Holden Village Weather

Weather Update

12/20/24: The longest night approaches!

Precipitation (Past 24 Hours): 0.8 inches

Winter 2024-2025 Total Snowfall: 74.8 inches

Latest Webcam Photo

This is the current view of the weather conditions at Holden Village. Our webcam, located at the top of Chalet Hill looking south towards Buckskin Mountain (left) and Copper Peak (right) takes a new photo every 30 minutes, which is updated to our website.

The webcam on Chalet 9 has been temporarily removed to make way for the porch repair project. We’ll have it back up running again as soon as possible.

Year-round Weather Conditions at Holden Village

Holden Village is open year-round. Planning your trip to Holden? Check out the seasonal descriptions below to know what to expect, and experience the splendor of all the seasons in the Cascade Mountains. Check out the Packing List for more suggestions about what to bring with you for different seasons. You can find links to travel advisories due to weather on the Getting to Holden page.

Summer (June, July, August)

Summers in Holden Village are warm and dry with temperatures in the 70s-90s degrees F, with cool pleasant evenings that can dip into the 40s-50s. Whether you decide to adventure in the wilderness or engage in summer programming, prepare for nature in full bloom!

Summer is also wildfire season. Holden is not currently under threat from any wildfires. If this does become the case, we will notify both guests who are here and those planning to come. We have detailed evacuation plans that we will be ready to implement in this event. If you want current information on smoke and wildland fire in WA, as well as road closures, you can reference the Additional Resources section below.

Autumn (September, October, November)

Autumn is a beautiful time of the year in the Railroad Creek Valley, with temperatures in the 50s-70s and stunning autumn yellows of cottonwood, aspen, and larch trees and vibrant reds of wild huckleberry bushes amidst the evergreens. Enjoy a slower pace of life with a smaller Village community and enjoy pristine hiking before the beginning of snowfall and the end of backpacking season in late October / early November.

Winter (December, January, February)

Have you ever wanted to experience a winter wonderland? With snowfall beginning as soon as November, the Village is blanketed in snow for roughly half of the year. Whether you want to cozy up and hibernate or get out and play in the snow (sledding, anyone?), winter visitors can experience average temperatures between 20-30 with around 270 inches of snowfall annually. Dress warmly and prepare for snow in all its forms!

During winter months, Holden checks and posts the Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC) Forecast and provides avalanche and snow stability test results to the NWAC. If you go, know the snow!

Spring (March, April, May)

At 3220 feet of elevation in the heart of the northern Cascade Mountains, spring in the Village can take a while to bloom. Snowfall can continue through April, and it is often not until mid-May or June that the Village is snow free. During March especially, anticipate winter conditions with average temperatures of 20-40 degrees F and increased avalanche risk. April weather is variable, but is the beginning of the melting season with temperatures in the 40s and lots of mud.

Hoping to experience spring weather? Visit in May for warm days in the 60s-80s, and experience the awe and wonder of hummingbird migrations, wildflower blooms, and the splendor of life in all forms returning to the Railroad Creek Valley.

History of Weather Observations at Holden Village

Since June 2, 1962, Holden Village has been an active weather observation center, providing the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with daily readings from our weather station, located next to the Holden School.

Weather data is gathered each morning by volunteers and transmitted electronically to the National Weather Service office in Spokane, Washington. This data is also posted in the Dining Hall and retained for Village records.