Issued: 2:04 PM PST Sunday, December 4, 2022
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

A low off the northern California coast has lifted a band of precipitation north over northern Oregon and southern Washington. The relatively poorly organized feature should maintain periods of light snow as far north as Stevens Pass with periods of moderate snow at times for the southern Washington volcanoes and particularly Mt. Hood through Sunday evening. Easterly winds should continue to gradually decrease as the temperature gradient across the Cascades weakens and upper-level winds turn toward the WSW. These WSW winds could bring moderate to occasionally strong winds to the higher terrain on Mt. Hood and areas downstream of Mt. Rainier, such as Crystal Mountain. Precipitation tapers to flurries overnight as very subtle ridging moves into the area on Monday. Monday should be mostly dry with isolated snow showers or flurries for areas around Snoqualmie Pass and Mt. Rainier.

Upper-level light NW flow develops Monday night into Tuesday, bringing increasing chances for very light snow along the west slopes of the Cascades while areas further east remain drier with better chances for sunshine.

Temperatures remain below seasonal norms throughout the forecast period.

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
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy to start, then becoming clear overnight.
Monday Mostly sunny.
Sunday Night Mostly clear.
Monday Mostly sunny.
Sunday Night Light snow in the evening in the southern part. Decreasing clouds northern part.
Monday Partly cloudy.
Sunday Night Periods of light to occasionally moderate snow showers, tapering to very light snow or flurries after midnight. Periods of strong ridgeline winds around Crystal Mountain.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of snow flurries.
Sunday Night Light snow at times during the early evening, then becoming partly cloudy overnight. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of snow flurries. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Night Light snow at times during the evening, then becoming partly cloudy overnight. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Monday Partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of snow flurries. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Night Clearing skies. Cold.
Monday Mostly clear.
Sunday Night Light snow at times during the evening, then becoming partly to mostly cloudy overnight.
Monday Partly cloudy with clouds decreasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Decreasing periods of light snow at times.
Monday Partly cloudy with clouds decreasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Decreasing periods of light to moderate snow in the evening, tapering after midnight.
Monday Partly cloudy with clouds decreasing in the afternoon.

Issued: 2:04 PM PST Sunday, December 4, 2022

Precipitation (in)

Sunday Night Monday Monday Night Tuesday
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 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 0 0 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 0 0 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 0 0 LT 0.10
Paradise LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass 0 0 0 0
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 0 0 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.25 0 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 0 0 LT 0.10
Timberline 0.25 0 0 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10

Issued: 2:04 PM PST Sunday, December 4, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon* Monday Evening* Monday Night* Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 2500' 2000' 1500' 2500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000'
West North 2000' 1000' 500' 2500' 2000' 2000' 500' 1500'
West Central 2000' 1000' 1000' 2500' 2500' 1500' 1000' 2000'
West South 1500' 2000' 1500' 3500' 3000' 1500' 1500' 2500'
Stevens Pass 500' 1000' 1000' 2500' 2000' 1000' 1000' 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass 500' 1000' 500' 2000' 2500' 1500' 1500' 2000'
East North 2000' 500' 500' 2000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 2000'
East Central 500' 1000' 500' 2000' 1500' 1500' 1500' 2300'
East South 1000' 1000' 1000' 3000' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3500'
Mt. Hood 1000' 1500' 1500' 3500' 3000' 3000' 2500' 3500'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening* 2500'
Sunday Night* 2000'
Monday Morning* 1500'
Monday Afternoon* 2500'
Monday Evening* 2000'
Monday Night* 2000'
Tuesday Morning 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening* 2000'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 500'
Monday Afternoon* 2500'
Monday Evening* 2000'
Monday Night* 2000'
Tuesday Morning 500'
Tuesday Afternoon 1500'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening* 2000'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 1000'
Monday Afternoon* 2500'
Monday Evening* 2500'
Monday Night* 1500'
Tuesday Morning 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening* 1500'
Sunday Night* 2000'
Monday Morning* 1500'
Monday Afternoon* 3500'
Monday Evening* 3000'
Monday Night* 1500'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening* 500'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 1000'
Monday Afternoon* 2500'
Monday Evening* 2000'
Monday Night* 1000'
Tuesday Morning 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening* 500'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 500'
Monday Afternoon* 2000'
Monday Evening* 2500'
Monday Night* 1500'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening* 2000'
Sunday Night* 500'
Monday Morning* 500'
Monday Afternoon* 2000'
Monday Evening* 1000'
Monday Night* 1000'
Tuesday Morning 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening* 500'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 500'
Monday Afternoon* 2000'
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night* 1500'
Tuesday Morning 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2300'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening* 1000'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 1000'
Monday Afternoon* 3000'
Monday Evening* 3000'
Monday Night* 2500'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening* 1000'
Sunday Night* 1500'
Monday Morning* 1500'
Monday Afternoon* 3500'
Monday Evening* 3000'
Monday Night* 3000'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'

Issued: 2:04 PM PST Sunday, December 4, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 28 / 22 30 / 21
West North 24 / 18 25 / 17
West Central 24 / 19 27 / 19
West South 25 / 19 30 / 26
Stevens Pass 19 / 15 28 / 17
Snoqualmie Pass 21 / 17 28 / 21
East North 17 / 10 25 / 11
East Central 19 / 15 28 / 19
East South 24 / 16 31 / 24
Mt. Hood 28 / 23 33 / 23
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 28 / 22
Monday 30 / 21
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 24 / 18
Monday 25 / 17
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 24 / 19
Monday 27 / 19
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 25 / 19
Monday 30 / 26
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 19 / 15
Monday 28 / 17
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 21 / 17
Monday 28 / 21
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 17 / 10
Monday 25 / 11
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 19 / 15
Monday 28 / 19
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 24 / 16
Monday 31 / 24
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 28 / 23
Monday 33 / 23

Issued: 2:04 PM PST Sunday, December 4, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics ESE 0-10 ESE 0-10 WSW 0-10 WSW 0-10
West North NW 0-10 WNW 0-10 WSW 0-10 SW 0-10
West Central NE 0-10 SW 0-10 WSW 0-10 W 5-15
West South WSW 15-25 WSW 5-15 SW 0-10 WSW 0-10
Stevens Pass ESE 5-15 SSE 0-10 WSW 5-15 W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass ESE 0-10 SW 0-10 W 5-15 WNW 5-15
East North ESE 0-10 WSW 0-10 W 5-15 W 10-20
East Central ENE 0-10 W 0-10 W 10-20 W 15-25
East South W 5-15 W 5-15 WSW 5-15 W 5-15
Mt. Hood WSW 15-25 WSW 10-20 SW 0-10 WSW 0-10
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening ESE 0-10
Sunday Night ESE 0-10
Monday Morning WSW 0-10
Monday Afternoon WSW 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening NW 0-10
Sunday Night WNW 0-10
Monday Morning WSW 0-10
Monday Afternoon SW 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening NE 0-10
Sunday Night SW 0-10
Monday Morning WSW 0-10
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 15-25
Sunday Night WSW 5-15
Monday Morning SW 0-10
Monday Afternoon WSW 0-10
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening ESE 5-15
Sunday Night SSE 0-10
Monday Morning WSW 5-15
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening ESE 0-10
Sunday Night SW 0-10
Monday Morning W 5-15
Monday Afternoon WNW 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening ESE 0-10
Sunday Night WSW 0-10
Monday Morning W 5-15
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening ENE 0-10
Sunday Night W 0-10
Monday Morning W 10-20
Monday Afternoon W 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 5-15
Sunday Night W 5-15
Monday Morning WSW 5-15
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 15-25
Sunday Night WSW 10-20
Monday Morning SW 0-10
Monday Afternoon WSW 0-10

Issued: 2:04 PM PST Sunday, December 4, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

Gradually increasing WNW upper-level flow brings gradually increasing forcing for light snowfall along the west slopes of the Cascades Tuesday night and Wednesday, with flow turning WSW late in the day. Easterly winds should increase into the moderate range as the front approaches Wednesday night. and heavier precipitation moves into the Olympics. The N-S-oriented cold front moves through Thursday morning with a round of wind and snowfall before the precipitation turns showery in the afternoon as an upper-level trough begins moving onshore. Temperatures remain below seasonal norms and this should be an all-snow event for our mountains.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night* Thursday *
West North 1500' 1500' 2000' 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass 2000' 2500' 1500' 1000'
Mt. Hood 3000' 2500' 2000' 2500'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday 1500'
Wednesday Night* 2000'
Thursday * 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday 2500'
Wednesday Night* 1500'
Thursday * 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 3000'
Wednesday 2500'
Wednesday Night* 2000'
Thursday * 2500'

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

Previous forecast from Dec 4, 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’.