Issued: 2:21 PM PST Sunday, November 20, 2022
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

A very weak system moves into the area Sunday night. As of Sunday afternoon some light precipitation has reached the Olympic coastline. While most of this precipitation will skirt north of our mountains, the region can expect lowering and thickening clouds along with some very light rain and high-elevation snow for the Olympic mountains and west slopes of the northern Cascades. The chance of very weak convergence behind the fizzling front may touch off some very light snow near Stevens Pass early Monday. The front will not be strong enough to dislodge a deep cold air pool east of the Cascades, with light to occasionally moderate E flow ushering the cold air through the mountain gaps.

Expect the low clouds to partially clear during the mid-day hours with mid-level clouds returning to the Olympics and Mt. Baker areas late in the day. Clouds lower and thicken Monday night ahead of a more typical November storm system arriving on Tuesday. Models indicated the development of a low-pressure along an extended frontal boundary spreading increasing moderate to occasionally heavy rain and higher elevation snow from NW to SE across the region during the day Tuesday. Temperatures remain above normal west of the Cascades. However, Mt. Baker should be cold enough for 5-10 inches of wet snowfall above 4500 ft by the end of the day. Snoqualmie and Stevens Passes likely remain cold enough for 3-6" of snow (potentially mixed with ice) due to E flow while areas further south can expect less.

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 Cloudy with periods of light rain/snow or drizzle.
Monday Partly cloudy with the best chance of sun breaks around mid-morning.
Sunday Night Cloudy with periods of light rain/snow or drizzle.
Monday Cloudy early, with mostly sunny skies in the middle of the day and then clouds returning late.
Sunday Night Cloudy with a chance of light rain/snow or drizzle.
Monday Cloudy early, with mostly sunny skies in the middle of the day and then clouds returning late.
Sunday Night Cloudy with a chance of light rain/snow or drizzle.
Monday Mostly cloudy early, then becoming mostly sunny.
Sunday Night Cloudy. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Monday Mostly cloudy with a chance of very light rain/snow through mid-morning with more sun than clouds by the afternoon. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Night Cloudy with a chance of light snow or freezing rain. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Monday Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of very light rain/snow through mid-morning with more sun than clouds by the afternoon. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Night Cloudy with a chance of snow flurries. Inversion conditions.
Monday Partly cloudy. Inversion conditions.
Sunday Night Increasing clouds. Inversion conditions.
Monday Mostly cloudy to start, then becoming mostly sunny. Inversion conditions.
Sunday Night Becoming mostly cloudy. Inversion conditions.
Monday Mostly cloudy to start, then becoming mostly sunny. Inversion conditions.
Sunday Night Becoming mostly cloudy.
Monday Mostly cloudy to start, then becoming mostly sunny.

Issued: 2:21 PM PST Sunday, November 20, 2022

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

Issued: 2:21 PM PST Sunday, November 20, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon* Monday Evening* Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon*
Olympics 7500' 7000' 7500' 7500' 7000' 7000' 6000' 5500'
West North 6000' 5000' 5000' 6000' 6000' 6000' 5500' 4500'
West Central 6500' 5500' 5500' 6500' 6500' 6000' 5000' 5000'
West South 6500' 5500' 6000' 7000' 7000' 6000' 5500' 5500'
Stevens Pass 2000' 1500' 2000' 2500' 2000' 1500' 1500' 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass 2500' 2000' 2500' 6500' 6500' 2000' 2000' 2500'
East North 1000' 500' 1000' 1500' 1000' 500' 0 0
East Central 1500' 1000' 1500' 2000' 1500' 1000' 0 1000'
East South 1500' 1000' 1500' 6500' 1500' 1000' 1500' 2000'
Mt. Hood 6500' 6500' 6000' 7500' 7000' 6000' 6000' 6500'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening* 7500'
Sunday Night* 7000'
Monday Morning* 7500'
Monday Afternoon* 7500'
Monday Evening* 7000'
Monday Night* 7000'
Tuesday Morning* 6000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 5500'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening* 6000'
Sunday Night* 5000'
Monday Morning* 5000'
Monday Afternoon* 6000'
Monday Evening* 6000'
Monday Night* 6000'
Tuesday Morning* 5500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 4500'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening* 6500'
Sunday Night* 5500'
Monday Morning* 5500'
Monday Afternoon* 6500'
Monday Evening* 6500'
Monday Night* 6000'
Tuesday Morning* 5000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 5000'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening* 6500'
Sunday Night* 5500'
Monday Morning* 6000'
Monday Afternoon* 7000'
Monday Evening* 7000'
Monday Night* 6000'
Tuesday Morning* 5500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 5500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening* 2000'
Sunday Night* 1500'
Monday Morning* 2000'
Monday Afternoon* 2500'
Monday Evening* 2000'
Monday Night* 1500'
Tuesday Morning* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening* 2500'
Sunday Night* 2000'
Monday Morning* 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 6500'
Monday Evening* 6500'
Monday Night* 2000'
Tuesday Morning* 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2500'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening* 1000'
Sunday Night* 500'
Monday Morning* 1000'
Monday Afternoon* 1500'
Monday Evening* 1000'
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 0'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening* 1500'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 1500'
Monday Afternoon* 2000'
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night* 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 1000'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening* 1500'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 1500'
Monday Afternoon* 6500'
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night* 1000'
Tuesday Morning* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening* 6500'
Sunday Night* 6500'
Monday Morning* 6000'
Monday Afternoon* 7500'
Monday Evening* 7000'
Monday Night* 6000'
Tuesday Morning* 6000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 6500'

Issued: 2:21 PM PST Sunday, November 20, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 35 / 33 39 / 33
West North 31 / 28 36 / 30
West Central 31 / 29 38 / 31
West South 33 / 31 42 / 31
Stevens Pass 30 / 28 39 / 29
Snoqualmie Pass 32 / 30 38 / 30
East North 30 / 28 34 / 28
East Central 32 / 29 37 / 30
East South 35 / 31 42 / 31
Mt. Hood 35 / 33 45 / 34
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 35 / 33
Monday 39 / 33
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 28
Monday 36 / 30
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 31 / 29
Monday 38 / 31
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 33 / 31
Monday 42 / 31
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 28
Monday 39 / 29
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 30
Monday 38 / 30
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 30 / 28
Monday 34 / 28
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 29
Monday 37 / 30
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 35 / 31
Monday 42 / 31
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 35 / 33
Monday 45 / 34

Issued: 2:21 PM PST Sunday, November 20, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:21 PM PST Sunday, November 20, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

The cold front moves through Tuesday evening with moderate to occasionally heavy precipitation rapidly decreasing overnight. A westerly wind shift accompanying the frontal passage should bump snow levels above Snoqualmie and Stevens pass levels, but expect a messy transition. Limited cold air filters in behind the front. Expect clouds and very light rain/snow showers to linger along parts of the western slopes of the Cascades on Wednesday. A ridge builds with above-normal temperatures throughout the region Wednesday night and Thursday, but some moisture may slip over the top of the ridge into the Olympics and the northern Cascades.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night* Thursday *
West North 3500' 3500' 6000' 8000'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 4500' 3000' 8500'
Mt. Hood 6000' 6500' 10000' 11500'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday 3500'
Wednesday Night* 6000'
Thursday * 8000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 4000'
Wednesday 4500'
Wednesday Night* 3000'
Thursday * 8500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 6000'
Wednesday 6500'
Wednesday Night* 10000'
Thursday * 11500'

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

Previous forecast from Nov 19, 2022

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’.