Issued: 2:12 PM PST Saturday, November 26, 2022
by Robert Hahn

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis

The Pacific Northwest is heading into a very snowy weather pattern this week as a series of cold storms drop toward our region out of the Gulf of Alaska. The first in the series features a strong cold front approaching the northern tip of Vancouver Island. Satellite imagery depicts a stark contrast between the continuous stratiform clouds to the south and vigorous convective instability to the north, early Saturday afternoon.  Out ahead of this system, light snowfall has just begun for the west slopes of the Olympics and northern Washington Cascades. Snowfall should expand SE during the evening hours, initially focusing the moderate/heavy snowfall on the Olympics and the northern Cascades before shifting the heaviest precipitation to the central Cascades in the early morning hours. While most precipitation will fall as snow, we expect 3-6 hours of rainfall from Snoqualmie Pass southward at elevations below 3500 ft as WSW winds bring a brief wedge of slightly warmer air.  The front and associated heavy precipitation shift into the southern Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood early Sunday while northern areas experience sharply cooling temperatures a shift to W winds and more showery precipitation. Some convergence will be possible in the central Cascades. Most of the west slopes of the Cascades can expect a foot or more of snow by late Sunday above the rain/snow line with 2-10" amounts east of the Cascade Crest and in the Olympics. Winds will be a major feature with strong WSW winds ahead of the front and strong W winds behind it, focusing on the mountain gaps and E slopes of the Cascades only tapering slightly on Sunday.

A cool upper trough continues to settle into the region through Sunday night with precipitation and winds increasingly focusing on southern parts of the forecast region Sunday night with drier cold air and Frasier River Outlow moving into northern areas. The Fraser River outflow could result in upslope snowfall for the northern Olympics late Sunday night or early Monday. Shower activity mostly tapers off on Monday as flow aloft turns northerly. Temperatures will be well below seasonal norms.

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
Saturday Night Increasing light to occasionally moderate snow. Moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts.
Sunday Light snow showers. Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds becoming light.
Saturday Night Moderate to heavy rain and snow. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Mostly light snow showers increase slightly during the afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Moderate rain and snow becoming heavy overnight. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to moderate snow showers. Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Increasing rain/snow starting light in the evening, then becoming heavy at Paradise and moderate at Crystal and White Pass. Moderate ridgeline winds becoming strong overnight.
Sunday Moderate snow showers taper slightly as strong ridgeline winds relent into the moderate range by the afternoon.
Saturday Night Light snow in the evening mixing with or changing to rain as precipitation becomes moderate to heavy overnight. Ridgeline winds becoming moderate to strong. Light W winds becoming moderate at the Pass.
Sunday Light to moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds and light to moderate W wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night Light snow in the evening becoming moderate, then heavy and changing to rain below 3500 ft. Ridgeline winds becoming moderate to strong. Light W winds becoming moderate at the Pass.
Sunday Moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts and light to moderate W wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night Light snow becoming moderate. Moderate ridgeline winds become strong overnight.
Sunday Decreasing light snow showers.
Saturday Night Light snow becomes moderate to heavy and may changeover to rain below 3000 ft. Moderate ridgeline winds become strong overnight.
Sunday Decreasing light snow showers. Strong ridgeline winds decrease into the moderate range from mid-morning onwards.
Saturday Night Light rain/snow develops during the late evening hours. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds become strong overnight.
Sunday Decreasing moderate snow showers quickly become light. Strong ridgeline winds decrease into the moderate range from mid-morning onwards.
Saturday Night Light snow developing around midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds becoming strong overnight.
Sunday Heavy snow with strong ridgeline winds and extreme gusts. The snow eases to moderate showers in the afternoon, but winds decrease only slightly.

Issued: 2:12 PM PST Saturday, November 26, 2022

Precipitation (in)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 1.00 - 1.50 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 1.00 - 1.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 LT 0.25
Stevens Pass 0.75 -1.00 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 1.00 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 0.25
Crystal Mt 0.25 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Paradise 1.00 - 1.50 0.50 0.50 0.25
White Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Washington Pass 0.75 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.25 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 0.50 - 0.75 0.75 0.25
Timberline LT 0.25 0.75 0.75 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.75 -1.00
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 1.00
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.75
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.75
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.75
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday 0.25

Issued: 2:12 PM PST Saturday, November 26, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon*
Olympics 3500' 3500' 1500' 2000' 1000' 1000' 500' 0
West North 2500' 2500' 500' 1000' 500' 0 0 0
West Central 2500' 3000' 1500' 1000' 1000' 0 0 0
West South 3000' 3500' 2500' 2000' 1500' 1000' 500' 1000'
Stevens Pass 2500' 3000' 1500' 1500' 500' 0 0 500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 3500' 2500' 1500' 1500' 500' 0 500'
East North 2500' 2000' 1000' 1000' 0 0 0 0
East Central 2500' 3500' 2000' 1500' 1000' 0 0 500'
East South 3000' 3500' 3000' 2000' 1500' 0 0 1000'
Mt. Hood 3000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 2500' 2000' 1000' 1500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening 3500'
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 500'
Monday Afternoon* 0'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 2500'
Sunday Morning 500'
Sunday Afternoon 1000'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 0'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 3000'
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 1000'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 0'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening 3000'
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 500'
Monday Afternoon* 1000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 3000'
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 3000'
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night* 500'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 500'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 2000'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1000'
Sunday Evening 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 0'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 2500'
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening 3000'
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday Morning 3000'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening 3000'
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night* 2000'
Monday Morning* 1000'
Monday Afternoon* 1500'

Issued: 2:12 PM PST Saturday, November 26, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 32 / 23 25 / 21
West North 28 / 21 25 / 19
West Central 29 / 22 26 / 20
West South 29 / 26 26 / 20
Stevens Pass 29 / 22 26 / 20
Snoqualmie Pass 29 / 24 26 / 21
East North 29 / 20 24 / 19
East Central 29 / 22 26 / 22
East South 29 / 24 27 / 23
Mt. Hood 31 / 26 30 / 225
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 23
Sunday 25 / 21
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 21
Sunday 25 / 19
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 22
Sunday 26 / 20
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 26
Sunday 26 / 20
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 22
Sunday 26 / 20
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 24
Sunday 26 / 21
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 20
Sunday 24 / 19
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 22
Sunday 26 / 22
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 24
Sunday 27 / 23
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 31 / 26
Sunday 30 / 225

Issued: 2:12 PM PST Saturday, November 26, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics WSW 20-30 W 20-30 W 10-20 W 10-20
West North SW 25-35 WSW 20-30 WSW 10-20 W 5-15
West Central SW 20-30 WSW 25-35 W 15-25 W 10-20
West South WSW 15-25 WSW 25-35 W 30-40 W 15-25
Stevens Pass WSW 15-25 WSW 25-35 W 10-20 W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass WSW 20-30 WSW 25-35 W 15-25 W 15-25
East North WSW 20-30 WSW 25-35 W 15-25 W 10-20
East Central W 25-35 WSW 30-40 W 25-35 W 20-30
East South W 15-25 WSW 30-40 W 25-35 WSW 20-30
Mt. Hood WNW 15-25 WSW 25-35 WSW 30-40 W 30-40
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 20-30
Saturday Night W 20-30
Sunday Morning W 10-20
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 25-35
Saturday Night WSW 20-30
Sunday Morning WSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon W 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 20-30
Saturday Night WSW 25-35
Sunday Morning W 15-25
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 15-25
Saturday Night WSW 25-35
Sunday Morning W 30-40
Sunday Afternoon W 15-25
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 15-25
Saturday Night WSW 25-35
Sunday Morning W 10-20
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 20-30
Saturday Night WSW 25-35
Sunday Morning W 15-25
Sunday Afternoon W 15-25
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 20-30
Saturday Night WSW 25-35
Sunday Morning W 15-25
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 25-35
Saturday Night WSW 30-40
Sunday Morning W 25-35
Sunday Afternoon W 20-30
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 15-25
Saturday Night WSW 30-40
Sunday Morning W 25-35
Sunday Afternoon WSW 20-30
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 15-25
Saturday Night WSW 25-35
Sunday Morning WSW 30-40
Sunday Afternoon W 30-40

Issued: 2:12 PM PST Saturday, November 26, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

Temperatures remain well below seasonal norms. Monday night and Tuesday feature a break between storms. Late Tuesday, another potent low approaches from the NW bringing another round of heavy snow to the region Tuesday night and Wednesday. This slow-moving storm with a trough off the coast could bring snow totals well over 1 ft to many areas with E flow through the mountain gaps helping to enhance snowfall totals along the east slopes of the mountains as well. The foothills could also see accumulations.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night* Tuesday * Tuesday Night* Wednesday *
West North 0 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0 0
Mt. Hood 0 500' 500' 2000'
West North Elevation
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday * 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday * 0'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday * 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday * 0'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday * 500'
Tuesday Night* 500'
Wednesday * 2000'

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I Extended Weather

Previous forecast from Nov 26, 2022

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).

The label LT, is shorthand for ‘less than’.