swings through and takes the snow level as low as 1000!. During the day, we’re expecting 1.6” WE for 8-11” dense, wet snow. Overnight: 1.2” WE for 10-12” increasingly dry snow. Wind will be W 55 early (problematic for lifts), W 45 in the afternoon, and WNW 30 after midnight.
It’s worth noting that 1) there’s potential for major shifts in this forecast if the atmospheric river decides to make a bullseye of some other location; 2) the combo of wet snow and wind is likely to cause icing on lifts; 3) snow totals above 6000′ or so will be massive; 4) avalanche danger will be extreme; 5) I’m sure there are many other things I should say here!
High pressure builds inland on Saturday morning, and sunshine returns to the slopes. Expect a parked-out day at all the ski resorts! The free air freezing level starts at 1000′ and rises to 2500′ in the afternoon before climbing to 6000′ after midnight. Wind will be WNW 30 early fading to NW 10-15 in the afternoon and becoming SW 10-15 after midnight. Warmer, cloudy weather is forecast on Sunday with the possibility for a period of very light mist or drizzle in the afternoon. Starting Monday, we enter a (very) warm period that lasts all next week. Models do like the idea of colder weather returning for the following weekend, but significant uncertainty is present. Wow. That’s a wild ride right there. Enjoy the storm skiing. Stay safe out there – keep an eye on your buddies and stay away from any developing tree wells. Carry your avalanche gear and turn on your beacon!
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Hood River, Oregon 97031
GORGE WIND FORECAST
If you’re still seeing yesterday’s and it’s after 9am, try opening this in an incognito window
SHORT-TERM gorge wind forecast
Hi friends! Very active weather is forecast for the next several days with strong wind aloft. This sets us up for period of very gusty west wind, but the strongest wind is currently forecast to be in the hours of darkness. That said…
Wednesday started with light/variable wind and pressures of 30.27/30.29/30.27. As a low moves inland to BC mid to late afternoon, westerlies will pick up through the Gorge. Timing will be everything. After 2pm, we’ll see gusty 25+ from Multnomah Falls to Viento with a chance at the Hatch. Between Hood River and Doug’s, the wind will be lighter. From Avery to Boardman, you’ll find very gusty 30+ mph westerlies late afternoon into the night. NWS has posted a High Wind Warning for the desert. River flow over the 24 hours was 180-196kcfs, river temp is 43.9F, and high temp forecast is 51F with rain all day for the west side.
RIVER FLOW FOR SITES BETWEEN AVERY (EAST OF THE DALLES) AND RUFUS: CLICK HERE FOR JOHN DAY DAM FLOW.
RIVER FLOW FOR SITES BETWEEN STEVENSON AND DOUG’S BEACH (WEST OF THE DALLES): CLICK HERE FOR THE DALLES DAM FLOW
LONGER-TERM gorge wind forecast
Strong westerlies overnight fade into Thursday morning and build some in the afternoon. The day starts with 14-17 from Stevenson to Doug’s with 23-26 from Avery to Hermiston. Models hint at a period of 19-22mph from Viento to Hood River mid-morning before the west side drops to 13-16. Out east, the wind holds into the afternoon and then fades to 20-23. High temp forecast is 51F with rain all day west of Biggs. That does not bode well for wind quality!
Friday starts mostly light with Viento somewhere around 20mph. Afternoon wind rises to gusty 18-22mph from Stevenson to Avery with light/variable wind east of Avery. Overnight, the wind really picks up west of Mosier, but we’ll all be sleeping, and it’ll be dark out.
Maybe we’ll get lucky and have that Friday night night pressure build hold off until Saturday morning. Do keep an eye on the Hatch Saturday morning. By then, the weather will be dry. We should see a period of westerlies Saturday morning before high pressure builds inland and knocks down the wind. Easterlies are forecast for Sunday. Do keep in mind for this week that this is a very active pattern. Timing of the wind may shift, and rain will be nearly constant. But maybe we’ll get lucky! Hope to see you on the Nch’i Wana!
BARE BONES HOOD RIVER WEATHER FORECAST
Rain today. Temps start in the upper 30s and rise to the low 50s. Light westerlies. 88% chance of rainbows. Thursday will be rainy. Temps start in the low 40s and rise to the low 50s. Moderate westerlies. 96% chance of rainbows. Friday will be rainy. Temps start in the low 40s and rise to the low 50s. Moderate westerlies. 93% chance of rainbows. Dry weather returns after midnight Friday.
TEMIRA’S AWESOME TRAVEL ADVISORY SERVICE
HYPERLOCAL WEATHER FORECAST FOR THE COLUMBIA GORGE
THE DALLES, HOOD RIVER, WHITE SALMON, TROUT LAKE, STEVENSON, CASCADE LOCKS, PARKDALE, ODELL, HUSUM, BZ, MILL A, WILLARD, GOLDENDALE, RUFUS, ARLINGTON, boardman
Good morning, neighbors! “WET!” is an apt description for the weather for the next three days. While the deets could change a bit, as of this morning, models have rain, torrential at times, west of Rowena all the way through the wee hours of Saturday morning. Dry, cool weather is forecast on Saturday, and then we enter a warming trend into next week that could take temps as high as 70 degrees!
Glenwood this morning
Glenwood is about half of 70 to start Wednesday: it’s 36 degrees there, cloudy, and probably damp. No icy roads, and also no !CE this morning. Today’s high temps max out in the low 50s to the west and the mid-upper 50s east of Rowena. Rain increases throughout the day and becomes truly torrential west of Hood River late afternoon, just in time for your commute home from The Big City. Lighter drizzle is forecast as far east as Rufus this morning and eventually to Arlington’s Triangle this afternoon with light rain in south Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam Counties.
Today’s Gorge weather forecast
Snain is possible at our highest elevations this morning, but the snow level will rise above 4000′ tonight and set us all free. Today’s wind will be relatively light, but not tonight’s: very strong westerlies are forecast overnight mostly west of Mosier and east of Wishram – NWS has issued a rare High Wind Warning for many areas. By some quirk of the NWS rules, they don’t issue those warnings for the west and central Gorge, but it will be very windy near Viento despite the lack of warning about it.
Thursday’s Gorge weather forecast
At sunrise Thursday, we’ll have pouring rain as far east as The Dalles with lighter drizzle to Arlington’s Triangle and in the SW/Sherm/Gill areas. Torrential rain continues through early afternoon west of Hood River and then becomes merely “pouring” into the evening before returning to “torrential” overnight. After 5pm, rain rates pick up east of The Dalles (and in SW/S/G) and continue into Friday. Thursday temps start in the low 40s in the lowlands and rise to 51 (west and central) and 57 (desert). We’ll have moderate westerlies at 15-25mph.
Extended Gorge weather forecast
On Friday, moderate to heavy rain is forecast for much of the daylight hours all the way to Idaho. West of Hood River: torrential until midnight or so. Not nice for commuting. Not nice at all. Fridays lowland temps start in the low 40s. They rise to 53F (west), 58F (The Dalles), and 57F (The Desert). Wind will be 15-25mph out of the west becoming strong overnight west of Mosier.
Saturday’s Gorge weather forecast
On Saturday morning, we’ll wake up to breezy, cooler weather. Those of you up high could have a little snow on the ground. We’ll reevaluate this forecast as we get closer to Saturday. Dry weather is forecast Saturday. On Sunday, the weather looks cloudy and warmer with a trace of drizzle possible. By Monday, we’ll be on the warming escalator with temps headed for 60-70F Monday, Tuesday, and possible deeper into the week, although massive uncertainty is present starting Wednesday.
What a wild ride this will be! Do be careful out on the roads – I’m not joking about the rain being nearly-biblical in nature; the Cascades are expecting up to 8” of rain over this three-day period. Driving conditions will suck, especially in areas where they often suck. In those locations (between Multnomah Falls and Viento), they’ll really suck. Slow it down out there. Safe travels. -TATAS
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JONES BEACH, SAUVIE ISLAND, & COAST FORECAST
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