Issued: 2:01 PM PST Tuesday, December 5, 2023
by Matt Primomo

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

Weather Synopsis

The nearly stationary atmospheric river has been delivering copious amounts of rain to the region. We've lost roughly 30% of our snowpack depth at many NWAC sites and many rivers in the region are set to hit major flood stage. The southern Washington Volcanoes remain in the cross hairs of the AR, and should continue to see periods of moderate to heavy rain this evening into the night. Much of the Cascade Crest continues to see steady moderate rain through much of the day Wednesday, though with weakening dynamics the precipitation should fizzle down notably. The eastern Cascades and the north side of the Olympics are in the lee, so can expect a lighter more showery regime on Wednesday.

Cooler air slowly filters in from the NW behind the main flow as the front inches east through the day. We'll see snow levels gradually lower, but unfortunately they remain above most trailhead locations until night time.

 

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 Light rain showers.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy with a chance of light showers.
Tuesday Night Moderate rain showers.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy with light rain showers.
Tuesday Night Moderate to heavy rain.
Wednesday Light rain.
Tuesday Night Moderate rain showers.
Wednesday Light rain at Crystal and White pass, moderate rain for the SW slopes of volcanoes.
Tuesday Night Light to moderate rain showers.
Wednesday Light rain showers.
Tuesday Night Light to moderate showers.
Wednesday Light rain showers.
Tuesday Night Light to moderate rain with high elevation snow.
Wednesday Light rain and snow showers, tapering.
Tuesday Night Light rain showers.
Wednesday Light rain showers, tapering.
Tuesday Night Light to moderate rain showers.
Wednesday Light rain showers.
Tuesday Night Moderate rain showers. Strong ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Light to moderate rain showers.

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

Snow Level (ft)

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

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Tuesday Night Wednesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 33 / 28 32 / 29
West North 34 / 29 33 / 28
West Central 38 / 33 34 / 31
West South 40 / 36 36 / 32
Stevens Pass 38 / 33 36 / 32
Snoqualmie Pass 38 / 33 36 / 33
East North 36 / 33 34 / 30
East Central 38 / 35 36 / 32
East South 40 / 36 38 / 33
Mt. Hood 41 / 37 38 / 33
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 33 / 28
Wednesday 32 / 29
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 34 / 29
Wednesday 33 / 28
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 38 / 33
Wednesday 34 / 31
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 40 / 36
Wednesday 36 / 32
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 38 / 33
Wednesday 36 / 32
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 38 / 33
Wednesday 36 / 33
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 36 / 33
Wednesday 34 / 30
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 38 / 35
Wednesday 36 / 32
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 40 / 36
Wednesday 38 / 33
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 41 / 37
Wednesday 38 / 33

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon
Olympics WSW 0-10 ENE 0-10 WSW 0-10 NW 5-15
West North SW 5-15 SW 0-10 W 0-10 WNW 0-10
West Central SW 5-15 SSW 0-10 W 0-10 NW 5-15
West South SW 5-15 SW 5-15 WNW 5-15 NW 5-15
Stevens Pass SW 5-15 SSW 0-10 W 0-10 WNW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass WSW 10-20 SSW 10-20 SSW 5-15 SSW 5-15
East North SSW 5-15 SW 0-10 W 0-10 W 5-15
East Central SW 15-25 SW 10-20 W 5-15 WNW 10-20
East South SW 10-20 SW 5-15 SW 5-15 NW 10-20
Mt. Hood SW 30-40 SW 20-30 SW 10-20 WSW 10-20
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening WSW 0-10
Tuesday Night ENE 0-10
Wednesday Morning WSW 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon NW 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SW 5-15
Tuesday Night SW 0-10
Wednesday Morning W 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon WNW 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SW 5-15
Tuesday Night SSW 0-10
Wednesday Morning W 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon NW 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SW 5-15
Tuesday Night SW 5-15
Wednesday Morning WNW 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon NW 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SW 5-15
Tuesday Night SSW 0-10
Wednesday Morning W 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon WNW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening WSW 10-20
Tuesday Night SSW 10-20
Wednesday Morning SSW 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon SSW 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSW 5-15
Tuesday Night SW 0-10
Wednesday Morning W 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon W 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SW 15-25
Tuesday Night SW 10-20
Wednesday Morning W 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon WNW 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SW 10-20
Tuesday Night SW 5-15
Wednesday Morning SW 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon NW 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SW 30-40
Tuesday Night SW 20-30
Wednesday Morning SW 10-20
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 10-20

Extended Weather Synopsis

Snow levels should finally return to most trailhead locations overnight Wednesday into Thursday. By then, the moisture feed kinks and gets ejected north and east which should result in much lighter and showery precipitation. With a little luck, some locations might finish with an inch or two of snow.

A brief break overnight Wednesday will be short lived as a trough guides a disorganized low pressure system into the area. Temperatures are cold enough for snow even below trailhead locations as the low circulates inland, so we could once again begin to see snowfall accumulate. The colder, moist northwest flow may fizzle out to a brief ridge and potential for dry weather on Friday. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Night Friday Friday Night Saturday *
West North 3000' 2500' 2000' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 2500' 2000' 3000'
Mt. Hood 3500' 3500' 3000' 3500'
West North Elevation
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday 2500'
Friday Night 2000'
Saturday * 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday 2500'
Friday Night 2000'
Saturday * 3000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Night 3500'
Friday 3500'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday * 3500'

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

Previous forecast from Dec 5, 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’.