Issued: 2:01 PM PST Monday, November 20, 2023
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

We're in for an abnormally dry holiday week with only one weak and mild storm system to contend with Tuesday night. 

High clouds will float over the area tonight and Tuesday as a weak frontal system edges over our coastal waters. Freezing levels are quite high west of the Cascade crest; in the 10-12,000 foot range with mid-mountain temperatures in the mid-30s to mid-40s.  Milder air will slowly displace colder temperatures near and east of the Cascade crest through Tuesday afternoon. Even with cool easterly flow, we should see mid-mountain temperatures pop above freezing in places like Stevens Pass overnight. 

The frontal system will pass through Tuesday night (light rain/snow may reach the Olympics before sunset) and fizzle out quickly on Wednesday.  Unfortunately, the jet stream will be to our north with this system, meaning we're on the wrong/mild side of the jet.  We could see a few wet inches of snow near and above 4500-5500' for the west slopes of the Cascades and little new snowfall elsewhere Tuesday night through Wednesday morning. 

Conditions will quickly dry on Wednesday behind the front as an upper-level ridge starts to build offshore.  We're likely to see partial clearing as well.  

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 Mostly cloudy with high clouds.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with high clouds. Chance of light rain or snow late. Moderate ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds. Moderate ridgeline winds developing after midnight.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with high clouds. Moderate ridgeline winds increasing to strong in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with high clouds.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with high clouds.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds. Cooler temperatures lower slopes, and milder temperature upper slopes. Light E winds at ridgeline and Pass level.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with high clouds. Light E winds at ridgeline and Pass level.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds. Cooler temperatures lower slopes, and milder temperature upper slopes. Light to moderate E winds at ridgeline and Pass level.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with high clouds. Light to moderate E winds at ridgeline and Pass level.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with high clouds. Becoming milder during the day.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with high clouds. Becoming milder during the day.
Monday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with high clouds.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with high clouds. Becoming milder during the day.
Monday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with high clouds.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with high clouds.

Issued: 2:01 PM PST Monday, November 20, 2023

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 0 LT 0.10 0.25 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 0 0.50 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0 0 0.25 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Paradise 0 0 0.50 LT 0.25
White Pass 0 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Washington Pass 0 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge 0 0 LT 0.10 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 0 LT 0.10 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Timberline 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0.50
Wednesday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0.50
Wednesday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.25

Issued: 2:01 PM PST Monday, November 20, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening* Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon* Tuesday Evening* Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon
Olympics 10000' 10000' 9000' 7000' 5500' 5000' 4500' 4000'
West North 10000' 10000' 9000' 7500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000'
West Central 10000' 10000' 10000' 8000' 5500' 4500' 4500' 4500'
West South 12000' 12000' 12000' 9000' 6500' 6000' 5500' 5000'
Stevens Pass 4000' 10000' 10000' 9000' 6000' 5000' 4500' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 10000' 10000' 10000' 9000' 6500' 5500' 5000' 4500'
East North 2000' 2000' 3000' 8500' 4000' 4500' 4500' 5000'
East Central 2000' 2000' 6000' 9000' 6000' 6000' 5500' 5000'
East South 3000' 3000' 4000' 9000' 8000' 7000' 6000' 5500'
Mt. Hood 13000' 13000' 13000' 10000' 9000' 7500' 7000' 7000'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening* 10000'
Monday Night* 10000'
Tuesday Morning* 9000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 7000'
Tuesday Evening* 5500'
Tuesday Night 5000'
Wednesday Morning 4500'
Wednesday Afternoon 4000'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening* 10000'
Monday Night* 10000'
Tuesday Morning* 9000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 7500'
Tuesday Evening* 4500'
Tuesday Night 4000'
Wednesday Morning 4000'
Wednesday Afternoon 4000'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening* 10000'
Monday Night* 10000'
Tuesday Morning* 10000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 8000'
Tuesday Evening* 5500'
Tuesday Night 4500'
Wednesday Morning 4500'
Wednesday Afternoon 4500'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening* 12000'
Monday Night* 12000'
Tuesday Morning* 12000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 9000'
Tuesday Evening* 6500'
Tuesday Night 6000'
Wednesday Morning 5500'
Wednesday Afternoon 5000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening* 4000'
Monday Night* 10000'
Tuesday Morning* 10000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 9000'
Tuesday Evening* 6000'
Tuesday Night 5000'
Wednesday Morning 4500'
Wednesday Afternoon 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening* 10000'
Monday Night* 10000'
Tuesday Morning* 10000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 9000'
Tuesday Evening* 6500'
Tuesday Night 5500'
Wednesday Morning 5000'
Wednesday Afternoon 4500'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening* 2000'
Monday Night* 2000'
Tuesday Morning* 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 8500'
Tuesday Evening* 4000'
Tuesday Night 4500'
Wednesday Morning 4500'
Wednesday Afternoon 5000'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening* 2000'
Monday Night* 2000'
Tuesday Morning* 6000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 9000'
Tuesday Evening* 6000'
Tuesday Night 6000'
Wednesday Morning 5500'
Wednesday Afternoon 5000'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening* 3000'
Monday Night* 3000'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 9000'
Tuesday Evening* 8000'
Tuesday Night 7000'
Wednesday Morning 6000'
Wednesday Afternoon 5500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening* 13000'
Monday Night* 13000'
Tuesday Morning* 13000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 10000'
Tuesday Evening* 9000'
Tuesday Night 7500'
Wednesday Morning 7000'
Wednesday Afternoon 7000'

Issued: 2:01 PM PST Monday, November 20, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 45 / 34 46 / 37
West North 46 / 35 45 / 36
West Central 46 / 35 45 / 37
West South 43 / 34 47 / 36
Stevens Pass 34 / 29 40 / 32
Snoqualmie Pass 38 / 32 43 / 33
East North 31 / 23 38 / 30
East Central 32 / 25 40 / 33
East South 33 / 27 42 / 34
Mt. Hood 45 / 35 48 / 40
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 45 / 34
Tuesday 46 / 37
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 46 / 35
Tuesday 45 / 36
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 46 / 35
Tuesday 45 / 37
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 43 / 34
Tuesday 47 / 36
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 34 / 29
Tuesday 40 / 32
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 38 / 32
Tuesday 43 / 33
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 31 / 23
Tuesday 38 / 30
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 32 / 25
Tuesday 40 / 33
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 33 / 27
Tuesday 42 / 34
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 45 / 35
Tuesday 48 / 40

Issued: 2:01 PM PST Monday, November 20, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics SW 5-15 S 10-20 SW 15-25 SW 20-30
West North SSW 5-15 S 15-25 S 15-25 SSW 20-30
West Central SW 5-15 SSW 10-20 SW 10-20 SW 15-25
West South SSW 5-15 S 10-20 SW 10-20 SW 15-25
Stevens Pass SE 5-15 SE 5-15 SE 5-15 WSW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass SE 5-15 SE 10-20 SE 10-20 WSW 10-20
East North SW 5-15 SW 10-20 SW 15-25 SW 20-30
East Central S 5-15 SW 10-20 SSW 10-20 WSW 15-25
East South S 5-15 SSW 5-15 SSW 10-20 WSW 15-25
Mt. Hood SE 10-20 S 15-25 SW 10-20 WSW 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SW 5-15
Monday Night S 10-20
Tuesday Morning SW 15-25
Tuesday Afternoon SW 20-30
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SSW 5-15
Monday Night S 15-25
Tuesday Morning S 15-25
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 20-30
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SW 5-15
Monday Night SSW 10-20
Tuesday Morning SW 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 15-25
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SSW 5-15
Monday Night S 10-20
Tuesday Morning SW 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 15-25
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SE 5-15
Monday Night SE 5-15
Tuesday Morning SE 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SE 5-15
Monday Night SE 10-20
Tuesday Morning SE 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SW 5-15
Monday Night SW 10-20
Tuesday Morning SW 15-25
Tuesday Afternoon SW 20-30
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening S 5-15
Monday Night SW 10-20
Tuesday Morning SSW 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening S 5-15
Monday Night SSW 5-15
Tuesday Morning SSW 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 15-25
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SE 10-20
Monday Night S 15-25
Tuesday Morning SW 10-20
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 15-25

Issued: 2:01 PM PST Monday, November 20, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

Look for high and dry conditions on Thanksgiving and Friday (and likely longer).   We'll be on the cool backside of the exiting trough on Thanksgiving.  Look for gradually warming temperatures/rising freezing levels late in the week.  

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night Thursday Thursday Night Friday *
West North 3000' 4000' 3000' 6000'
Snoqualmie Pass 2000' 4500' 3000' 5000'
Mt. Hood 3500' 5000' 3500' 4000'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday 4000'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday * 6000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night 2000'
Thursday 4500'
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday * 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night 3500'
Thursday 5000'
Thursday Night 3500'
Friday * 4000'

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’.