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.
Issued: 2:01 PM PST Tuesday, December 5, 2023
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
Issued: 2:01 PM PST Tuesday, December 5, 2023
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'
Issued: 2:01 PM PST Tuesday, December 5, 2023
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
Issued: 2:01 PM PST Tuesday, December 5, 2023
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
Issued: 2:01 PM PST Tuesday, December 5, 2023
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.
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).