PNW November 2025

[Gradient Keeper]

P a t i e n c e.

[Maple]

Took this photo of the Cascades with my telephoto lens earlier. I'd like to see more snow on them

[ShawniganLake]

33 minutes ago, the_convergence_zone said:

This looks more like an October snowmap than a December one with those gaudy QPF totals. Those ARs have like 7000 ft snow levels.
 

Fortunately there is no snow to melt or there would be serious flooding problems.  

Depending on the situation I think some snow on the slopes isn’t a bad thing.  It can absorb a fair bit of rain water and serve to slow the runoff.  The big floods in November 2021 were from extreme rainfall on what was mostly bare ground at the time.   

[Edmonds Husky]

8 minutes ago, Gradient Keeper said:

P a t i e n c e.

It will be great once it actually starts showing up in the models, and even greater when it happens.

[Deweydog]

14 minutes ago, BLI snowman said:

The western side of Clark County also had pretty decent wet snow dumps in November 1996, January 2012, and of course April 2022.  4-5"+ in each of those but sloppy and fast melting.

As much as I bag on this century for its lack of meaningful extreme cold, it really hasn't been super lacking here locally for snow for the most part when compared with 1970-1999. Although we have yet to see any storm that comes close to January 1980 this century, so even back then the highest highs were a little higher.

[iFred]

Working on an MS Paint for weather maps. If I can’t live my dreams, then I sure as hell can paint them.

[Meatyorologist]

January 2012 was awesome in north Seattle. We had almost a foot on the ground by the 19th with some well placed convergence zones and consistently cold air. And who can forget the 2' walloping Olympia received on the 17th into the 18th? That event was saturated all the way through, I don't think we cleared out a single day during that event. Awesome for snow, and still a handful of subfreezing highs.

[Gradient Keeper]

21 minutes ago, Edmonds Husky said:

It will be great once it actually starts showing up in the models, and even greater when it happens.

Yes it will. 

[Gradient Keeper]

Model riding thoughts

Remember, every pattern change, all of the great and memorable events of the past and the ones coming in the future all started with that one model run. When the heck that will take place? Not a clue. No idea. Not even a little. BUT this is why we put ourselves through this insane and demented season of model riding which is mainly torturous. Honestly.
 

We often resort to the, "What ifs", and "If the ridge did this, or that", but alas we wait, and wait, and wait even longer for that moment when that one run finally shows up, then another model camp or ensembles shows a similar pattern progression. We are then tricked into believing it more than any sane person should, but the next day the same progression pops up, and now it's inside day 9'er.
 

The next few days models waffle back-forth on the idea, but our hopes remain. Now we're 5 days out and the models are clearly coming to an agreement for a full on arctic blast, or a back door shot. Moving ahead to 4 days out and the ensembles are looking excellent. Now it's 3 days out and some weenies show up afraid everything falls apart. Ah yeah. It is not for the faint of heart. We keep on ridin' though. Always.

Think Cold and SNOW!!!! C'MON!!!!

[BLI snowman]

42 minutes ago, ShawniganLake said:

Depending on the situation I think some snow on the slopes isn’t a bad thing.  It can absorb a fair bit of rain water and serve to slow the runoff.  The big floods in November 2021 were from extreme rainfall on what was mostly bare ground at the time.   

The big rivers like the Fraser and Columbia (along with the Snake and Willamette) rely a lot more on snow run-off to fuel their biggest rises. Which is why the spring floods in 1894 and 1948 are still their worst and beat out the bigger rainstorm type floods like November 2006 or November 2021 up north.

Almost any of the smaller rivers on the other hand can really go bonkers and threaten a record with a carefully aimed jet stream regardless of the of amount of snowpack beforehand.

[Gradient Keeper]

15 minutes until December! How the heck did that happen? Make sure you all head over to the new December thread @Edmonds Husky created. 

 

[Poulsbo Snowman]

Things must look bleak.  It's been 7 hours since anyone posted.  

 I thought I would break that streak.

[BLI snowman]

22 minutes ago, Poulsbo Snowman said:

Things must look bleak.  It's been 7 hours since anyone posted.  

 I thought I would break that streak.

New month!

[Brian_in_Leavenworth]

On 11/27/2025 at 6:16 PM, iFred said:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/11709-Pear-Tree-Ct-Leavenworth-WA-98826/214641524_zpid/
Really tempting.

Just saw the homeowners this week.  They haven't had anyone look at it for awhile.  There's a bargain to be had for anyone willing to make an offer.  And it is a nice house with great views.  It's just normally a slow time for the housing market.