Issued: 2:13 PM PST Monday, December 5, 2022
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

The short-term remains relatively inactive across the region with the jetstream energy split by an upper low spinning over northern California with a stronger jet over interior Canada. As the low shifts eastward, it allows gradually increasing NW flow aloft to develop over our region. This pattern allows for increasing low-level W winds to bring in slightly warmer air along with subtle amounts of moisture which generally focus on the west slopes of the Cascades. We're expecting a dusting of snow by morning from around Snoqualmie to Paradise. Low-level W winds pick up steam and accelerate down the east slopes of the Cascades on Monday, potentially bringing locally strong winds to areas such as Mission Ridge and perhaps White Pass. Expect periods of light snow on Tuesday to bring 1-3" of snow for the west slopes of the Washington Cascades followed by similar amounts Tuesday night with decreasing W winds. A subtle ridge moves over the area on Wednesday, shifting the focus of moisture very slightly toward the northern areas, but continue to expect periods of light snow across the west slopes of the Cascades.

Temperatures should remain below seasonal norms, but the return to W flow Monday night and Tuesday should allow the E slopes of the Cascades to become milder and mix out the low stratus deck.

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 with some low cloud cover below 4000 ft.
Tuesday Partly cloudy with clouds thickening in the afternoon and a chance of snow flurries.
Monday Night Mostly clear in the evening, then increasing clouds with a chance of snow flurries by morning.
Tuesday
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with an increasing chance of very light snow showers or flurries.
Tuesday Cloudy with periods of light snow or flurries.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with an increasing chance of very light snow showers or flurries. Much of Mt. Rainier likely pops above the cloud deck and Crystal mostly blocked.
Tuesday Periods of light snow or flurries. Moderate to locally strong ridgeline winds may develop in the afternoon near the Cascade Crest.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with an increasing chance of very light snow showers or flurries. Light ridgeline and variable switching W wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Periods of light snow or flurries. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with an increasing chance of very light snow showers or flurries. Light ridgeline and variable switching W wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Periods of light snow or flurries. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline and W wind at the Pass.
Monday Night Partly cloudy to mostly clear.
Tuesday Partly cloudy with isolated snow flurries.
Monday Night Partly cloudy to mostly clear.
Tuesday Partly cloudy with periods of very light snow possible near the Cascade Crest. Moderate to locally strong ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Partly cloudy to mostly clear.
Tuesday Partly cloudy. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds in the afternoon.
Monday Night Partly cloudy with a slight chance of light snow on the western slopes of Mt. Hood.
Tuesday Partly cloudy with increasing chances of light snow on the western slopes of Mt. Hood.

Issued: 2:13 PM PST Monday, December 5, 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 0 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Paradise LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
White Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Washington Pass 0 0 0 0
Mission Ridge 0 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 0 LT 0.10 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Timberline 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0

Issued: 2:13 PM PST Monday, December 5, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 2:13 PM PST Monday, December 5, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 23 / 19 27 / 21
West North 20 / 17 23 / 18
West Central 21 / 18 25 / 18
West South 27 / 22 25 / 22
Stevens Pass 24 / 20 24 / 21
Snoqualmie Pass 25 / 22 24 / 21
East North 21 / 17 24 / 18
East Central 22 / 20 25 / 19
East South 24 / 22 27 / 21
Mt. Hood 26 / 24 30 / 25
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 23 / 19
Tuesday 27 / 21
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 20 / 17
Tuesday 23 / 18
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 21 / 18
Tuesday 25 / 18
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 27 / 22
Tuesday 25 / 22
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 24 / 20
Tuesday 24 / 21
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 25 / 22
Tuesday 24 / 21
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 21 / 17
Tuesday 24 / 18
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 22 / 20
Tuesday 25 / 19
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 24 / 22
Tuesday 27 / 21
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 26 / 24
Tuesday 30 / 25

Issued: 2:13 PM PST Monday, December 5, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:13 PM PST Monday, December 5, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

The extended forecast becomes significantly more snowy and active. A stronger frontal system approaches the PNW coastline Wednesday night with moisture-increasing southerly winds and moderate precipitation reaching the Olympics. E flow should return through the mountain gaps which should keep them cooler in advance of the frontal passage Thursday morning. The warm sector will produce higher-density snow, but a changeover to rain is not expected in most areas. Expect a period of moderate to heavy snow before the precipitation turns showery Thursday afternoon as temperatures cool. Light to moderate snow showers continues Thursday night and Friday.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night* Thursday Thursday Night Friday
West North 1500' 2000' 1000' 500'
Snoqualmie Pass 1000' 2000' 1000' 1000'
Mt. Hood 2000' 2500' 1500' 1000'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night* 1500'
Thursday 2000'
Thursday Night 1000'
Friday 500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night* 1000'
Thursday 2000'
Thursday Night 1000'
Friday 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night* 2000'
Thursday 2500'
Thursday Night 1500'
Friday 1000'

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

Previous forecast from Dec 5, 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’.