Issued: 2:07 PM PST Sunday, December 3, 2023
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

A deep low-pressure center spinning in the Gulf of Alaska guides a firehose of moisture at our region over the next 2 and half days.

Sunday night will be the one opportunity to dry off and cool down slightly as post-frontal rain and snow shower activity taper on decreasing moderate W flow. Snow levels drop to around Snoqualmie Pass level overnight.

The major story will be another moisture-laden warm front lifting NNE across the region Monday morning. Most areas will experience a relatively swift transition to rain as snow levels rise 1000-3500 ft from the morning to the afternoon. A weak cold air pool combined with E flow will try to stave off the changeover to rain at the mountain passes, but expect only a few hours of snow before the changeover to rain at most mountain passes. However, Washington Pass likely remains all snow until Monday night.

The region remains in the warm sector of the storm with continued moderate SSW flow feeding plenty of moisture into the region Monday night. Heavy rain and very high-elevation snow intensify from NW to SE as the cold front approaches the coastline.

The cold front drifts through the region on Tuesday with the heaviest precipitation shifting into the central and southern Cascades by the afternoon. Expect lighter shower activity across NW Washington during the afternoon as snow levels descend to the tops of ski areas such as Mt Baker.

Precipitation amounts range from 2-7" through Tuesday afternoon for areas near and west of the Cascade Crest with 1-3" totals east of the Crest.

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 with a slight chance of rain or snow re-developing in the early morning hours. Decreasing light ridgeline winds.
Monday Increasing moderate rain and high-elevation snow. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Light rain and snow showers decreasing or ending. Moderate ridgeline winds become light.
Monday Light rain and snow develop early, quickly becoming moderate, then heavy by mid-morning. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Light rain and snow showers decreasing or ending. Weak convergence is possible in the evening hours. Moderate ridgeline winds become light.
Monday Increasing moderate to heavy rain and snow. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Light rain and snow showers decreasing or ending. Moderate ridgeline winds become light.
Monday Heavy rain and high elevation snow at Paradise; moderate rain and high elevation snow at Crystal and White Pass. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Light rain and snow showers decreasing or ending. Moderate ridgeline winds become light. Light W wind at the Pass shifts E overnight.
Monday Moderate snow transitions to heavy rain and snow by the afternoon. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline and E winds at the Pass.
Sunday Night Light rain and snow showers decreasing or ending. Moderate ridgeline winds become light. Light W wind at the Pass shifts E overnight.
Monday Moderate snow transitions to heavy rain and snow by the afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline and E winds at the Pass.
Sunday Night Occasional snow flurries. Moderate ridgeline winds decreasing.
Monday Increasing light to moderate snow. Increasing light ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Light rain or snow showers taper overnight, mainly near the Cascade Crest. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds decrease into the moderate range.
Monday Light to moderate rain and snow. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Mostly dry in the evening, then light rain and snow re-develop in the early morning hours. Moderate ridgeline winds become light overnight.
Monday Light to occasionally moderate rain and high-elevation snow. Increasing light ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Tapering rain and high-elevation snow showers during the evening. Light to moderate rain and high-elevation snow re-develop in the early morning hours. Ridgeline winds decrease from strong to moderate.
Monday Heavy rain and high-elevation snow become moderate showers. Increasing moderate to strong ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:07 PM PST Sunday, December 3, 2023

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 0.50 1.50 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 1.00 - 1.50 2.50 1.00 - 1.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.10 1.00 - 1.50 2.50 1.00 - 1.50
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 0.75 -1.00 0.50 - 0.75 1.00
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 1.50 1.50 1.50
Crystal Mt 0 0.50 0.75 -1.00 0.50 - 0.75
Paradise LT 0.10 2.00 2.00 - 2.50 2.00 - 2.50
White Pass LT 0.10 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 1.00
Washington Pass LT 0.10 0.50 1.50 1.00
Mission Ridge 0 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 0.75 0.75 -1.00 1.00
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 - 0.75
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 1.00 - 1.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 - 0.75
Timberline 0.25 1.00 - 1.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 - 0.75
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0.50
Monday Night 1.50
Tuesday 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 1.00 - 1.50
Monday Night 2.50
Tuesday 1.00 - 1.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 1.00 - 1.50
Monday Night 2.50
Tuesday 1.00 - 1.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.75 -1.00
Monday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday 1.00
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 1.50
Monday Night 1.50
Tuesday 1.50
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0.50
Monday Night 0.75 -1.00
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 2.00
Monday Night 2.00 - 2.50
Tuesday 2.00 - 2.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.50
Monday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday 1.00
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.50
Monday Night 1.50
Tuesday 1.00
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0.50
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.75
Monday Night 0.75 -1.00
Tuesday 1.00
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.75
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 1.00 - 1.50
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 1.00 - 1.50
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75

Issued: 2:07 PM PST Sunday, December 3, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon* Monday Evening* Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 5000' 6000' 7000' 8500' 9500' 9000' 7000' 5500'
West North 3500' 3000' 3000' 6500' 8000' 8500' 7000' 5000'
West Central 3500' 3000' 3500' 7000' 8500' 9000' 7500' 6500'
West South 4500' 3500' 5000' 8000' 9000' 9000' 8500' 7500'
Stevens Pass 4000' 3000' 2500' 4500' 7500' 9000' 8000' 7000'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 3000' 3000' 7500' 8500' 9000' 8000' 7000'
East North 3500' 2000' 2500' 4500' 5000' 6500' 6500' 6500'
East Central 4500' 2500' 2500' 6000' 6500' 9000' 8500' 7500'
East South 5000' 3000' 4500' 8000' 9000' 9500' 8500' 8000'
Mt. Hood 7500' 8000' 8000' 9000' 9000' 9500' 9000' 8500'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening 5000'
Sunday Night* 6000'
Monday Morning* 7000'
Monday Afternoon* 8500'
Monday Evening* 9500'
Monday Night* 9000'
Tuesday Morning* 7000'
Tuesday Afternoon 5500'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning* 3000'
Monday Afternoon* 6500'
Monday Evening* 8000'
Monday Night* 8500'
Tuesday Morning* 7000'
Tuesday Afternoon 5000'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning* 3500'
Monday Afternoon* 7000'
Monday Evening* 8500'
Monday Night* 9000'
Tuesday Morning* 7500'
Tuesday Afternoon 6500'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning* 5000'
Monday Afternoon* 8000'
Monday Evening* 9000'
Monday Night* 9000'
Tuesday Morning* 8500'
Tuesday Afternoon 7500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning* 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
Monday Evening* 7500'
Monday Night* 9000'
Tuesday Morning* 8000'
Tuesday Afternoon 7000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning* 3000'
Monday Afternoon* 7500'
Monday Evening* 8500'
Monday Night* 9000'
Tuesday Morning* 8000'
Tuesday Afternoon 7000'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening 3500'
Sunday Night* 2000'
Monday Morning* 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
Monday Evening* 5000'
Monday Night* 6500'
Tuesday Morning* 6500'
Tuesday Afternoon 6500'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 4500'
Sunday Night* 2500'
Monday Morning* 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 6000'
Monday Evening* 6500'
Monday Night* 9000'
Tuesday Morning* 8500'
Tuesday Afternoon 7500'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening 5000'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning* 4500'
Monday Afternoon* 8000'
Monday Evening* 9000'
Monday Night* 9500'
Tuesday Morning* 8500'
Tuesday Afternoon 8000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening 7500'
Sunday Night* 8000'
Monday Morning* 8000'
Monday Afternoon* 9000'
Monday Evening* 9000'
Monday Night* 9500'
Tuesday Morning* 9000'
Tuesday Afternoon 8500'

Issued: 2:07 PM PST Sunday, December 3, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 33 / 27 42 / 33
West North 28 / 27 40 / 28
West Central 29 / 27 40 / 28
West South 31 / 27 41 / 32
Stevens Pass 28 / 26 36 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass 29 / 26 37 / 28
East North 29 / 27 30 / 26
East Central 29 / 27 35 / 28
East South 34 / 29 40 / 35
Mt. Hood 40 / 35 42 / 40
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 33 / 27
Monday 42 / 33
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 28 / 27
Monday 40 / 28
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 27
Monday 40 / 28
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 27
Monday 41 / 32
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 28 / 26
Monday 36 / 28
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 26
Monday 37 / 28
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 27
Monday 30 / 26
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 29 / 27
Monday 35 / 28
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 34 / 29
Monday 40 / 35
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 40 / 35
Monday 42 / 40

Issued: 2:07 PM PST Sunday, December 3, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:07 PM PST Sunday, December 3, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

The lingering cold front continues to feed more modest and decreasing amounts of moisture into the southern Cascade Volcanoes Tuesday night and Wednesday as the front sags south. A trough moves into the region in its wake Wednesday night and Thursday with a gradual transition from rain to snow as snow levels lower across the region.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
West North 4000' 3500' 3000' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 5500' 4000' 3500' 3000'
Mt. Hood 7000' 5500' 4000' 3000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 4000'
Wednesday 3500'
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 5500'
Wednesday 4000'
Wednesday Night 3500'
Thursday 3000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 7000'
Wednesday 5500'
Wednesday Night 4000'
Thursday 3000'

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

Previous forecast from Dec 3, 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’.