A strong Pacific frontal system swept across Western Washington resulting in heavy snowfall totals in the Cascades.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS SEW wrote it up.
A strong Pacific frontal system swept across Western Washington resulting in heavy snowfall totals in the Cascades.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Seattle, WA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 15, 8:29 AM PST, 1 hour 23 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Seattle WA
829 AM PST Sat Feb 15 2025
.SYNOPSIS...A frontal system will bring lowland rain and
significant mountain snow this weekend. Wet and unsettled weather
is expected to persist into next week, keeping lowland rain and
mountain snow in the forecast.
&&
.UPDATE...Rain showers have arrived along the coast this morning,
and will continue to see heavier bands move inland throughout the
day today. Inherited precipitation forecast remains on track this
morning, so no changes were made to headlines and forecasted
QPF/snow (details available below).
HPR
&&
.SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH MONDAY/...Radar imagery shows some
light isolated showers moving across Western Washington early this
morning. An upper level trough is expected to move across Western
Washington on Saturday bringing lowland rain and mountain snow
through Monday morning. The latest model runs have shown an
increase in snowfall accumulation in the Cascades. Probabilities
of seeing at least 12 inches through Monday morning are 40% for
Snoqualmie Pass and 70% for Stevens Pass. Snow levels are expected
to gradually rise today and by Saturday night they will be around
2500 ft. By Sunday night, snow levels will increase to 3000-3500
ft. The heaviest snow is expected to occur Saturday afternoon
through Sunday night. People traveling through the passes this
weekend should monitor road conditions and prepare for slippery
roads. In the lowlands, rainfall amounts will be around 0.50-0.75
inches along the interior and around 1.00-1.75 inches along the
coast.
Temperatures this weekend will gradually increase. By Sunday high
temperatures will be in the upper 40s, while low temperatures
will be in the upper 30s to low 40s.
.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...Conditions are expected to
remain wet as multiple weather systems are expected to move across
Western Washington back to back through late next week, keeping
lowland rain and mountain snow in the forecast. On Tuesday weak
upper level ridging will move over the region and quickly exit as
an incoming upper level trough is expected to push east into
Western Washington on Wednesday. Conditions will briefly dry out
Thursday night as another upper level ridge moves inland. The next
weather system is expected to impact the region Friday night.
Snow levels at the beginning of next week will be around 3000-3500
ft. On Wednesday snow levels will decrease to 2000-2500 ft and
will begin to increase late in the week above 4000 ft.
Temperatures will continue to increase next week. By the end of
the work week, high temperatures will finally make it above 50
degrees. Low temperatures will generally be in the upper 30s to
low 40s.
MGF
&&
.AVIATION...Light rain spreading inland today with a warm front.
Flow aloft is N/NW. Low-end VFR this morning and afternoon,
trending down to MVFR tonight as the trailing cold front moves
inland.
KSEA...VFR with light rain today, then lowering back down to MVFR
tonight. South southeasterly wind 4 to 8 knots. 33
&&
.MARINE...Organized frontal system moving through the waters
tonight followed by another system later Sunday. High pressure
rebuilding later Monday into Tuesday. Another frontal system will
arrive Wednesday.
Small craft advisory winds developing along the coast this morning
spreading into the entrances to the Strait of Juan de Fuca later
this morning into this afternoon. Small craft advisory winds
developing over the Northern Inland Waters tonight. Winds easing
all waters Sunday.
Seas remaining in the 9 to 14 foot range over the weekend into
Monday. Seas subsiding Monday night into the 8 to 10 foot range
before increase back up over 10 feet Tuesday night into Wednesday.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...A storm system will move into Western Washington
this weekend bringing in 1 to 2 inches of liquid precipitation to
the region through Monday. Rivers are expected to rise with this
incoming precipitation, but no flooding is forecast. The
flood prone Skokomish River could rise into Action Stage by
by tonight and remain elevated through next week.
&&
.CLIMATE...Some Seattle weather stats with the first half of
February in the books.
This has been the 2nd driest start to the year through February
14th in 81 years of records at Seattle-Tacoma airport. Rainfall
total for 2025 is 2.55 inches, 5.23 inches below normal. The only
year that started off drier through February 14th is 1976 with
2.46 inches.
The average temperature for 2025 through February 14th is 37.6
degrees. This is the 11th coldest start in 81 years but the
coldest start since 1989 with 37.3 degrees.
This is the 4th coldest first half of February since 1945. The
average temperature for the first half of the month is 34.1
degrees, 9.9 degrees below normal. The only colder years 1989
with 30.0 degrees, 1949 with 31.8 degrees and 2019 with 34.0
degrees.
There have been 27 days so far this year with a low of 32 degrees
or less. The normal for the entire year is 25. The 27 days with
lows 32 or less for the first two months of the year is the
highest total since there was 31 days in 1985. The 27 days is
currently tied for the 10th most days with lows 32 degrees or less
for the first two months of the year with half of February to go.
Felton
&&
.SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...Winter Storm Warning until 10 AM PST Monday for West Slopes
North Cascades and Passes-West Slopes North Central
Cascades and Passes-West Slopes South Central Cascades and
Passes.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM PST Sunday for Coastal Waters
From Cape Flattery To James Island 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal
Waters From Cape Flattery To James Island Out 10 Nm-Coastal
Waters From James Island To Point Grenville 10 To 60 Nm-
Coastal Waters From James Island To Point Grenville Out 10
Nm-Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater
10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape
Shoalwater Out 10 Nm-Grays Harbor Bar.
Small Craft Advisory until 4 AM PST Sunday for East Entrance
U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-West Entrance U.S.
Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.
Small Craft Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 6 AM PST Sunday
for Northern Inland Waters Including The San Juan Islands.
&&2 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Twenty inches of snowfall was reported at the summit at Alpental at Snoqualmie Pass.
Sixteen inches of snowfall was reported at Paradise at Mount Rainier National Park.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Washington in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, February 2025
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1236092, 1236094.