Our region has been unusually dry since an atmospheric river came to a close on November 7th. An approaching system will end the 2-week dry spell during the next 24 hours. Satellite imagery shows a significant mass of clouds reaching ahead of an incoming frontal boundary. A shortwave feature re-invigorates the frontal boundary and deepens the associated trough as light rain and high-elevation snow moves into NW Washington late Monday night. That precipitation intensifies into the moderate/heavy range as it spreads south and eastward during the day. Snow levels will be elevated along the west slopes of the Cascades (4000 ft around Mt. Baker and nearly 6000 ft for Mt. Hood). However, with a cold air pool remaining in place east of the Cascades and easterly flow through the mountain gaps, we expect a significant snowfall event. Winds should shift westerly with a frontal passage during the evening hours, creating a messy wintry mix near the passes and likely limiting snow totals to the 5-8" range for Snoqualmie Pass. Stevens Pass, Washington Pass, and Mt. Baker should expect 8-14" of snow and Paradise 6-10" before westerly postfrontal shower activity mostly winds down overnight. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds will shift their focus from the Mt. Baker area early Tuesday to the east slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood areas late Tuesday into the evening hours.
Clouds and a slight chance of an isolated rain/snow shower linger along the west slopes of the Cascades on Wednesday with temperatures near normal for late November.
A ridge of high pressure rebounds over the region Wednesday and Thursday. Thursday looks like the best chance of a dry day with mostly sunny skies and freezing levels rising to 8500-11000 ft to the west of the Cascade Crest. A weaker cold air pool redevelops along the east slopes of the Cascades keeping the passes cooler.
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
Monday
Night
Cloudy with periods of light rain and high-elevation snow developing overnight.
Tuesday
Increasing light rain and snow. Snow levels lowering to around the top of the Hurricane Ridge access road.
Monday
Night
Cloudy with periods of light rain and high-elevation snow developing overnight.
Tuesday
Light rain and snow become moderate and then heavy from mid-morning through the end of the day. Ridgeline winds peak in the moderate to strong range around mid-morning.
Monday
Night
Cloudy with periods of light rain and high-elevation snow developing in the early morning hours.
Tuesday
Light rain and snow become heavy from mid-morning onwards.
Monday
Night
Mostly cloudy with clouds lowering and thickening by morning.
Tuesday
Increasing light rain and snow becoming moderate (heavy at Paradise) from mid-morning onwards.
Monday
Night
Mostly cloudy with clouds lowering and thickening by morning. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Tuesday
Light snow becoming moderate in from mid-morning onwards. Snow may mix with rain west of the Pass. Light to moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Monday
Night
Mostly cloudy with clouds lowering and thickening by morning.
Tuesday
Light snow becoming moderate in from mid-morning onwards. Snow may mix with rain west of the Pass. Light to moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Monday
Night
Mostly cloudy with clouds lowering and thickening by morning.
Tuesday
Light snow becoming moderate to heavy from mid-morning onwards.
Monday
Night
Mostly cloudy with clouds lowering and thickening by morning.
Tuesday
Light snow becoming moderate to occasionally heavy from mid-morning onwards. Moderate ridgeline winds increasing during the afternoon.
Monday
Night
Mostly cloudy with clouds lowering and thickening by morning.
Tuesday
Light snow developing and becoming moderate to heavy from mid-morning onwards. Rain or freezing rain may mix with snow in areas closer to the Cascade Crest. Moderate ridgeline winds increasing during the afternoon.
Monday
Night
Mostly cloudy with clouds lowering and thickening by morning. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday
Moderate rain and snow developing from mid-morning onwards. Moderate to strong winds become more sustained in the strong range by the afternoon.
Issued: 3:40 PM PST Monday, November 21, 2022
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
Tuesday
Tuesday Night
Wednesday
4 pm - 4 am
4 am - 4 pm
4 pm - 4 am
4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge
LT 0.10
0.25 - 0.50
LT 0.10
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
LT 0.10
1.50
0.25
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
LT 0.10
1.00 - 1.50
0.25 - 0.50
0
Stevens Pass
0
0.50 - 0.75
0.25 - 0.50
0
Snoqualmie Pass
0
0.75 -1.00
0.50 - 0.75
0
Crystal Mt
0
0.25 - 0.50
0.25
0
Paradise
0
0.75 -1.00
0.50
0
White Pass
0
0.25 - 0.50
0.25
0
Washington Pass
0
0.50 - 0.75
0.25
0
Mission Ridge
0
0.25
LT 0.10
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
0
0.50
0.25 - 0.50
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
0
0.25 - 0.50
LT 0.25
0
Mt Hood Meadows
0
0.50
0.25
0
Timberline
0
0.50
0.25
0
Hurricane Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
LT 0.10
Tuesday
0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
LT 0.10
Tuesday
1.50
Tuesday Night
0.25
Wednesday
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
LT 0.10
Tuesday
1.00 - 1.50
Tuesday Night
0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday
0
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday Night
0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday
0
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0.75 -1.00
Tuesday Night
0.50 - 0.75
Wednesday
0
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday Night
0.25
Wednesday
0
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0.75 -1.00
Tuesday Night
0.50
Wednesday
0
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday Night
0.25
Wednesday
0
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday Night
0.25
Wednesday
0
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0.25
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0.50
Tuesday Night
0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday Night
LT 0.25
Wednesday
0
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0.50
Tuesday Night
0.25
Wednesday
0
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Monday Night
0
Tuesday
0.50
Tuesday Night
0.25
Wednesday
0
Issued: 3:40 PM PST Monday, November 21, 2022
Snow Level (ft)
Monday
Evening*
Monday
Night*
Tuesday
Morning*
Tuesday
Afternoon*
Tuesday
Evening
Tuesday
Night
Wednesday
Morning
Wednesday
Afternoon
Olympics
7000'
6500'
5500'
5000'
4500'
4500'
3500'
5500'
West North
6500'
5500'
4000'
4000'
3500'
3000'
2500'
4000'
West Central
6500'
6000'
5000'
4000'
3500'
3500'
3000'
4000'
West South
6500'
6500'
6000'
5000'
4000'
3500'
3500'
5000'
Stevens Pass
2500'
2000'
2000'
2000'
3000'
3500'
3000'
4500'
Snoqualmie Pass
2500'
2000'
2500'
2500'
3500'
3500'
3000'
4500'
East North
1500'
500'
1000'
1000'
2500'
3000'
2500'
4500'
East Central
2000'
1500'
1000'
1000'
2500'
3000'
3500'
4500'
East South
2500'
2000'
1500'
2500'
4000'
4000'
4000'
5500'
Mt. Hood
7500'
6500'
7500'
6000'
4500'
4000'
4500'
7000'
Olympics
Elevation
Monday
Evening*
7000'
Monday
Night*
6500'
Tuesday
Morning*
5500'
Tuesday
Afternoon*
5000'
Tuesday
Evening
4500'
Tuesday
Night
4500'
Wednesday
Morning
3500'
Wednesday
Afternoon
5500'
West North
Elevation
Monday
Evening*
6500'
Monday
Night*
5500'
Tuesday
Morning*
4000'
Tuesday
Afternoon*
4000'
Tuesday
Evening
3500'
Tuesday
Night
3000'
Wednesday
Morning
2500'
Wednesday
Afternoon
4000'
West Central
Elevation
Monday
Evening*
6500'
Monday
Night*
6000'
Tuesday
Morning*
5000'
Tuesday
Afternoon*
4000'
Tuesday
Evening
3500'
Tuesday
Night
3500'
Wednesday
Morning
3000'
Wednesday
Afternoon
4000'
West South
Elevation
Monday
Evening*
6500'
Monday
Night*
6500'
Tuesday
Morning*
6000'
Tuesday
Afternoon*
5000'
Tuesday
Evening
4000'
Tuesday
Night
3500'
Wednesday
Morning
3500'
Wednesday
Afternoon
5000'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Monday
Evening*
2500'
Monday
Night*
2000'
Tuesday
Morning*
2000'
Tuesday
Afternoon*
2000'
Tuesday
Evening
3000'
Tuesday
Night
3500'
Wednesday
Morning
3000'
Wednesday
Afternoon
4500'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Monday
Evening*
2500'
Monday
Night*
2000'
Tuesday
Morning*
2500'
Tuesday
Afternoon*
2500'
Tuesday
Evening
3500'
Tuesday
Night
3500'
Wednesday
Morning
3000'
Wednesday
Afternoon
4500'
East North
Elevation
Monday
Evening*
1500'
Monday
Night*
500'
Tuesday
Morning*
1000'
Tuesday
Afternoon*
1000'
Tuesday
Evening
2500'
Tuesday
Night
3000'
Wednesday
Morning
2500'
Wednesday
Afternoon
4500'
East Central
Elevation
Monday
Evening*
2000'
Monday
Night*
1500'
Tuesday
Morning*
1000'
Tuesday
Afternoon*
1000'
Tuesday
Evening
2500'
Tuesday
Night
3000'
Wednesday
Morning
3500'
Wednesday
Afternoon
4500'
East South
Elevation
Monday
Evening*
2500'
Monday
Night*
2000'
Tuesday
Morning*
1500'
Tuesday
Afternoon*
2500'
Tuesday
Evening
4000'
Tuesday
Night
4000'
Wednesday
Morning
4000'
Wednesday
Afternoon
5500'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Monday
Evening*
7500'
Monday
Night*
6500'
Tuesday
Morning*
7500'
Tuesday
Afternoon*
6000'
Tuesday
Evening
4500'
Tuesday
Night
4000'
Wednesday
Morning
4500'
Wednesday
Afternoon
7000'
Issued: 3:40 PM PST Monday, November 21, 2022
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Monday
Night
Tuesday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
35 / 33
34 / 30
West North
33 / 31
32 / 30
West Central
32 / 32
33 / 31
West South
34 / 31
34 / 32
Stevens Pass
33 / 30
32 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass
32 / 30
32 / 30
East North
30 / 27
28 / 23
East Central
32 / 31
32 / 29
East South
34 / 32
35 / 33
Mt. Hood
36 / 34
37 / 35
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
35 / 33
Tuesday
34 / 30
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
33 / 31
Tuesday
32 / 30
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
32 / 32
Tuesday
33 / 31
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
34 / 31
Tuesday
34 / 32
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
33 / 30
Tuesday
32 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
32 / 30
Tuesday
32 / 30
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
30 / 27
Tuesday
28 / 23
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
32 / 31
Tuesday
32 / 29
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
34 / 32
Tuesday
35 / 33
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Monday
Night
36 / 34
Tuesday
37 / 35
Issued: 3:40 PM PST Monday, November 21, 2022
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
Monday
Night
Tuesday
Morning
Tuesday
Afternoon
Olympics
SW 5-15
SSW 15-25
SW 20-30
WSW 15-25
West North
SSW 5-15
SSW 15-25
SSW 20-30
SSW 15-25
West Central
SSW 5-15
SSW 5-15
SSW 15-25
SSW 15-25
West South
SW 0-10
SW 5-15
SSW 10-20
WSW 15-25
Stevens Pass
ESE 0-10
ESE 5-15
ESE 10-20
ESE 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass
ESE 10-20
ESE 10-20
ESE 10-20
ESE 10-20
East North
WSW 5-15
SW 10-20
SSW 10-20
SSW 5-15
East Central
WSW 5-15
WSW 10-20
SW 15-25
SW 20-30
East South
WSW 0-10
WSW 5-15
WSW 10-20
WSW 15-25
Mt. Hood
SW 5-15
SW 10-20
SW 15-25
WSW 30-40
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
SW
5-15
Monday
Night
SSW
15-25
Tuesday
Morning
SW
20-30
Tuesday
Afternoon
WSW
15-25
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
SSW
5-15
Monday
Night
SSW
15-25
Tuesday
Morning
SSW
20-30
Tuesday
Afternoon
SSW
15-25
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
SSW
5-15
Monday
Night
SSW
5-15
Tuesday
Morning
SSW
15-25
Tuesday
Afternoon
SSW
15-25
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
SW
0-10
Monday
Night
SW
5-15
Tuesday
Morning
SSW
10-20
Tuesday
Afternoon
WSW
15-25
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
ESE
0-10
Monday
Night
ESE
5-15
Tuesday
Morning
ESE
10-20
Tuesday
Afternoon
ESE
10-20
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
ESE
10-20
Monday
Night
ESE
10-20
Tuesday
Morning
ESE
10-20
Tuesday
Afternoon
ESE
10-20
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
WSW
5-15
Monday
Night
SW
10-20
Tuesday
Morning
SSW
10-20
Tuesday
Afternoon
SSW
5-15
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
WSW
5-15
Monday
Night
WSW
10-20
Tuesday
Morning
SW
15-25
Tuesday
Afternoon
SW
20-30
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
WSW
0-10
Monday
Night
WSW
5-15
Tuesday
Morning
WSW
10-20
Tuesday
Afternoon
WSW
15-25
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday
Evening
SW
5-15
Monday
Night
SW
10-20
Tuesday
Morning
SW
15-25
Tuesday
Afternoon
WSW
30-40
Issued: 3:40 PM PST Monday, November 21, 2022
Extended Weather Synopsis
Uncertainty lingers at the end of the week. Models suggest that the ridge may start to break down late Thursday night or Friday morning as a dissipating frontal system spreads precipitation from NW to SE across the region. Expect a break between systems with cooler temperatures on Saturday.
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).