Tuesday's trough shifts eastward overnight as a ridge attempts to build northward into the region. Light snow showers will continue to taper and mostly end, bringing up to 2" of additional accumulations in weak convergence lingering in the central Washington Cascades.
Wednesday features mostly cool, dry weather with a subtle ridge over the area. Low clouds along the west slopes should retreat early in the day, leaving a mid and upper-level incoming cloud deck. Temperatures moderate significantly as an approaching system (moderate atmospheric river) brings rising freezing levels from south to north.
The frontal rainband increasingly brushes NW Washington Wednesday night. Most areas will experience continued significant warming. However, light precipitation encounters sufficient entrenched cold air to maintain snowfall for Mt. Baker while increasing light E flow through the Passes maintain snowfall at Stevens and Washington Passes with a changeover to rain at Snoqualmie Pass likely.
Rain and snow become moderate to heavy over NW Washington on Thursday as the front sags southward. Milder air continues to stream into the region and should change precipitation to rain at all ski area bases. Washington Pass may mix with rain by afternoon as E flow loses steam.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
West North
West Central
West South
Stevens Pass
Snoqualmie Pass
East North
East Central
East South
Mt. Hood
Use dropdown to select your zone
Tuesday
Night
Partly cloudy with isolated snow flurries.
Wednesday
Cloudy.
Tuesday
Night
Mostly cloudy with isolated snow flurries.
Wednesday
Cloudy.
Tuesday
Night
Decreasing very light snow showers and weak convergence shifting from S to N.
Wednesday
Cloudy.
Tuesday
Night
Decreasing very light snow showers and weak convergence ending around midnight.
Wednesday
Cloudy.
Tuesday
Night
Decreasing very light snow showers and weak convergence ending by morning. Decreasing light W wind at the Pass.
Wednesday
Cloudy. Increasing light E wind through the Pass.
Tuesday
Night
Decreasing very light snow showers and weak convergence ending around midnight. Decreasing light W wind at the Pass.
Wednesday
Cloudy. Increasing light E wind through the Pass.
Tuesday
Night
Partly cloudy with clouds mostly near the Cascade Crest.
Wednesday
Cloudy.
Tuesday
Night
Mostly cloudy with light snow showers in convergence spillover near the Cascade Crest.
Wednesday
Cloudy.
Tuesday
Night
Partly to mostly cloudy near the Cascade Crest with isolated snow flurries.
Wednesday
Cloudy.
Tuesday
Night
Mostly cloudy in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy.
Wednesday
Cloudy.
Issued: 2:33 PM PST Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
Wednesday
Wednesday Night
Thursday
4 pm - 4 am
4 am - 4 pm
4 pm - 4 am
4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge
0
0
LT 0.25
0.75
Mt Baker Ski Area
0
0
0.25
1.00 - 1.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
LT 0.25
0
LT 0.10
0.75 -1.00
Stevens Pass
LT 0.10
0
LT 0.10
0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass
LT 0.10
0
LT 0.10
0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt
LT 0.10
0
0
LT 0.10
Paradise
LT 0.10
0
LT 0.10
0.25
White Pass
LT 0.10
0
0
LT 0.10
Washington Pass
0
0
LT 0.10
0.50
Mission Ridge
0
0
0
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
LT 0.10
0
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
LT 0.10
0
0
0
Mt Hood Meadows
LT 0.10
0
0
0
Timberline
LT 0.10
0
0
0
Hurricane Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.25
Thursday
0.75
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
0.25
Thursday
1.00 - 1.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
LT 0.25
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
0.75 -1.00
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
LT 0.10
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
0.25
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
LT 0.10
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
0.50
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Issued: 2:33 PM PST Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Snow Level (ft)
Tuesday
Evening
Tuesday
Night
Wednesday
Morning
Wednesday
Afternoon*
Wednesday
Evening*
Wednesday
Night*
Thursday
Morning*
Thursday
Afternoon
Olympics
2500'
2000'
2500'
3500'
3500'
7500'
8500'
8000'
West North
2000'
1500'
2000'
3000'
2500'
2500'
3500'
4500'
West Central
2500'
2000'
2000'
3000'
2500'
3500'
5500'
6000'
West South
2500'
1500'
2000'
3500'
3500'
6500'
8000'
8000'
Stevens Pass
2000'
1500'
2000'
3500'
2000'
3500'
6500'
7000'
Snoqualmie Pass
2000'
2000'
2500'
3500'
2500'
5000'
8000'
7500'
East North
2000'
1500'
2000'
3500'
2000'
3000'
3500'
5000'
East Central
2000'
2000'
2000'
3500'
3000'
5000'
7000'
7500'
East South
2500'
2500'
2500'
4000'
4500'
7500'
9000'
9000'
Mt. Hood
3000'
3000'
2500'
5000'
8000'
10000'
10500'
10000'
Olympics
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
2500'
Tuesday
Night
2000'
Wednesday
Morning
2500'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
3500'
Wednesday
Evening*
3500'
Wednesday
Night*
7500'
Thursday
Morning*
8500'
Thursday
Afternoon
8000'
West North
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
2000'
Tuesday
Night
1500'
Wednesday
Morning
2000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
3000'
Wednesday
Evening*
2500'
Wednesday
Night*
2500'
Thursday
Morning*
3500'
Thursday
Afternoon
4500'
West Central
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
2500'
Tuesday
Night
2000'
Wednesday
Morning
2000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
3000'
Wednesday
Evening*
2500'
Wednesday
Night*
3500'
Thursday
Morning*
5500'
Thursday
Afternoon
6000'
West South
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
2500'
Tuesday
Night
1500'
Wednesday
Morning
2000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
3500'
Wednesday
Evening*
3500'
Wednesday
Night*
6500'
Thursday
Morning*
8000'
Thursday
Afternoon
8000'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
2000'
Tuesday
Night
1500'
Wednesday
Morning
2000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
3500'
Wednesday
Evening*
2000'
Wednesday
Night*
3500'
Thursday
Morning*
6500'
Thursday
Afternoon
7000'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
2000'
Tuesday
Night
2000'
Wednesday
Morning
2500'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
3500'
Wednesday
Evening*
2500'
Wednesday
Night*
5000'
Thursday
Morning*
8000'
Thursday
Afternoon
7500'
East North
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
2000'
Tuesday
Night
1500'
Wednesday
Morning
2000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
3500'
Wednesday
Evening*
2000'
Wednesday
Night*
3000'
Thursday
Morning*
3500'
Thursday
Afternoon
5000'
East Central
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
2000'
Tuesday
Night
2000'
Wednesday
Morning
2000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
3500'
Wednesday
Evening*
3000'
Wednesday
Night*
5000'
Thursday
Morning*
7000'
Thursday
Afternoon
7500'
East South
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
2500'
Tuesday
Night
2500'
Wednesday
Morning
2500'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
4000'
Wednesday
Evening*
4500'
Wednesday
Night*
7500'
Thursday
Morning*
9000'
Thursday
Afternoon
9000'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
3000'
Tuesday
Night
3000'
Wednesday
Morning
2500'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
5000'
Wednesday
Evening*
8000'
Wednesday
Night*
10000'
Thursday
Morning*
10500'
Thursday
Afternoon
10000'
Issued: 2:33 PM PST Tuesday, November 23, 2021
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Tuesday
Night
Wednesday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
26 / 23
29 / 23
West North
27 / 22
27 / 23
West Central
27 / 23
29 / 23
West South
27 / 21
30 / 22
Stevens Pass
26 / 20
28 / 21
Snoqualmie Pass
28 / 22
29 / 23
East North
23 / 17
25 / 18
East Central
28 / 23
28 / 23
East South
29 / 24
30 / 25
Mt. Hood
28 / 23
36 / 25
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
26 / 23
Wednesday
29 / 23
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
27 / 22
Wednesday
27 / 23
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
27 / 23
Wednesday
29 / 23
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
27 / 21
Wednesday
30 / 22
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
26 / 20
Wednesday
28 / 21
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
28 / 22
Wednesday
29 / 23
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
23 / 17
Wednesday
25 / 18
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
28 / 23
Wednesday
28 / 23
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
29 / 24
Wednesday
30 / 25
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
28 / 23
Wednesday
36 / 25
Issued: 2:33 PM PST Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
Tuesday
Night
Wednesday
Morning
Wednesday
Afternoon
Olympics
W 5-15
WSW 0-10
WSW 0-10
SW 5-15
West North
WSW 0-10
SW 0-10
SW 0-10
SSW 10-20
West Central
W 5-15
W 5-15
WSW 0-10
SW 5-15
West South
W 0-10
W 0-10
W 0-10
WSW 5-15
Stevens Pass
W 0-10
W 0-10
W 0-10
W 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass
W 5-15
W 5-15
W 0-10
W 5-15
East North
W 0-10
W 0-10
W 0-10
WSW 5-15
East Central
WNW 5-15
WNW 5-15
W 0-10
W 0-10
East South
WNW 5-15
W 0-10
W 0-10
WSW 0-10
Mt. Hood
WNW 10-20
W 10-20
W 0-10
SSW 5-15
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
W
5-15
Tuesday
Night
WSW
0-10
Wednesday
Morning
WSW
0-10
Wednesday
Afternoon
SW
5-15
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
WSW
0-10
Tuesday
Night
SW
0-10
Wednesday
Morning
SW
0-10
Wednesday
Afternoon
SSW
10-20
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
W
5-15
Tuesday
Night
W
5-15
Wednesday
Morning
WSW
0-10
Wednesday
Afternoon
SW
5-15
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
W
0-10
Tuesday
Night
W
0-10
Wednesday
Morning
W
0-10
Wednesday
Afternoon
WSW
5-15
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
W
0-10
Tuesday
Night
W
0-10
Wednesday
Morning
W
0-10
Wednesday
Afternoon
W
0-10
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
W
5-15
Tuesday
Night
W
5-15
Wednesday
Morning
W
0-10
Wednesday
Afternoon
W
5-15
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
W
0-10
Tuesday
Night
W
0-10
Wednesday
Morning
W
0-10
Wednesday
Afternoon
WSW
5-15
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
WNW
5-15
Tuesday
Night
WNW
5-15
Wednesday
Morning
W
0-10
Wednesday
Afternoon
W
0-10
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
WNW
5-15
Tuesday
Night
W
0-10
Wednesday
Morning
W
0-10
Wednesday
Afternoon
WSW
0-10
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
WNW
10-20
Tuesday
Night
W
10-20
Wednesday
Morning
W
0-10
Wednesday
Afternoon
SSW
5-15
Issued: 2:33 PM PST Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Extended Weather Synopsis
Thursday night features the heaviest precipitation as a cold front cuts off the atmospheric river of moisture from north to south. Snow levels Thursday evening peak around 6000 ft in the north and 9500 ft for Mt Hood, before starting to drop. The heaviest rainfall will likely focus on the central Washington Cascades with 1-2.5" of precipitation Thursday night.
Mostly light post-frontal snow showers decrease Friday and Friday night as snow levels gradually lower. Expect snow to return to ski area bases from Stevens Pass northward by late Friday or Friday evening.
The next atmospheric river event lifts a warm front across Washington State on Saturday, bringing increasing moderate to heavy rain and high elevation snow. Without much cold air in place, expect a changeover from snow to rain as snow levels rise above the tops of most ski areas by the afternoon. Washington Pass will probably maintain snowfall.
The NWAC program is administered by the USDA-Forest Service and operates from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle. NWAC services are made possible by important collaboration and support from a wide variety of federal, state and private cooperators.
The 5000’ temperature forecast does not imply a trend over the 12 hr period and only represents the max and min temperatures within a 12 hr period in the zone. The 6-hr snow level forecast, the forecast discussion, and weather forecast sections may add detail regarding temperature trends.
The snow level forecast represents the general snow level over a 6 hr time period. Freezing levels are forecast when precipitation is not expected.
*Easterly or offshore flow is highlighted with an asterisk when we expect relatively cool east winds in the major Cascade Passes. Easterly flow will often lead to temperature inversions and is a key variable for forecasting precipitation type in the Cascade Passes. Strong easterly flow events can affect terrain on a more regional scale.
Ridgeline winds are the average wind speed and direction over a 6 hr time period.
The wind forecast represents an elevation range instead of a single elevation slice. The elevation range overlaps with the near and above treeline elevation bands in the avalanche forecast and differs per zone.
Wind direction indicates the direction the wind originates or comes from on the 16-point compass rose.
Water Equivalent (WE) is the liquid water equivalent of all precipitation types; rain, snow, ice pellets, etc., forecast to the hundredth of an inch at specific locations. To use WE as a proxy for snowfall amounts, start with a snow to water ratio of 10:1 (10 inches of snow = 1 inch WE). Temperatures at or near freezing will generally have a lower ratio (heavy wet snow) and very cold temperatures can have a much higher ratio (dry fluffy snow).