Welcome to the 2022-23 season at NWAC! A high-amplitude ridge continues to dominate the regional weather. Inversion conditions have become pronounced to the east of the Cascades, with a strong pressure gradient through the mountain gaps driving moderate E winds. This pattern should continue into Wednesday evening. A moisture-starved backdoor cold front sliding down the continental divide reinforces the easterly flow late with mid-level ENE winds late Wednesday night into Thursday morning. The upslope winds combined with weak upper-level support could touch off a few snow showers (less than 1" of accumulation) along the eastern foothills of the Cascades from the Wenatchee Mountains northward. The front also ushers in cooler temperatures. The combined effect of temperatures in the 20s and moderate winds in many exposed locations will lead to windchills around 0F in wind-exposed locations while afternoon 5000 ft high temperatures should be 5-15F cooler than 24 hours prior. Skies clear Thursday afternoon across the region as the upper-level ridge just offshore pushes back onshore. E winds through the mountain gaps should finally ease into the light to moderate range on Friday. Meanwhile, temperatures should warm west of the mountains with freezing levels rising up to 8000 ft in the Olympic Mountains by Friday afternoon.
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
Wednesday
Night
Mostly clear with a few high clouds. Valley fog possibly developing.
Thursday
A few high clouds early, then mostly sunny skies.
Wednesday
Night
Clear to start with obscured skies developing as high clouds increase.
Thursday
A few high clouds early, then mostly sunny skies.
Wednesday
Night
Clear to start with obscured skies developing as high clouds increase.
Thursday
A few high clouds early, then mostly sunny skies.
Wednesday
Night
Clear to start with increasing high clouds in the early morning hours. Moderate to occasionally strong winds developing through the mountain gaps by morning.
Thursday
Some cloud cover early, then becoming mostly sunny.
Wednesday
Night
Clear to start with obscured skies developing as clouds increase in the early morning hours. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds with increasing moderate E wind through at the Pass.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy early, then becoming mostly sunny. Moderate E ridgeline and pass-level winds.
Wednesday
Night
Clear to start with obscured skies developing as clouds increase in the early morning hours. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds with increasing moderate E wind through at the Pass.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy early, then becoming mostly sunny. Moderate E ridgeline and pass-level winds.
Wednesday
Night
Increasing clouds with a chance of snow flurries during the early morning hours.
Thursday
A few snow flurries in the early morning hours, with gradually clearing skies becoming mostly sunny by afternoon.
Wednesday
Night
Increasing clouds with a chance of snow flurries developing by morning.
Thursday
A few snow showers possible early, with gradually clearing skies becoming mostly sunny by afternoon.
Wednesday
Night
Clear to start with clouds increasing by morning.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy in the morning, becoming partly cloudy by afternoon.
Wednesday
Night
Mostly clear skies with valley fog to the east of Mt. Hood.
Thursday
High clouds and heavily filtered sunshine in the morning with full sunshine returning during the afternoon.
Issued: 2:20 PM PST Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
Thursday
Thursday Night
Friday
4 pm - 4 am
4 am - 4 pm
4 pm - 4 am
4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge
0
0
0
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
0
0
0
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
0
0
0
0
Stevens Pass
0
0
0
0
Snoqualmie Pass
0
0
0
0
Crystal Mt
0
0
0
0
Paradise
0
0
0
0
White Pass
0
0
0
0
Washington Pass
0
LT 0.10
0
0
Mission Ridge
0
LT 0.10
0
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
0
0
0
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
0
0
0
0
Mt Hood Meadows
0
0
0
0
Timberline
0
0
0
0
Hurricane Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
LT 0.10
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
LT 0.10
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Issued: 2:20 PM PST Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Snow Level (ft)
Wednesday
Evening*
Wednesday
Night*
Thursday
Morning*
Thursday
Afternoon*
Thursday
Evening*
Thursday
Night*
Friday
Morning*
Friday
Afternoon*
Olympics
10000'
9500'
8000'
6000'
5000'
6000'
7500'
8000'
West North
9000'
6000'
4000'
3000'
3500'
3000'
3500'
5000'
West Central
9500'
7500'
4500'
3500'
3500'
3000'
3500'
5000'
West South
10500'
9000'
5500'
3500'
3000'
2500'
3000'
5000'
Stevens Pass
9500'
7000'
0
3000'
3000'
2500'
2500'
3500'
Snoqualmie Pass
10000'
8000'
0
3000'
3000'
2500'
3000'
4000'
East North
8000'
4500'
0
2500'
2500'
2000'
2500'
3000'
East Central
9500'
5500'
0
2500'
2500'
2000'
2000'
2500'
East South
10500'
9000'
0
2500'
2500'
2000'
2000'
2500'
Mt. Hood
10500'
10000'
8000'
3000'
3000'
1500'
1500'
2500'
Olympics
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening*
10000'
Wednesday
Night*
9500'
Thursday
Morning*
8000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
6000'
Thursday
Evening*
5000'
Thursday
Night*
6000'
Friday
Morning*
7500'
Friday
Afternoon*
8000'
West North
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening*
9000'
Wednesday
Night*
6000'
Thursday
Morning*
4000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
3000'
Thursday
Evening*
3500'
Thursday
Night*
3000'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon*
5000'
West Central
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening*
9500'
Wednesday
Night*
7500'
Thursday
Morning*
4500'
Thursday
Afternoon*
3500'
Thursday
Evening*
3500'
Thursday
Night*
3000'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon*
5000'
West South
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening*
10500'
Wednesday
Night*
9000'
Thursday
Morning*
5500'
Thursday
Afternoon*
3500'
Thursday
Evening*
3000'
Thursday
Night*
2500'
Friday
Morning*
3000'
Friday
Afternoon*
5000'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening*
9500'
Wednesday
Night*
7000'
Thursday
Morning*
0'
Thursday
Afternoon*
3000'
Thursday
Evening*
3000'
Thursday
Night*
2500'
Friday
Morning*
2500'
Friday
Afternoon*
3500'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening*
10000'
Wednesday
Night*
8000'
Thursday
Morning*
0'
Thursday
Afternoon*
3000'
Thursday
Evening*
3000'
Thursday
Night*
2500'
Friday
Morning*
3000'
Friday
Afternoon*
4000'
East North
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening*
8000'
Wednesday
Night*
4500'
Thursday
Morning*
0'
Thursday
Afternoon*
2500'
Thursday
Evening*
2500'
Thursday
Night*
2000'
Friday
Morning*
2500'
Friday
Afternoon*
3000'
East Central
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening*
9500'
Wednesday
Night*
5500'
Thursday
Morning*
0'
Thursday
Afternoon*
2500'
Thursday
Evening*
2500'
Thursday
Night*
2000'
Friday
Morning*
2000'
Friday
Afternoon*
2500'
East South
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening*
10500'
Wednesday
Night*
9000'
Thursday
Morning*
0'
Thursday
Afternoon*
2500'
Thursday
Evening*
2500'
Thursday
Night*
2000'
Friday
Morning*
2000'
Friday
Afternoon*
2500'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening*
10500'
Wednesday
Night*
10000'
Thursday
Morning*
8000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
3000'
Thursday
Evening*
3000'
Thursday
Night*
1500'
Friday
Morning*
1500'
Friday
Afternoon*
2500'
Issued: 2:20 PM PST Wednesday, November 16, 2022
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Wednesday
Night
Thursday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
46 / 34
34 / 30
West North
40 / 32
32 / 26
West Central
41 / 31
28 / 25
West South
42 / 30
29 / 26
Stevens Pass
38 / 24
28 / 23
Snoqualmie Pass
40 / 25
39 / 24
East North
26 / 19
24 / 16
East Central
34 / 23
24 / 20
East South
37 / 23
25 / 22
Mt. Hood
48 / 25
29 / 24
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
46 / 34
Thursday
34 / 30
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
40 / 32
Thursday
32 / 26
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
41 / 31
Thursday
28 / 25
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
42 / 30
Thursday
29 / 26
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
38 / 24
Thursday
28 / 23
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
40 / 25
Thursday
39 / 24
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
26 / 19
Thursday
24 / 16
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
34 / 23
Thursday
24 / 20
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
37 / 23
Thursday
25 / 22
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
48 / 25
Thursday
29 / 24
Issued: 2:20 PM PST Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
Wednesday
Night
Thursday
Morning
Thursday
Afternoon
Olympics
NNE 0-10
ENE 5-15
ENE 5-15
ENE 10-20
West North
NE 0-10
ENE 5-15
E 5-15
E 5-15
West Central
E 0-10
ESE 10-20
ESE 15-25
ESE 15-25
West South
NW 0-10
E 0-10
E 15-25
ESE 10-20
Stevens Pass
E 5-15
ESE 10-20
ESE 20-30
ESE 20-30
Snoqualmie Pass
NE 5-15
ESE 10-20
ESE 20-30
ESE 20-30
East North
NNE 0-10
ESE 10-20
ESE 10-20
ESE 10-20
East Central
NNE 5-15
E 10-20
E 15-25
E 10-20
East South
NNW 0-10
ENE 5-15
ENE 10-20
ENE 10-20
Mt. Hood
NW 0-10
WNW 5-15
NNE 5-15
ESE 5-15
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
NNE
0-10
Wednesday
Night
ENE
5-15
Thursday
Morning
ENE
5-15
Thursday
Afternoon
ENE
10-20
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
NE
0-10
Wednesday
Night
ENE
5-15
Thursday
Morning
E
5-15
Thursday
Afternoon
E
5-15
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
E
0-10
Wednesday
Night
ESE
10-20
Thursday
Morning
ESE
15-25
Thursday
Afternoon
ESE
15-25
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
NW
0-10
Wednesday
Night
E
0-10
Thursday
Morning
E
15-25
Thursday
Afternoon
ESE
10-20
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
E
5-15
Wednesday
Night
ESE
10-20
Thursday
Morning
ESE
20-30
Thursday
Afternoon
ESE
20-30
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
NE
5-15
Wednesday
Night
ESE
10-20
Thursday
Morning
ESE
20-30
Thursday
Afternoon
ESE
20-30
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
NNE
0-10
Wednesday
Night
ESE
10-20
Thursday
Morning
ESE
10-20
Thursday
Afternoon
ESE
10-20
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
NNE
5-15
Wednesday
Night
E
10-20
Thursday
Morning
E
15-25
Thursday
Afternoon
E
10-20
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
NNW
0-10
Wednesday
Night
ENE
5-15
Thursday
Morning
ENE
10-20
Thursday
Afternoon
ENE
10-20
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
NW
0-10
Wednesday
Night
WNW
5-15
Thursday
Morning
NNE
5-15
Thursday
Afternoon
ESE
5-15
Issued: 2:20 PM PST Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Extended Weather Synopsis
Winds begin to shift westerly Friday night as the west coast ridge begins to break down and signal a return to more active weather next week. High clouds begin to increase ahead of the next system on Saturday with obscured skies developing on Sunday ahead of a weak system approaching the coast by the end of the weekend. Temperatures should be above seasonal norms in most mountain locations except in valleys where inversion should trap cold air. However, by the end of the weekend, these areas will moderate as well.
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).