NW flow continues to bring minor amounts of moisture into the west slopes of the Cascades north of Mt. Rainier. The atmosphere has been stable with a deck of stratus at 3000-5000 ft. Much of the thin layer of moisture doesn't have the lift to make it over the westernmost portion of our mountains or even reach the central Cascades Passes. The slight slight increase in W winds Tuesday afternoon did not change the story.
Tuesday night, the pattern remains little changed with some very light snow or snow flurries for Mt. Baker southward to I-90. Westerly winds should decrease after reaching the moderate range for exposed locations along the east slopes of the Cascades. Temperatures at most 5000 ft stations will be in the 20's. Cold pools remain in the Methow and eastern portions of the East Central zone.
Winds turn SWerly on Wednesday with a slight ridge over the region, creating a drying trend for the central and southern Washington Cascades. Expect better chances for sun breaks in these areas. An approaching N-S-oriented cold front spreads light snow into the Olympics and Mt. Baker area in the afternoon or early evening hours. Light to moderate snowfall spreads throughout the region overnight into Monday morning as E low-level winds increase into the moderate to strong range and keep the central Cascade passes quite chilly. The cold front crosses the Cascades mid-to-late morning on Thursday. With an upper trough lingering behind the front, it's unclear whether there will be a low-level wind shift, but winds should decrease drastically as lighter snow showers continue on SSW flow. This pattern favors Mt. Baker and Paradise with both expecting around 1 ft of snow. The central Cascades passes can expect 1-4".
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
Tuesday
Night
Mostly cloudy.
Wednesday
Clouds lowering and thickening with a chance of light snow by the end of the day.
Tuesday
Night
Cloudy with periods of light snow or flurries.
Wednesday
Cloudy with periods of light snow or primarily in the afternoon with increasing ridgeline winds becoming moderate late in the day.
Tuesday
Night
Cloudy with periods of light snow or flurries.
Wednesday
Cloudy with periods of very light snow or flurries possible.
Tuesday
Night
A few snow flurries in the foothills, otherwise partly cloudy.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy.
Tuesday
Night
Cloudy with periods of very light snow at times. Mostly light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Wednesday
Cloudy with snow flurries possible in the morning, then becoming partly cloudy. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass switching W in the afternoon.
Tuesday
Night
Cloudy with periods of very light snow at times. Mostly light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Wednesday
Cloudy with snow flurries possible in the morning, then becoming partly cloudy. Light ridgeline and W wind at the Pass switching W in the afternoon.
Tuesday
Night
Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow flurries.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. Inversion.
Tuesday
Night
Partly cloudy with mostly cloudy skies and a chance of snow flurries closer to the Cascade Crest. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds decrease into the light to moderate range by morning.
Wednesday
Partly cloudy.
Tuesday
Night
Partly cloudy with mostly cloudy skies and a chance of snow flurries closer to the Cascade Crest. Moderate ridgeline winds decrease into the light range by morning.
Wednesday
Partly to mostly sunny.
Tuesday
Night
Low clouds with a chance of snow flurries on the west slopes of Mt. Hood with mostly clear skies further east.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny. Ridgeline winds increase into the moderate range during the afternoon.
Issued: 2:12 PM PST Tuesday, December 6, 2022
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
Wednesday
Wednesday Night
Thursday
4 pm - 4 am
4 am - 4 pm
4 pm - 4 am
4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge
0
0
0.25 - 0.50
0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0.50
1.00
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
0.50
Stevens Pass
LT 0.10
0
LT 0.10
0.25
Snoqualmie Pass
LT 0.10
0
LT 0.25
0.25
Crystal Mt
0
0
LT 0.25
0.25 - 0.50
Paradise
0
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
0.25 - 0.50
White Pass
0
0
LT 0.10
0.25
Washington Pass
0
0
LT 0.10
0.25
Mission Ridge
0
0
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
0
0
LT 0.10
0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
0
0
LT 0.10
0.25
Mt Hood Meadows
0
0
LT 0.10
0.25
Timberline
0
0
LT 0.10
0.25 - 0.50
Hurricane Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
0.25 - 0.50
Thursday
0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
LT 0.10
Wednesday Night
0.50
Thursday
1.00
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
LT 0.10
Wednesday Night
LT 0.25
Thursday
0.50
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
0.25
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
LT 0.10
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.25
Thursday
0.25
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.25
Thursday
0.25 - 0.50
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
LT 0.10
Wednesday Night
LT 0.25
Thursday
0.25 - 0.50
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
0.25
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
0.25
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
0.25
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
0.25
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night
0
Wednesday
0
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
0.25 - 0.50
Issued: 2:12 PM PST Tuesday, December 6, 2022
Snow Level (ft)
Tuesday
Evening
Tuesday
Night
Wednesday
Morning
Wednesday
Afternoon*
Wednesday
Evening*
Wednesday
Night*
Thursday
Morning*
Thursday
Afternoon*
Olympics
2500'
2500'
2500'
3000'
2000'
2500'
2000'
2000'
West North
1000'
500'
500'
2000'
1500'
1500'
1500'
1500'
West Central
1500'
1500'
1500'
2000'
1500'
1000'
1000'
1000'
West South
2500'
1000'
1500'
3000'
1500'
1000'
1500'
2000'
Stevens Pass
1000'
1000'
2000'
2500'
1000'
0
0
500'
Snoqualmie Pass
1500'
1500'
2000'
2500'
1000'
0
0
1000'
East North
1500'
1000'
1000'
2000'
1000'
0
0
500'
East Central
1500'
1500'
1000'
2000'
1500'
0
0
500'
East South
2000'
2000'
1500'
2500'
2000'
1000'
1000'
2000'
Mt. Hood
3000'
2500'
2500'
3500'
2500'
1500'
2000'
2500'
Olympics
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
2500'
Tuesday
Night
2500'
Wednesday
Morning
2500'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
3000'
Wednesday
Evening*
2000'
Wednesday
Night*
2500'
Thursday
Morning*
2000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
2000'
West North
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
1000'
Tuesday
Night
500'
Wednesday
Morning
500'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
2000'
Wednesday
Evening*
1500'
Wednesday
Night*
1500'
Thursday
Morning*
1500'
Thursday
Afternoon*
1500'
West Central
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
1500'
Tuesday
Night
1500'
Wednesday
Morning
1500'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
2000'
Wednesday
Evening*
1500'
Wednesday
Night*
1000'
Thursday
Morning*
1000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
1000'
West South
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
2500'
Tuesday
Night
1000'
Wednesday
Morning
1500'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
3000'
Wednesday
Evening*
1500'
Wednesday
Night*
1000'
Thursday
Morning*
1500'
Thursday
Afternoon*
2000'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
1000'
Tuesday
Night
1000'
Wednesday
Morning
2000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
2500'
Wednesday
Evening*
1000'
Wednesday
Night*
0'
Thursday
Morning*
0'
Thursday
Afternoon*
500'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
1500'
Tuesday
Night
1500'
Wednesday
Morning
2000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
2500'
Wednesday
Evening*
1000'
Wednesday
Night*
0'
Thursday
Morning*
0'
Thursday
Afternoon*
1000'
East North
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
1500'
Tuesday
Night
1000'
Wednesday
Morning
1000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
2000'
Wednesday
Evening*
1000'
Wednesday
Night*
0'
Thursday
Morning*
0'
Thursday
Afternoon*
500'
East Central
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
1500'
Tuesday
Night
1500'
Wednesday
Morning
1000'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
2000'
Wednesday
Evening*
1500'
Wednesday
Night*
0'
Thursday
Morning*
0'
Thursday
Afternoon*
500'
East South
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
2000'
Tuesday
Night
2000'
Wednesday
Morning
1500'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
2500'
Wednesday
Evening*
2000'
Wednesday
Night*
1000'
Thursday
Morning*
1000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
2000'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Tuesday
Evening
3000'
Tuesday
Night
2500'
Wednesday
Morning
2500'
Wednesday
Afternoon*
3500'
Wednesday
Evening*
2500'
Wednesday
Night*
1500'
Thursday
Morning*
2000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
2500'
Issued: 2:12 PM PST Tuesday, December 6, 2022
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Tuesday
Night
Wednesday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
26 / 24
26 / 24
West North
23 / 20
25 / 21
West Central
25 / 22
25 / 23
West South
24 / 21
28 / 22
Stevens Pass
24 / 23
26 / 22
Snoqualmie Pass
24 / 23
26 / 22
East North
22 / 20
25 / 20
East Central
24 / 23
26 / 22
East South
24 / 21
29 / 20
Mt. Hood
26 / 22
31 / 22
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
26 / 24
Wednesday
26 / 24
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
23 / 20
Wednesday
25 / 21
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
25 / 22
Wednesday
25 / 23
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
24 / 21
Wednesday
28 / 22
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
24 / 23
Wednesday
26 / 22
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
24 / 23
Wednesday
26 / 22
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
22 / 20
Wednesday
25 / 20
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
24 / 23
Wednesday
26 / 22
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
24 / 21
Wednesday
29 / 20
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Tuesday
Night
26 / 22
Wednesday
31 / 22
Issued: 2:12 PM PST Tuesday, December 6, 2022
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
Tuesday
Night
Wednesday
Morning
Wednesday
Afternoon
Olympics
SW 5-15
SW 5-15
SW 5-15
SSW 10-20
West North
WSW 5-15
SW 5-15
SSW 5-15
SSW 10-20
West Central
WSW 5-15
WSW 5-15
SW 5-15
SSW 5-15
West South
WSW 5-15
SW 0-10
SW 0-10
SSW 0-10
Stevens Pass
W 5-15
WSW 5-15
W 5-15
SE 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass
WNW 10-20
W 5-15
W 5-15
SE 0-10
East North
W 10-20
WSW 10-20
WSW 10-20
WSW 10-20
East Central
WNW 15-25
W 10-20
W 10-20
SW 5-15
East South
WNW 10-20
WNW 5-15
WNW 0-10
SW 0-10
Mt. Hood
WSW 5-15
WSW 5-15
WSW 5-15
SW 10-20
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
SW
5-15
Tuesday
Night
SW
5-15
Wednesday
Morning
SW
5-15
Wednesday
Afternoon
SSW
10-20
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
WSW
5-15
Tuesday
Night
SW
5-15
Wednesday
Morning
SSW
5-15
Wednesday
Afternoon
SSW
10-20
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
WSW
5-15
Tuesday
Night
WSW
5-15
Wednesday
Morning
SW
5-15
Wednesday
Afternoon
SSW
5-15
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
WSW
5-15
Tuesday
Night
SW
0-10
Wednesday
Morning
SW
0-10
Wednesday
Afternoon
SSW
0-10
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
W
5-15
Tuesday
Night
WSW
5-15
Wednesday
Morning
W
5-15
Wednesday
Afternoon
SE
0-10
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
WNW
10-20
Tuesday
Night
W
5-15
Wednesday
Morning
W
5-15
Wednesday
Afternoon
SE
0-10
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
W
10-20
Tuesday
Night
WSW
10-20
Wednesday
Morning
WSW
10-20
Wednesday
Afternoon
WSW
10-20
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
WNW
15-25
Tuesday
Night
W
10-20
Wednesday
Morning
W
10-20
Wednesday
Afternoon
SW
5-15
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
WNW
10-20
Tuesday
Night
WNW
5-15
Wednesday
Morning
WNW
0-10
Wednesday
Afternoon
SW
0-10
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday
Evening
WSW
5-15
Tuesday
Night
WSW
5-15
Wednesday
Morning
WSW
5-15
Wednesday
Afternoon
SW
10-20
Issued: 2:12 PM PST Tuesday, December 6, 2022
Extended Weather Synopsis
The cold upper trough settle into the region Thursday night and Friday with diminishing shower activity. A low approaches from the southwest Friday night and Saturday, bringing with the threat of lowland snow, moderate to heavy mountain snow, and more easterly flow.
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).