Issued: 2:07 PM PST Monday, November 28, 2022
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

An unstable air mass within a broad, cold upper-level trough has maintained some light, but locally intense snow showers from the central Cascades southward on Monday afternoon. Moderate to strong winds have also continued longer than expected at Mt. Hood. Instability and WNW winds should ease Monday evening and snow shower activity should taper, allowing skies to mostly clear across the region and temperatures to plummet overnight into the teens and single digits. With moderate winds continuing in Oregon, Mt. Hood should continue to decreasing light to moderate snow showers.

The break between storms will be short-lived Tuesday morning as clouds lower and thicken ahead of a deep upper-level and surface low sliding down the British Columbia Coastline. Widespread snow develops across the Olympics, southern Washington Cascades, and Mt. Hood areas during the morning and spreads throughout the region during the afternoon. Snow levels will hover just above sea level.

Things get quite interesting for a potential lowland snow event Tuesday night and Wednesday. as the storm approaches. Suffice it to say, this will be a snow event for the mountains and foothills with a complex setup developing. Low-level SE flow will favor the SE Olympics and parts of the east slopes of the Cascades while upper-level SW flow favors the volcanoes. Strong to extreme winds and heavy snowfall focus on the Olympics Tuesday evening, before the heavy precipitation moves throughout the Cascades overnight. Heavy snow continues across the region Wednesday morning before easing into the moderate range Wednesday afternoon. Strong E flow will peak Tuesday night and Wednesday morning before the front moves through by late morning on Wednesday. Many mountain areas will pick up 1-2 ft of snow by late Wednesday with higher amounts likely for Mt. St Helens and the southern Olympics.

 

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 clear in the evening with high clouds increasing overnight. Very cold.
Tuesday Clouds lowering and thickening in the morning with light snow developing. Moderate ridgeline winds by the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly clear. High clouds increasing by morning. Very cold.
Tuesday Clouds lower and thicken in the morning with light snow developing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly clear. High clouds increasing by morning. Very cold.
Tuesday Clouds lower and thicken in the morning with light snow developing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly clear in the evening with high clouds increasing overnight. Very cold.
Tuesday Clouds lower and thicken in the morning with light snow developing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly clear with high clouds increasing during the early morning hours. Very cold. Increasing light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Clouds lower and thicken in the morning with light snow developing in the afternoon. Increasing ridgeline and moderate E wind at the Pass.
Monday Night Mostly clear. Very cold. Increasing light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Clouds lower and thicken in the morning with light snow developing in the afternoon. Increasing ridgeline and moderate E wind at the Pass.
Monday Night Mostly clear. Very cold.
Tuesday Clouds lower and thicken in the morning with light snow developing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly clear. High clouds increasing by morning. Very cold.
Tuesday Clouds lower and thicken in the morning with light snow developing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly clear. High clouds increasing by morning. Very cold.
Tuesday Clouds lower and thicken in the morning with light snow developing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Light snow showers tapering overnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Light snow developing around mid-morning. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:07 PM PST Monday, November 28, 2022

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

Issued: 2:07 PM PST Monday, November 28, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening* Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon* Tuesday Evening* Tuesday Night* Wednesday Morning* Wednesday Afternoon*
Olympics 500' 0 500' 500' 1000' 1500' 1500' 1500'
West North 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
West Central 500' 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
West South 1000' 500' 500' 0 500' 0 500' 2000'
Stevens Pass 500' 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 500' 0 0 0 0 0 0 500'
East North 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
East Central 500' 0 0 0 0 0 0 500'
East South 1000' 500' 0 500' 0 0 0 2500'
Mt. Hood 1000' 500' 500' 1500' 1000' 1000' 3000' 2500'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening* 500'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 500'
Tuesday Evening* 1000'
Tuesday Night* 1500'
Wednesday Morning* 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1500'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening* 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 0'
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 0'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening* 500'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 0'
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 0'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening* 1000'
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday Morning* 500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 0'
Tuesday Evening* 500'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening* 500'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 0'
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 0'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening* 500'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 0'
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 500'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening* 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 0'
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 0'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening* 500'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 0'
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 500'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening* 1000'
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 500'
Tuesday Evening* 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday Morning* 0'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening* 1000'
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday Morning* 500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 1500'
Tuesday Evening* 1000'
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2500'

Issued: 2:07 PM PST Monday, November 28, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 14 / 10 21 / 11
West North 10 / 7 12 / 8
West Central 13 / 8 11 / 9
West South 18 / 13 17 / 13
Stevens Pass 13 / 5 9 / 5
Snoqualmie Pass 17 / 9 10 / 8
East North 6 / 1 6 / 1
East Central 14 / 6 9 / 6
East South 18 / 12 14 / 13
Mt. Hood 22 / 18 21 / 17
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 14 / 10
Tuesday 21 / 11
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 10 / 7
Tuesday 12 / 8
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 13 / 8
Tuesday 11 / 9
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 18 / 13
Tuesday 17 / 13
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 13 / 5
Tuesday 9 / 5
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 17 / 9
Tuesday 10 / 8
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 6 / 1
Tuesday 6 / 1
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 14 / 6
Tuesday 9 / 6
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 18 / 12
Tuesday 14 / 13
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 22 / 18
Tuesday 21 / 17

Issued: 2:07 PM PST Monday, November 28, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:07 PM PST Monday, November 28, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

The surface trough sits off the Washington Coast Wednesday night feeding snow showers into the forecast region. The surface low moves south of our region on Thursday as the upper trough moves onshore for additional light snow showers on the west slopes of the Cascades. We might get a slight break between storms with a shortwave ridge transiting the region Thursday night. Another strong storm on a similar track to the previous one approaches the Washington Coast late Friday, bringing more strong E flow and heavy snow to the Olympics with lighter snow in other areas. Snow levels struggle to make it much above sea level.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night* Thursday Thursday Night Friday *
West North 0 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 500' 500' 0 0
Mt. Hood 1000' 1000' 0 1000'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night* 0'
Thursday 0'
Thursday Night 0'
Friday * 0'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night* 500'
Thursday 500'
Thursday Night 0'
Friday * 0'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night* 1000'
Thursday 1000'
Thursday Night 0'
Friday * 1000'

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

Previous forecast from Nov 28, 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’.