Issued: 2:04 PM PST Saturday, December 3, 2022
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

As of Saturday afternoon, an offshore closed low continues to spin off the coast of southern Oregon. Spiral bands of clouds remain near the coast, but most mountain areas enjoy the December sunshine. S and SE winds rotating around the low have helped bring in milder air to the west of the Cascades while areas to the east remain in the icebox. Moderate E winds attempt to equilibrate the associated pressure difference, keeping the mountain gaps cold. As the offshore low shifts south, the upper-level winds become easterly and should help easterly gap winds peak in the moderate to strong range.

The aforementioned low ejects a very weak front northward that should bring mostly light snow to Mt. Hood by Sunday morning. That snow will gradually spread northward to around Stevens Pass by the end of the day. The front along with the snow gradually dissipates in situ Sunday night. Mt. Hood could pick up 3-6 inches of low-density snow with locations across the southern half of the Washington Cascades mostly picking up 1-3". The precipitation also comes with some cooling to further below seasonal norms.

On Monday, the PNW sits in relative calm between the jetstream to our NE and the cutoff low to our south. Patchy clouds linger along with cool temperatures.

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
Saturday Night Mostly clear.
Sunday Partly cloudy in the morning, then mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Most clear.
Sunday Mostly clear.
Saturday Night Mostly clear with increasing clouds by morning.
Sunday Mostly cloudy in the morning with clouds decreasing from mid-morning onwards.
Saturday Night Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy by morning.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with periods of light snow.
Saturday Night Mostly clear in the evening with clouds increasing overnight. Moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with periods of light snow in the afternoon. Decreasing moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night Mostly clear in the evening with clouds increasing overnight. Moderate to occasionally strong ridgeline and E wind at the Pass. Expect strong gusts west of the Pass.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with periods of light snow in the afternoon. Decreasing moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night Mostly clear. Cold.
Sunday Partly cloudy. Cold.
Saturday Night Mostly clear with clouds increasing after midight. Cold.
Sunday Mostly cloudy to start with periods of light snow from mid-morning onward.
Saturday Night Mostly clear with clouds increasing after midnight. Cold.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with periods of light snow throughout the day.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy in evening, then becoming mostly cloudy overnight with light snow developing during the early morning hours. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Light to moderate snow, heaviest in the morning. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:04 PM PST Saturday, December 3, 2022

Precipitation (in)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 0 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0 0 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 0 0 0
Stevens Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Crystal Mt 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0
Paradise 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0
White Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Washington Pass 0 0 0 0
Mission Ridge 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Timberline LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0

Issued: 2:04 PM PST Saturday, December 3, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening* Saturday Night* Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon* Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon*
Olympics 3000' 3000' 3000' 4500' 2000' 1500' 1000' 2500'
West North 1500' 1000' 1500' 3500' 1500' 1000' 500' 2500'
West Central 1500' 1000' 1500' 3000' 1500' 1000' 1000' 2500'
West South 1000' 500' 1000' 1500' 500' 0 1500' 3500'
Stevens Pass 500' 500' 500' 1000' 500' 500' 500' 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass 500' 500' 500' 1000' 500' 500' 500' 2000'
East North 500' 500' 500' 3000' 1000' 500' 500' 2000'
East Central 500' 500' 500' 1000' 500' 500' 500' 1500'
East South 500' 500' 500' 500' 500' 0 1000' 3000'
Mt. Hood 1000' 500' 0 0 0 1000' 2500' 3500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening* 3000'
Saturday Night* 3000'
Sunday Morning* 3000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4500'
Sunday Evening* 2000'
Sunday Night* 1500'
Monday Morning* 1000'
Monday Afternoon* 2500'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning* 1500'
Sunday Afternoon* 3500'
Sunday Evening* 1500'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 500'
Monday Afternoon* 2500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning* 1500'
Sunday Afternoon* 3000'
Sunday Evening* 1500'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 1000'
Monday Afternoon* 2500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1000'
Saturday Night* 500'
Sunday Morning* 1000'
Sunday Afternoon* 1500'
Sunday Evening* 500'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 1500'
Monday Afternoon* 3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 500'
Saturday Night* 500'
Sunday Morning* 500'
Sunday Afternoon* 1000'
Sunday Evening* 500'
Sunday Night* 500'
Monday Morning* 500'
Monday Afternoon* 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 500'
Saturday Night* 500'
Sunday Morning* 500'
Sunday Afternoon* 1000'
Sunday Evening* 500'
Sunday Night* 500'
Monday Morning* 500'
Monday Afternoon* 2000'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 500'
Saturday Night* 500'
Sunday Morning* 500'
Sunday Afternoon* 3000'
Sunday Evening* 1000'
Sunday Night* 500'
Monday Morning* 500'
Monday Afternoon* 2000'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 500'
Saturday Night* 500'
Sunday Morning* 500'
Sunday Afternoon* 1000'
Sunday Evening* 500'
Sunday Night* 500'
Monday Morning* 500'
Monday Afternoon* 1500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 500'
Saturday Night* 500'
Sunday Morning* 500'
Sunday Afternoon* 500'
Sunday Evening* 500'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 1000'
Monday Afternoon* 3000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1000'
Saturday Night* 500'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 3500'

Issued: 2:04 PM PST Saturday, December 3, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 26 / 23 30 / 22
West North 27 / 24 34 / 25
West Central 26 / 22 31 / 23
West South 24 / 20 25 / 19
Stevens Pass 20 / 16 27 / 19
Snoqualmie Pass 21 / 17 25 / 18
East North 17 / 14 29 / 17
East Central 19 / 15 25 / 17
East South 16 / 13 20 / 14
Mt. Hood 21 / 18 24 / 18
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 26 / 23
Sunday 30 / 22
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 27 / 24
Sunday 34 / 25
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 26 / 22
Sunday 31 / 23
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 24 / 20
Sunday 25 / 19
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 20 / 16
Sunday 27 / 19
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 21 / 17
Sunday 25 / 18
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 17 / 14
Sunday 29 / 17
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 19 / 15
Sunday 25 / 17
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 16 / 13
Sunday 20 / 14
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 21 / 18
Sunday 24 / 18

Issued: 2:04 PM PST Saturday, December 3, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics E 5-15 E 5-15 E 5-15 ESE 0-10
West North E 10-20 E 10-20 ESE 0-10 ENE 0-10
West Central ESE 10-20 ESE 10-20 ESE 10-20 ESE 5-15
West South ESE 5-15 SE 10-20 ESE 5-15 ESE 0-10
Stevens Pass ESE 15-25 ESE 15-25 ESE 15-25 ESE 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass ESE 15-25 ESE 20-30 ESE 15-25 ESE 10-20
East North ESE 5-15 ESE 10-20 ESE 5-15 ESE 0-10
East Central ESE 10-20 ESE 15-25 ESE 10-20 E 10-20
East South ESE 10-20 ESE 10-20 E 5-15 E 0-10
Mt. Hood SSE 10-20 SSE 15-25 S 10-20 SW 10-20
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening E 5-15
Saturday Night E 5-15
Sunday Morning E 5-15
Sunday Afternoon ESE 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening E 10-20
Saturday Night E 10-20
Sunday Morning ESE 0-10
Sunday Afternoon ENE 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ESE 10-20
Saturday Night ESE 10-20
Sunday Morning ESE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon ESE 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ESE 5-15
Saturday Night SE 10-20
Sunday Morning ESE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon ESE 0-10
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ESE 15-25
Saturday Night ESE 15-25
Sunday Morning ESE 15-25
Sunday Afternoon ESE 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ESE 15-25
Saturday Night ESE 20-30
Sunday Morning ESE 15-25
Sunday Afternoon ESE 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ESE 5-15
Saturday Night ESE 10-20
Sunday Morning ESE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon ESE 0-10
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ESE 10-20
Saturday Night ESE 15-25
Sunday Morning ESE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon E 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ESE 10-20
Saturday Night ESE 10-20
Sunday Morning E 5-15
Sunday Afternoon E 0-10
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 10-20
Saturday Night SSE 15-25
Sunday Morning S 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SW 10-20

Issued: 2:04 PM PST Saturday, December 3, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

Light upper-level winds turn northwesterly Monday night, with some moisture arriving to the west slopes of the Cascades through Tuesday night. On Wednesday flow shifts W and WSW with moisture increasing slightly more ahead of a stronger approaching frontal system slated for Thursday. Temperatures remain 5 degrees or more below seasonal norms.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night* Tuesday Tuesday Night* Wednesday *
West North 1500' 1000' 1000' 500'
Snoqualmie Pass 2500' 1500' 1500' 1500'
Mt. Hood 3000' 3000' 2000' 1500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night* 1500'
Tuesday 1000'
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday * 500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night* 2500'
Tuesday 1500'
Tuesday Night* 1500'
Wednesday * 1500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night* 3000'
Tuesday 3000'
Tuesday Night* 2000'
Wednesday * 1500'

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

Previous forecast from Dec 3, 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’.