Issued: 2:13 PM PST Sunday, November 19, 2023
by Matt Primomo

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

Weather Synopsis

Updated 2:10pm to correct a typo. A cold front passed through late Saturday and early Sunday, bringing much cooler temperatures with it. Post frontal showers have kept snowfall going in areas of convergence like Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes. These showers should wind down as evening sets in. Most mountain locations have picked up 2-6" of new snow at trailhead elevations and upwards of 1" of snow water equivalent at the volcanoes. The central passes picked up about 0.75" of SWE. As the front continues to move out of the region wind speeds will slow, clouds will break up, and we'll see clearing skies overnight.

Monday will be a beautiful day in the mountains with sun and patchy clouds. After a chilly morning, temperatures will warm up substantially by early afternoon, but a pronounced inversion will form on the east side of the Cascade Crest. This could create cloudy skies at mid and low elevations there. East flow through the passes and areas of valley fog may contribute to locally colder temperatures as well.

A relatively strong pressure gradient will set up between the cold air on the east side of the crest and warmer maritime air to the west on Monday night. With this we can expect low level easterly flow, so you could see increased winds through the low gaps and passes. On Tuesday a weak front enters the region. Precipitation will begin first in the Olympics by mid afternoon, then slowly spread light showers into the rest of the mountains on Tuesday night into Wednesday. The warm air with this storm lifts snow levels up to fairly high elevations, so we could see rain on snow at trailheads and even ridgetops with this one.

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 Scattered, light snow showers early, drying and becoming partly cloudy.
Monday Mostly sunny with patchy clouds.
Sunday Night Scattered, light snow showers early, drying and becoming partly cloudy.
Monday Mostly sunny with patchy clouds and areas of valley fog.
Sunday Night Scattered, light snow showers early, drying and becoming partly cloudy.
Monday Mostly sunny with patchy clouds and areas of valley fog.
Sunday Night Scattered showers early, drying and becoming partly cloudy.
Monday Mostly sunny with patchy clouds, and areas of valley fog.
Sunday Night Scattered snow showers early, then becoming partly cloudy.
Monday Mostly sunny with valley fog developing especially east of the pass.
Sunday Night Scattered snow showers early, then becoming partly cloudy.
Monday Mostly sunny with valley fog developing especially east of the pass.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy to mostly clear and cold.
Monday Mostly sunny with areas of valley fog and inversion developing.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy to mostly clear and cold.
Monday Mostly sunny with areas of valley fog and inversion developing.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy to clearing skies.
Monday Mostly sunny with areas of valley fog developing.
Sunday Night Scattered light snow showers, drying and becoming mostly clear later.
Monday Mostly sunny.

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

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon* Monday Evening* Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 3500' 3000' 6000' 11000' 11500' 9000' 9000' 7500'
West North 3500' 3000' 2000' 8500' 8500' 8500' 8500' 6500'
West Central 3500' 3000' 2000' 10000' 8500' 7500' 9500' 7000'
West South 4000' 3000' 4500' 11000' 10000' 7000' 10500' 9000'
Stevens Pass 4000' 3000' 2000' 3500' 4000' 4000' 7500' 7500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 3000' 2500' 3500' 6000' 6000' 8000' 8000'
East North 4000' 2500' 1500' 2500' 1500' 1500' 3000' 6000'
East Central 4000' 3000' 2000' 3000' 2000' 2000' 3500' 7000'
East South 4000' 2500' 3500' 4000' 3500' 4000' 11000' 8500'
Mt. Hood 3500' 3000' 5500' 12000' 10000' 9000' 11500' 10500'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 6000'
Monday Afternoon* 11000'
Monday Evening* 11500'
Monday Night* 9000'
Tuesday Morning* 9000'
Tuesday Afternoon 7500'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 2000'
Monday Afternoon* 8500'
Monday Evening* 8500'
Monday Night* 8500'
Tuesday Morning* 8500'
Tuesday Afternoon 6500'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 2000'
Monday Afternoon* 10000'
Monday Evening* 8500'
Monday Night* 7500'
Tuesday Morning* 9500'
Tuesday Afternoon 7000'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 4500'
Monday Afternoon* 11000'
Monday Evening* 10000'
Monday Night* 7000'
Tuesday Morning* 10500'
Tuesday Afternoon 9000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 2000'
Monday Afternoon* 3500'
Monday Evening* 4000'
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday Morning* 7500'
Tuesday Afternoon 7500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 3500'
Monday Evening* 6000'
Monday Night* 6000'
Tuesday Morning* 8000'
Tuesday Afternoon 8000'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon* 2500'
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night* 1500'
Tuesday Morning* 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 6000'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 2000'
Monday Afternoon* 3000'
Monday Evening* 2000'
Monday Night* 2000'
Tuesday Morning* 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 7000'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
Monday Evening* 3500'
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday Morning* 11000'
Tuesday Afternoon 8500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night 3000'
Monday Morning 5500'
Monday Afternoon* 12000'
Monday Evening* 10000'
Monday Night* 9000'
Tuesday Morning* 11500'
Tuesday Afternoon 10500'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 29 / 26 42 / 29
West North 30 / 25 38 / 27
West Central 30 / 25 39 / 27
West South 31 / 26 40 / 27
Stevens Pass 31 / 24 31 / 29
Snoqualmie Pass 32 / 28 33 / 30
East North 28 / 24 26 / 20
East Central 29 / 25 27 / 22
East South 31 / 27 35 / 27
Mt. Hood 28 / 26 40 / 26
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 26
Monday 42 / 29
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 25
Monday 38 / 27
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 25
Monday 39 / 27
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 26
Monday 40 / 27
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 24
Monday 31 / 29
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 28
Monday 33 / 30
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 28 / 24
Monday 26 / 20
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 25
Monday 27 / 22
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 27
Monday 35 / 27
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 28 / 26
Monday 40 / 26

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics W 10-20 W 0-10 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10
West North W 5-15 W 0-10 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10
West Central W 5-15 W 0-10 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10
West South WNW 10-20 W 0-10 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10
Stevens Pass W 10-20 W 0-10 VAR 0-10 E 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass W 10-20 W 0-10 VAR 0-10 E 5-15
East North WNW 5-15 W 0-10 VAR 0-10 E 0-10
East Central W 10-20 W 5-15 VAR 0-10 E 0-10
East South W 10-20 W 0-10 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10
Mt. Hood WNW 15-25 W 0-10 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 10-20
Sunday Night W 0-10
Monday Morning VAR 0-10
Monday Afternoon VAR 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 5-15
Sunday Night W 0-10
Monday Morning VAR 0-10
Monday Afternoon VAR 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 5-15
Sunday Night W 0-10
Monday Morning VAR 0-10
Monday Afternoon VAR 0-10
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 10-20
Sunday Night W 0-10
Monday Morning VAR 0-10
Monday Afternoon VAR 0-10
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 10-20
Sunday Night W 0-10
Monday Morning VAR 0-10
Monday Afternoon E 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 10-20
Sunday Night W 0-10
Monday Morning VAR 0-10
Monday Afternoon E 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 5-15
Sunday Night W 0-10
Monday Morning VAR 0-10
Monday Afternoon E 0-10
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 10-20
Sunday Night W 5-15
Monday Morning VAR 0-10
Monday Afternoon E 0-10
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 10-20
Sunday Night W 0-10
Monday Morning VAR 0-10
Monday Afternoon VAR 0-10
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 15-25
Sunday Night W 0-10
Monday Morning VAR 0-10
Monday Afternoon VAR 0-10

Extended Weather Synopsis

The SW to NE oriented front will drift southeast, and could hang up a bit longer in the southern part of the area. This could contribute to snowfall that lasts into the morning hours for Mt Hood. This area being the exception, the rest of the region will see another rebound to high pressure on Wednesday for decreasing cloud cover. High pressure will continue to build into the week, so dry conditions can be expected.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night* Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
West North 5000' 6000' 5000' 5500'
Snoqualmie Pass 6000' 5500' 5000' 5500'
Mt. Hood 9500' 7000' 6000' 5000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night* 5000'
Wednesday 6000'
Wednesday Night 5000'
Thursday 5500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night* 6000'
Wednesday 5500'
Wednesday Night 5000'
Thursday 5500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night* 9500'
Wednesday 7000'
Wednesday Night 6000'
Thursday 5000'

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

Previous forecast from Nov 19, 2023

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’.