The weather pattern will remain quiet with dry weather through the weekend. A weak (and dry) upper level trough that passed from north to south over the area has turned the flow aloft N-NE. The practical impact of this has been to drop those mild temperatures west of the Cascade Crest (Mt Baker area, Mountain Loop, Olympics, etc) down 15-25 degrees in the 24 hours. Moderate to locally strong East winds can be found along ridgetops near the Cascades crest, making for some low wind chill values this afternoon. Cold, breezy to windy, and mostly clear conditions will continue overnight. The caveat to the cloud cover includes some low clouds across portions of the east slopes of the Cascades and to the east of Mt. Hood.
On Friday, we'll start to see upper level ridging rebuild offshore, setting up once again those stark temperature differences between the west side and the east side of the Cascades with continued locally moderate E winds. The Olympics, Mt Baker and central Cascades well west of the Pass will be the first places to moderate on Friday. There's less certainty that places like Crystal mountain and Snoqualmie/Stevens Pass will realize much warming on Friday. Mt. Hood will likely see a stiff E wind all day to help keep temperatures/freezing levels chilly.
On Saturday we'll start to see the ridge weaken and shift inland. This should weaken some of the easterly flow across the area and allow for more warming near and west of the Cascade crest.
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
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear.
Friday
Mostly sunny.
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear.
Friday
Mostly sunny.
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear.
Friday
Mostly sunny.
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear.
Friday
Mostly sunny. Cooler near the Cascade crest. Breezy in the morning.
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear. Areas of low clouds. Light to locally moderate E winds.
Friday
Mostly sunny. Milder for areas to the West of the Pass. Light to locally moderate E winds.
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear. Areas of low clouds. Moderate to locally strong E winds.
Friday
Mostly sunny. Milder for areas to the West of the Pass. Light to locally moderate E winds.
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear. Areas of low clouds.
Friday
Mostly sunny.
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear. Areas of low clouds. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Mostly sunny.
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear. Areas of low clouds. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Mostly sunny.
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear. Areas of low clouds east side of the mountain. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Friday
Mostly sunny. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds easing in the afternoon.
Issued: 2:02 PM PST Thursday, November 17, 2022
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
Friday
Friday Night
Saturday
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
0
0
0
Mission Ridge
0
0
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)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Issued: 2:02 PM PST Thursday, November 17, 2022
Snow Level (ft)
Thursday
Evening*
Thursday
Night*
Friday
Morning*
Friday
Afternoon*
Friday
Evening*
Friday
Night*
Saturday
Morning*
Saturday
Afternoon*
Olympics
4000'
5500'
5500'
9000'
9000'
9000'
9000'
9000'
West North
4000'
2000'
3500'
7500'
7500'
8000'
8000'
8000'
West Central
4000'
2000'
3500'
6500'
7000'
8500'
8500'
9000'
West South
3000'
1000'
3000'
5500'
6000'
7000'
8000'
9000'
Stevens Pass
3000'
1000'
2000'
3500'
3000'
2500'
3000'
4500'
Snoqualmie Pass
3000'
1000'
2000'
3500'
3000'
2500'
4500'
7500'
East North
2000'
0
0
4000'
3000'
2500'
3000'
4000'
East Central
2000'
0
0
3000'
3000'
2500'
3500'
4500'
East South
2000'
1000'
1000'
3000'
3000'
2500'
4500'
6500'
Mt. Hood
2000'
1000'
1500'
3000'
4500'
7000'
8000'
9000'
Olympics
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
4000'
Thursday
Night*
5500'
Friday
Morning*
5500'
Friday
Afternoon*
9000'
Friday
Evening*
9000'
Friday
Night*
9000'
Saturday
Morning*
9000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
9000'
West North
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
4000'
Thursday
Night*
2000'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon*
7500'
Friday
Evening*
7500'
Friday
Night*
8000'
Saturday
Morning*
8000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
8000'
West Central
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
4000'
Thursday
Night*
2000'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon*
6500'
Friday
Evening*
7000'
Friday
Night*
8500'
Saturday
Morning*
8500'
Saturday
Afternoon*
9000'
West South
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
3000'
Thursday
Night*
1000'
Friday
Morning*
3000'
Friday
Afternoon*
5500'
Friday
Evening*
6000'
Friday
Night*
7000'
Saturday
Morning*
8000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
9000'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
3000'
Thursday
Night*
1000'
Friday
Morning*
2000'
Friday
Afternoon*
3500'
Friday
Evening*
3000'
Friday
Night*
2500'
Saturday
Morning*
3000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
4500'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
3000'
Thursday
Night*
1000'
Friday
Morning*
2000'
Friday
Afternoon*
3500'
Friday
Evening*
3000'
Friday
Night*
2500'
Saturday
Morning*
4500'
Saturday
Afternoon*
7500'
East North
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
2000'
Thursday
Night*
0'
Friday
Morning*
0'
Friday
Afternoon*
4000'
Friday
Evening*
3000'
Friday
Night*
2500'
Saturday
Morning*
3000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
4000'
East Central
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
2000'
Thursday
Night*
0'
Friday
Morning*
0'
Friday
Afternoon*
3000'
Friday
Evening*
3000'
Friday
Night*
2500'
Saturday
Morning*
3500'
Saturday
Afternoon*
4500'
East South
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
2000'
Thursday
Night*
1000'
Friday
Morning*
1000'
Friday
Afternoon*
3000'
Friday
Evening*
3000'
Friday
Night*
2500'
Saturday
Morning*
4500'
Saturday
Afternoon*
6500'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
2000'
Thursday
Night*
1000'
Friday
Morning*
1500'
Friday
Afternoon*
3000'
Friday
Evening*
4500'
Friday
Night*
7000'
Saturday
Morning*
8000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
9000'
Issued: 2:02 PM PST Thursday, November 17, 2022
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Thursday
Night
Friday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
33 / 27
42 / 30
West North
28 / 22
37 / 28
West Central
25 / 19
35 / 26
West South
21 / 16
34 / 19
Stevens Pass
21 / 18
29 / 21
Snoqualmie Pass
22 / 19
29 / 22
East North
18 / 14
28 / 16
East Central
18 / 15
29 / 16
East South
15 / 15
30 / 17
Mt. Hood
21 / 16
30 / 19
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
33 / 27
Friday
42 / 30
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
28 / 22
Friday
37 / 28
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
25 / 19
Friday
35 / 26
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
21 / 16
Friday
34 / 19
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
21 / 18
Friday
29 / 21
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
22 / 19
Friday
29 / 22
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
18 / 14
Friday
28 / 16
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
18 / 15
Friday
29 / 16
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
15 / 15
Friday
30 / 17
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
21 / 16
Friday
30 / 19
Issued: 2:02 PM PST Thursday, November 17, 2022
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
Thursday
Night
Friday
Morning
Friday
Afternoon
Olympics
E 10-20
NE 10-20
NNE 5-15
N 0-10
West North
NE 10-20
NE 5-15
NE 5-15
VAR 0-10
West Central
E 5-15
E 0-10
E 0-10
NW 0-10
West South
E 20-30
ESE 15-25
E 10-20
VAR 5-15
Stevens Pass
E 10-20
E 5-15
E 5-15
VAR 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass
E 15-25
E 10-20
E 10-20
VAR 0-10
East North
NE 10-20
NE 5-15
N 5-15
NW 5-15
East Central
E 10-20
E 10-20
E 5-15
VAR 0-10
East South
E 15-25
ENE 15-25
E 5-15
SE 5-15
Mt. Hood
E 25-35
E 25-35
E 20-30
E 15-25
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
E
10-20
Thursday
Night
NE
10-20
Friday
Morning
NNE
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
N
0-10
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
NE
10-20
Thursday
Night
NE
5-15
Friday
Morning
NE
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
VAR
0-10
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
E
5-15
Thursday
Night
E
0-10
Friday
Morning
E
0-10
Friday
Afternoon
NW
0-10
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
E
20-30
Thursday
Night
ESE
15-25
Friday
Morning
E
10-20
Friday
Afternoon
VAR
5-15
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
E
10-20
Thursday
Night
E
5-15
Friday
Morning
E
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
VAR
0-10
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
E
15-25
Thursday
Night
E
10-20
Friday
Morning
E
10-20
Friday
Afternoon
VAR
0-10
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
NE
10-20
Thursday
Night
NE
5-15
Friday
Morning
N
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
NW
5-15
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
E
10-20
Thursday
Night
E
10-20
Friday
Morning
E
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
VAR
0-10
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
E
15-25
Thursday
Night
ENE
15-25
Friday
Morning
E
5-15
Friday
Afternoon
SE
5-15
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
E
25-35
Thursday
Night
E
25-35
Friday
Morning
E
20-30
Friday
Afternoon
E
15-25
Issued: 2:02 PM PST Thursday, November 17, 2022
Extended Weather Synopsis
The pattern will shift Sunday as a weak frontal system approaches the coast. Freezing levels will be mild and we should see a general increase in cloud covers with dry weather to close out the weekend. This weak weather system may not make much headway inland on Monday but another frontal system arriving Mon night/Tue should bring widespread light/moderate precipitation early next week.
Forecast models are suggesting a more active pattern over Turkey Day weekend with some suggesting a mild/wet pattern with the jet stream positioned well into southern/central B.C. Stay tuned...
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).