Summit forecast, next 72 hours
- New snow0 in
- Strongest gusts15 mphMonday
- Coldest40°F
| Forecast | Snow | Gusts | Temp °F |
|---|---|---|---|
| TonightMostly Cloudy | 0 in | 10 mph | Low 40° |
| SaturdayMostly Sunny | 0 in | 10 mph | High 60° |
| Saturday NightMostly Clear | 0 in | 5 mph | Low 41° |
| SundaySunny | 0 in | 10 mph | High 64° |
| Sunday NightPartly Cloudy | 0 in | 10 mph | Low 41° |
| MondayMostly Sunny | 0 in | 15 mph | High 58° |
Snow is the forecast new accumulation at the summit grid point. Dots use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
Typical weather by month
Monthly normals from the long-term stations nearest the summit. None sits exactly on the pass, so each column says how far away and how high it is.
| Month | Rainy Pass 4,890 ft · 4 mi west of the summit | Holden Village 3,218 ft · 23 mi south of the summit | Mazama 2,141 ft · 12 mi northeast of the summit | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precip (in) | High / low °F | Snow (in) | High / low °F | Snow (in) | |
| Jan | 8.8 | 28° / 17° | 63.8 | 29° / 16° | 34.3 |
| Feb | 6.2 | 34° / 18° | 46.9 | 37° / 19° | 19.6 |
| Mar | 6.3 | 41° / 23° | 34.4 | 46° / 26° | 11.2 |
| Apr | 3.7 | 50° / 29° | 4.0 | 58° / 33° | 0.2 |
| May | 2.5 | 60° / 37° | 0.2 | 68° / 41° | 0 |
| Jun | 1.9 | 66° / 43° | 0 | 75° / 48° | 0 |
| Jul | 1.0 | 76° / 47° | 0 | 85° / 55° | 0 |
| Aug | 1.2 | 76° / 46° | 0 | 84° / 53° | 0 |
| Sep | 2.3 | 67° / 40° | 0 | 74° / 45° | 0 |
| Oct | 5.8 | 51° / 32° | 3.2 | 57° / 34° | 2.3 |
| Nov | 9.3 | 35° / 24° | 38.1 | 39° / 25° | 17.6 |
| Dec | 8.2 | 27° / 17° | 83.1 | 28° / 16° | 37.9 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: Rainy Pass (USS0020A09S, 4,890 ft); HOLDEN VILLAGE (USC00453730, 3,218 ft); MAZAMA (USC00455133, 2,141 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Cameras, road reports and winter rules
Conditions on the pass change by the hour, so these go straight to the official sources.
Closes for the winter. The National Park Service says snow and avalanche hazards usually close the North Cascades Highway “sometime in late November / early December,” and that it usually reopens in April or early May. North Cascades National Park: road conditions
- For this passWSDOT North Cascades Highway (SR-20) report
- For this passWSDOT: pass closing and opening dates
- For this passNorth Cascades National Park: road conditions
- Washington · WSDOTReal-time travel map
- Washington · winter rulesMountain pass reports and traction rules
Check the official National Weather Service forecast for the summit and the road report before you leave.
Crossing Washington Pass? See the summit at the hour you’ll be there
Road Travel times the forecast to your drive, so you see conditions at the summit when you will actually reach it, and get alerts about weather ahead on the way.
Questions about Washington Pass
How high is Washington Pass?
The summit is 5,476 ft above sea level, on SR-20.
How far is Washington Pass from Marblemount and Mazama?
By road, the summit is 57 miles from Marblemount, WA and 18 miles from Mazama, WA.
Is Washington Pass open in winter?
No. The National Park Service says snow and avalanche hazards usually close the North Cascades Highway “sometime in late November / early December,” and that it usually reopens in April or early May.
What is the wettest month at Washington Pass?
November. The Rainy Pass snow-monitoring site (4,890 ft, 4 mi west of the summit) averages 9.3 inches of precipitation that month, counting the water in melted snow (1991–2020 normals).
How cold does it get near Washington Pass?
The coldest month is January. Mazama (2,141 ft, 12 mi northeast of the summit) averages a low of 16°F then (1991–2020 normals); the summit is 3,335 ft higher.