PNW November 2025

[Brian_in_Leavenworth]

4 hours ago, MossMan said:

Exactly…Yuck down here. 

They were good years in Bellingham, though 1984-85 I'm not as sure about.  

[SpaceRace22]

6 minutes ago, SouthHillFrosty said:

Another good property is here in Monroe

this is around 1400 ft tho 

Haha I think I've posted this one on here before. If I had a couple million sitting around I would seriously consider buying and developing that. Those hills there must get absolutely nuked during a good CZ. And it's commutable to where I work. That whole neighborhood is super interesting to me.

[Cold Snap]

32 minutes ago, SouthHillFrosty said:

Another good property is here in Monroe

this is around 1400 ft tho 

That area probably does very well with cold onshore flow with convergence zones.

[ShawniganLake]

Sunny and coolish here this afternoon.  High of 49F.  Could be a freeze tonight if the clouds and fog hold off.  Currently 37F.  

[MV_snow]

Man, I was hoping all the unread posts meant a return of Jim, Rob, and/or Phil. So weird to be into November but have no sign of any of them.

[Edmonds Husky]

12 minutes ago, MV_snow said:

Man, I was hoping all the unread posts meant a return of Jim, Rob, and/or Phil. So weird to be into November but have no sign of any of them.

It feels quiet without them.

[Cloud]

3 hours ago, Ken in Wood Village said:

Interesting because the 12Z Euro shows this for Saturday and Sunday

I can understand the confusion with the GMT conversions but these maps  are for Thursday and Friday. Friday 00z is actually Thursday 4pm (top map) and Saturday 00z is Friday 4pm (bottom) Pacific time. 

Even then, if you don’t want to do the conversion but take 84 hours (3.5 days) out from the 12z initiation (4am), it’ll be 4pm Thursday. 

It even helped you out with the conversion in your pictures. 

[BLI snowman]

3 hours ago, Front Ranger said:

It was an impressively cold winter overall, but didn't feature any months as impressive as Dec 2008, Feb 2019, or Jan 2017. Also no events as memorable for a widespread area as Dec 2021 or Feb 2021. No events in the Portland area as impactful as Feb 2023 or 2014.

If you like lots of little events and dry cold, then yeah, it was the winter for you.

You say that like that doesn't put it in the 90th percentile for us....

Lots of little events and persistent cold is definitely very noteworthy here.

 

[BLI snowman]

3 hours ago, MossMan said:

I don’t remember much from either of those winters…Though I was 8/9yrs old for 84/85…And spent a lot of time drinking with a co worker from the golf course days almost every night during the winter of 2001/02 so that was a hazy winter. 

2001-02 was pretty forgettable for the most part south of Bellingham. A little better than the garbage that surrounded it, I suppose.

[Phishy Wx]

yall should start telling weather related jokes

[Front Ranger]

47 minutes ago, BLI snowman said:

You say that like that doesn't put it in the 90th percentile for us....

Lots of little events and persistent cold is definitely very noteworthy here.

 

Sure, but it's the same reason most Puget Sounders on here don't consider 2022-23 much to remember, even though it was persistently cold from November through March and brought a bunch of little events.

[Front Ranger]

38 minutes ago, BLI snowman said:

2001-02 was pretty forgettable for the most part south of Bellingham. A little better than the garbage that surrounded it, I suppose.

Jan 2002 and the few inches of snow it brought to Tacoma was, sadly, the most exciting winter weather I experienced in the lowlands between Dec 1998 and Jan 2004.

[iFred]

1 hour ago, SouthHillFrosty said:

There is a 700 ft difference between this property and palmers elevation. Would Palmer's cold air leakage offset the 700 ft difference in elevation?

 

No idea on the east wind situation for Palmer, but I’m guessing if you’re not facing it then you’ll be better off.

Find property that is developed to a degree at least. There is that Monroe tract that gets shared every year. Great elevation, prime convergence zone location, set back from the Skykomish outflow.

You also get acres of timber, Bonneville transmission lines, and the convenience of living somewhere that will get featured on Homestead Rescue in a year or two.

Kapowson, Eatonville, Sedro, Darrington, Concrete, and Skykomish might need to make your Zillow hunt.

[Edmonds Husky]

22 minutes ago, Front Ranger said:

Sure, but it's the same reason most Puget Sounders on here don't consider 2022-23 much to remember, even though it was persistently cold from November through March and brought a bunch of little events.

It was good for MBY, not so much for many others unfortunately 

[LowerGarfield]

15 hours ago, Edmonds Husky said:

Living in Clark County to avoid income tax and then going shopping across the river to avoid sales tax 

Although I think there are ways that they check for people doing that 

If they work in Oregon, they still have to pay taxes in Oregon.  But if they can work in Clark Co they are Winning. 

[Meatyorologist]

1 hour ago, iFred said:

No idea on the east wind situation for Palmer, but I’m guessing if you’re not facing it then you’ll be better off.

Find property that is developed to a degree at least. There is that Monroe tract that gets shared every year. Great elevation, prime convergence zone location, set back from the Skykomish outflow.

You also get acres of timber, Bonneville transmission lines, and the convenience of living somewhere that will get featured on Homestead Rescue in a year or two.

Kapowson, Eatonville, Sedro, Darrington, Concrete, and Skykomish might need to make your Zillow hunt.

This conversation is tapping into my very specific flavour of autism... I love it.

From my years of perusing properties on the westside for snowfall, it's very difficult to find a palatable overlap between optimal snowfall dynamics, and the difficult logistics of owning property in climates that are objectively harsher than even the snowiest microclimates found within the metropolitan core; difficulties compounded by the distance between said regions. That includes HOA fees, what kinds of amenities you will need to ensure for yourself on your own terms, as well as your actual ability to access your property when the exact snowfall events you are seeking do eventually pan out. These civil logistics are region dependent and don't really follow any geographical trend. So it's really up to the specific tract of land you are looking at, and that research is pretty new to me, so this post won't cover any of the sort, since that would turn this this post from what is already a crazy wall of text, into the scroll from Kung Fu Panda.

Each microclimate in the region has its own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to snowfall. The Pacific Northwest is positioned in a very unique spot, sitting within a few hundred miles of, if not directly over, the 45th parallel; all the while our complex terrain facilitates the meeting grounds between continental Arctic airmasses, and a climatologically dominant moisture rich Pacific windflow. Not only does this mean that there is a sharp gradient in average snow level decreasing as you go north, but it also creates specific differences in the type of snowfall a location is likely to recieve.

Let's reference the hotly discussed Lake Cushman, for example. Positioned in the heart of the infamous Hood Canal cold air dam, right within the sharp southern foothills of the Olympic range, it's in a perfect spot to be gifted a plethora of terrain enhanced wet snowfall, while Seattle and co may be stuck above forty degrees receiving less than half the equivalent precipitation, in the form of drizzle nonetheless. The caveat to a such a location, however, is that it is just about as far away from the interior west as you can be without officially being coined a coastal town. This means that, while seasonal snowfall averages may exceed 100"; an insane number for just about anywhere along the west coast of the United States below a grand in elevation, and probably topping said chart I just invented; its snowfall in question will almost always be in the form of wet, sloppy quick-to-melt PNW brand concrete.

If we shift our focus further east toward North Bend, where our grumpy forum favorite huffs and puffs about his innate ability to #snowandcold when he never even wants it to (we can happily trade places buddy, you don't have to be miserable anymore), we begin to tap into continental easterly winds spilling west out of the Snoqualmie gap. This drier air means that, while elevation, annual snowfall, and annual liquid equivalent precipitation may be a near-exact match to Lake Cushman, North Bend, particularly its higher elevation boroughs along its southern perimeter; more sheltered but still accessed by those easterlies; can be ransacked by dry, fluffy snow during Arctic events, and keep it around for days longer, thanks to those easterlies keeping temperatures below freezing until whatever Arctic airmass is responsible finally leaves the much more sheltered Columbia River basin.

From my years of research, there are a few general rules of thumb:

1) Snowfall will tend to increase as you head north. This is fairly self evident... Proximity to the Arctic and lower sun angles will compound temperature differences along a tight latitudinal gradient. This can be bucked by local microclimates which shelter specific parts of the region from Arctic air, but this is more of a minority situation, as even coastal Vancouver island right at sea level regularly sees convective offshore wraparound dumping tens of inches in the right year.

2) Snowfall will always increase with elevation. This one is a universal truth along all areas of the west and eastside, within any mentioned microclimate. Firstly this is enforced by basic physics. Snow falls downward due to gravity. Whoa, shocked me too. If lower elevations are getting snowfall, the higher elevations are receiving at least that much, but usually more, thanks to colder temperatures and higher snowfall ratios (and less melting during marginal events). But the PNW specializes in making this vertical snowfall gradient even harsher, thanks to the dominant marine influence which defines our climate, meaning that unless there is a deeply embedded offshore Arctic flow regime, a regime that may avoid the region entirely during one of our increasingly common dud winters (account for the -PDO phase of the last decade or so and this trend is even more evident), whether any given location recieves snowfall or not will be dependent on whether said location is above the snow level. Often times this snow level is as sharp as the height of a tree, or even your own house; truly fascinating stuff worthy of its own deep dive.

3) Lastly, and I think this is most crucial when defining snowfall microclimates anywhere along the westside, is that beginning roughly around the Columbia River gap (PDX-Sandy), and continuing northward toward the border: the closer you are to the Cascades, the drier your snow will be. This is of course ignoring the universal snow drying influences of increasing in elevation. South of the Columbia River gap, most of the Cascade gaps are too shallow to locally influence drying during most Arctic setups. The Mackenzie gap east of Eugene, for instance, blocks Arctic air surging east of the crest with over a vertical mile of volcanic terrain. If continental Arctic air is influencing snowfall events in Salem and Eugene, that air is almost always being sourced from the Columbia and Fraser river gaps, and will be influenced by that air in no particular parity compared to the foothills to their east. In fact, as we've seen a number of recent times beginning February 2021, the western foothills of the OR Cascades can evade continental Arctic air entirely, since that dense, cold air will tend to first pool in the valleys below, before reinforcing masses of air enforce the valley cold and push the vertical boundary upward.

So, summing this all up, there are a handful of locations that stand out to me in terms of snow efficacy. I'll name some:

- Lake Cushman: As stated before, lots of wet snow thanks to being simultaneously in the lee of the Olympics, whilst never being within its rain shadow. Of course this is almost always wet snow, but when it comes to seasonal totals, Lake Cushman is a perfect case of having your cake, and eating all of it too. Close analog: Silver Falls

- North Bend: Oh look, the two specific examples I mentioned. There's a reason why I did so. This place is kind of a cheat code, with all the precip and snow of Lake Cushman, but more of an Arctic flavor. Eat all your blessed cake, but with frosting on top too! Tim, that offer still stands, I'll work full time at whatever garden you are tending to in Sacramento/Tacoma, or wherever. Please mate. I deserve your climate more than your San Diegoan fleeing-from-Minnesota azz  Close analog: Skykomish

- Columbia River region, from Cascade Locks to Yacolt. A similar situation to North Bend, with a wide variety in extremes and elevation. Direct Pacific moisture influence with a touch of Columbia River easterlies. Some of the properties here exceed 2k ft in elevation. There is a criminal lack of data here, and it spans both WA and OR, so @SpaceRace22 would have a chance to rep the opposing team

- Port Angeles/Sequim foothills. Hi, @Port Angeles Foothiller! This is probably the most boom-or-bust location west of the WA Cascades. It sits squarely in the middle of the cursed Olympic shadow, meaning it can completely dud when even Seattle gets a taste of frozen goodness, but when Fraser outflow picks up Juan de Fuca moisture and slams it against the NE Olympics, or when a CZ eddy parks itself to the south of PA proper, this place can cook harder than the east coast. I'm serious. And I'm not just referencing some obscure 19th century event we would all hope to re-live.... February 2019, while crushing even Seattle proper with two overperforming snow events, knelt to these foothills as the true kings of the infamous snowmaggeddon, plopping feet of unending whiteout powdery snow in a night, on two separate occasions. This place also has over two thousand feet in elevation potential, in addition to recent analogs to evidence its snowfall ability. Not to mention, I know for a fact that most of the properties for sale, including the ones highest above sea level, have ready access to Port Angeles electricity, water, and gas, without any of the HOA fees, while bordering on BLA territory, thanks to the ongoing logging industry in the area. Underrated IMO, even with the shadowing.

- Lynden, or anywhere near the Fraser River gap: This is the westside's best attempt at a continental airmass. If a system's low center is approaching from the southwest from November through March, this place is probably going to start off with (at the very least wet) snow, and maybe even stay frozen entirely, even without deep Arctic influence. It's just that reliable. This is one of those cool locations, that, while increasing elevation will still do wonders, even the valley floor will provide a snow climate unlike anywhere south of Whatcom County. A true hidden gem. This place is also notable for being blasted by outflow, being one of the only spots in the lowland Pacific Northwest to regularly get blowing snow and blizzard conditions. And if you like rapid, almost instantaneous Arctic fronts and their associated precip switches, this is your go-to spot. Have at it, weather nerds.

[snostorm21]

1 hour ago, Meatyorologist said:

This conversation is tapping into my very specific flavour of autism... I love it.

From my years of perusing properties on the westside for snowfall, it's very difficult to find a palatable overlap between optimal snowfall dynamics, and the difficult logistics of owning property in climates that are objectively harsher than even the snowiest microclimates found within the metropolitan core; difficulties compounded by the distance between said regions. That includes HOA fees, what kinds of amenities you will need to ensure for yourself on your own terms, as well as your actual ability to access your property when the exact snowfall events you are seeking do eventually pan out. These civil logistics are region dependent and don't really follow any geographical trend. So it's really up to the specific tract of land you are looking at, and that research is pretty new to me, so this post won't cover any of the sort, since that would turn this this post from what is already a crazy wall of text, into the scroll from Kung Fu Panda.

Each microclimate in the region has its own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to snowfall. The Pacific Northwest is positioned in a very unique spot, sitting within a few hundred miles of, if not directly over, the 45th parallel; all the while our complex terrain facilitates the meeting grounds between continental Arctic airmasses, and a climatologically dominant moisture rich Pacific windflow. Not only does this mean that there is a sharp gradient in average snow level decreasing as you go north, but it also creates specific differences in the type of snowfall a location is likely to recieve.

Let's reference the hotly discussed Lake Cushman, for example. Positioned in the heart of the infamous Hood Canal cold air dam, right within the sharp southern foothills of the Olympic range, it's in a perfect spot to be gifted a plethora of terrain enhanced wet snowfall, while Seattle and co may be stuck above forty degrees receiving less than half the equivalent precipitation, in the form of drizzle nonetheless. The caveat to a such a location, however, is that it is just about as far away from the interior west as you can be without officially being coined a coastal town. This means that, while seasonal snowfall averages may exceed 100"; an insane number for just about anywhere along the west coast of the United States below a grand in elevation, and probably topping said chart I just invented; its snowfall in question will almost always be in the form of wet, sloppy quick-to-melt PNW brand concrete.

If we shift our focus further east toward North Bend, where our grumpy forum favorite huffs and puffs about his innate ability to #snowandcold when he never even wants it to (we can happily trade places buddy, you don't have to be miserable anymore), we begin to tap into continental easterly winds spilling west out of the Snoqualmie gap. This drier air means that, while elevation, annual snowfall, and annual liquid equivalent precipitation may be a near-exact match to Lake Cushman, North Bend, particularly its higher elevation boroughs along its southern perimeter; more sheltered but still accessed by those easterlies; can be ransacked by dry, fluffy snow during Arctic events, and keep it around for days longer, thanks to those easterlies keeping temperatures below freezing until whatever Arctic airmass is responsible finally leaves the much more sheltered Columbia River basin.

From my years of research, there are a few general rules of thumb:

1) Snowfall will tend to increase as you head north. This is fairly self evident... Proximity to the Arctic and lower sun angles will compound temperature differences along a tight latitudinal gradient. This can be bucked by local microclimates which shelter specific parts of the region from Arctic air, but this is more of a minority situation, as even coastal Vancouver island right at sea level regularly sees convective offshore wraparound dumping tens of inches in the right year.

2) Snowfall will always increase with elevation. This one is a universal truth along all areas of the west and eastside, within any mentioned microclimate. Firstly this is enforced by basic physics. Snow falls downward due to gravity. Whoa, shocked me too. If lower elevations are getting snowfall, the higher elevations are receiving at least that much, but usually more, thanks to colder temperatures and higher snowfall ratios (and less melting during marginal events). But the PNW specializes in making this vertical snowfall gradient even harsher, thanks to the dominant marine influence which defines our climate, meaning that unless there is a deeply embedded offshore Arctic flow regime, a regime that may avoid the region entirely during one of our increasingly common dud winters (account for the -PDO phase of the last decade or so and this trend is even more evident), whether any given location recieves snowfall or not will be dependent on whether said location is above the snow level. Often times this snow level is as sharp as the height of a tree, or even your own house; truly fascinating stuff worthy of its own deep dive.

3) Lastly, and I think this is most crucial when defining snowfall microclimates anywhere along the westside, is that beginning roughly around the Columbia River gap (PDX-Sandy), and continuing northward toward the border: the closer you are to the Cascades, the drier your snow will be. This is of course ignoring the universal snow drying influences of increasing in elevation. South of the Columbia River gap, most of the Cascade gaps are too shallow to locally influence drying during most Arctic setups. The Mackenzie gap east of Eugene, for instance, blocks Arctic air surging east of the crest with over a vertical mile of volcanic terrain. If continental Arctic air is influencing snowfall events in Salem and Eugene, that air is almost always being sourced from the Columbia and Fraser river gaps, and will be influenced by that air in no particular parity compared to the foothills to their east. In fact, as we've seen a number of recent times beginning February 2021, the western foothills of the OR Cascades can evade continental Arctic air entirely, since that dense, cold air will tend to first pool in the valleys below, before reinforcing masses of air enforce the valley cold and push the vertical boundary upward.

So, summing this all up, there are a handful of locations that stand out to me in terms of snow efficacy. I'll name some:

- Lake Cushman: As stated before, lots of wet snow thanks to being simultaneously in the lee of the Olympics, whilst never being within its rain shadow. Of course this is almost always wet snow, but when it comes to seasonal totals, Lake Cushman is a perfect case of having your cake, and eating all of it too. Close analog: Silver Falls

- North Bend: Oh look, the two specific examples I mentioned. There's a reason why I did so. This place is kind of a cheat code, with all the precip and snow of Lake Cushman, but more of an Arctic flavor. Eat all your blessed cake, but with frosting on top too! Tim, that offer still stands, I'll work full time at whatever garden you are tending to in Sacramento/Tacoma, or wherever. Please mate. I deserve your climate more than your San Diegoan fleeing-from-Minnesota azz  Close analog: Skykomish

- Columbia River region, from Cascade Locks to Yacolt. A similar situation to North Bend, with a wide variety in extremes and elevation. Direct Pacific moisture influence with a touch of Columbia River easterlies. Some of the properties here exceed 2k ft in elevation. There is a criminal lack of data here, and it spans both WA and OR, so @SpaceRace22 would have a chance to rep the opposing team

- Port Angeles/Sequim foothills. Hi, @Port Angeles Foothiller! This is probably the most boom-or-bust location west of the WA Cascades. It sits squarely in the middle of the cursed Olympic shadow, meaning it can completely dud when even Seattle gets a taste of frozen goodness, but when Fraser outflow picks up Juan de Fuca moisture and slams it against the NE Olympics, or when a CZ eddy parks itself to the south of PA proper, this place can cook harder than the east coast. I'm serious. And I'm not just referencing some obscure 19th century event we would all hope to re-live.... February 2019, while crushing even Seattle proper with two overperforming snow events, knelt to these foothills as the true kings of the infamous snowmaggeddon, plopping feet of unending whiteout powdery snow in a night, on two separate occasions. This place also has over two thousand feet in elevation potential, in addition to recent analogs to evidence its snowfall ability. Not to mention, I know for a fact that most of the properties for sale, including the ones highest above sea level, have ready access to Port Angeles electricity, water, and gas, without any of the HOA fees, while bordering on BLA territory, thanks to the ongoing logging industry in the area. Underrated IMO, even with the shadowing.

- Lynden, or anywhere near the Fraser River gap: This is the westside's best attempt at a continental airmass. If a system's low center is approaching from the southwest from November through March, this place is probably going to start off with (at the very least wet) snow, and maybe even stay frozen entirely, even without deep Arctic influence. It's just that reliable. This is one of those cool locations, that, while increasing elevation will still do wonders, even the valley floor will provide a snow climate unlike anywhere south of Whatcom County. A true hidden gem. This place is also notable for being blasted by outflow, being one of the only spots in the lowland Pacific Northwest to regularly get blowing snow and blizzard conditions. And if you like rapid, almost instantaneous Arctic fronts and their associated precip switches, this is your go-to spot. Have at it, weather nerds.

Awesome write-up!!

[TT-SEA]

2 hours ago, Meatyorologist said:

If we shift our focus further east toward North Bend, where our grumpy forum favorite huffs and puffs about his innate ability to #snowandcold when he never even wants it to (we can happily trade places buddy, you don't have to be miserable anymore), we begin to tap into continental easterly winds spilling west out of the Snoqualmie gap. This drier air means that, while elevation, annual snowfall, and annual liquid equivalent precipitation may be a near-exact match to Lake Cushman, North Bend, particularly its higher elevation boroughs along its southern perimeter; more sheltered but still accessed by those easterlies; can be ransacked by dry, fluffy snow during Arctic events, and keep it around for days longer, thanks to those easterlies keeping temperatures below freezing until whatever Arctic airmass is responsible finally leaves the much more sheltered Columbia River basin.

- North Bend: Oh look, the two specific examples I mentioned. There's a reason why I did so. This place is kind of a cheat code, with all the precip and snow of Lake Cushman, but more of an Arctic flavor. Eat all your blessed cake, but with frosting on top too! Tim, that offer still stands, I'll work full time at whatever garden you are tending to in Sacramento/Tacoma, or wherever. Please mate. I deserve your climate more than your San Diegoan fleeing-from-Minnesota azz  Close analog: Skykomish

I just quoted the parts that apply to me... but very nice job overall!   I can tell this is your passion and you would have been so bored in MN without all these microclimates.   

One note on my area... great for snow but terrible for frost thanks to the elevated location prone to east wind.  That east wind can deliver arctic air through the pass but more frequently delivers downslope warming.  While some on here are going nuts for days on end about frost in the morning during a radiational cooling pattern its usually in the 40s here with a light east wind every morning.   If frost is your thing then you might be frustrated here.  We are usually above the fog during winter inversion events as well.    

[Meatyorologist]

5 minutes ago, TT-SEA said:

I just quoted the parts that apply to me... but very nice job overall!   I can tell this is your passion and you would have been so bored in MN without all these microclimates.   

One note on my area... great for snow but terrible for frost thanks to the elevated location prone to east wind.  That east wind can deliver arctic air through the pass but more frequently delivers downslope warming.  While some on here are going nuts for days on end about frost in the morning during a radiational cooling pattern its usually in the 40s here with a light east wind every morning.   If frost is your thing then you might be frustrated here.  We are usually above the fog during winter inversion events as well.    

It's really the snow and precip for me, plus the CZ access and summertime thunderstorm activity. And your place stays greener year round

[TT-SEA]

2 minutes ago, Meatyorologist said:

It's really the snow and precip for me, plus the CZ access and summertime thunderstorm activity. And your place stays greener year round

I am not sure we get more thunderstorms out here... often that seems to focus around the Sound.     Definitely stays greener out here.   Even more so on the valley floor in NB where there must be a water table to close to the surface.    There are fields in NB that are green even after months of sunny, warm weather in the summer.   In my area its very rocky and the water tends to run off quickly.    If you dig a hole anywhere up here you will immediately run into rocks.  

[Meatyorologist]

2 minutes ago, TT-SEA said:

I am not sure we get more thunderstorms out here... often that seems to focus around the Sound.     Definitely stays greener out here.   Even more so on the valley floor in NB where there must be a water table to close to the surface.    There are fields in NB that are green even after months of sunny, warm weather in the summer.   In my area its very rocky and the water tends to run off quickly.    If you dig a hole anywhere up here you will immediately run into rocks.  

Much different than the 1000ft of clay and glacial till beneath seattle!

[TT-SEA]

One other note on quality of snow... we can definitely get the dry, powdery snow you mentioned in certain situations but we also get lots of wet, sloppy snow in marginal situations with the c-zone.   It takes a specific set up with an overrunning precip shield and arctic air coming through the pass to get powdery snow.  But it seems like the majority of our snow falls at 31 or 32 degrees and sticks to everything.  

[MossMan]

8 hours ago, Front Ranger said:

Sure, but it's the same reason most Puget Sounders on here don't consider 2022-23 much to remember, even though it was persistently cold from November through March and brought a bunch of little events.

That was a fun winter for me…At only 580’. 
Snow each month November through March. Beginning and end of November had snow, same with December (along with single digits and teens for a high, along with an ice storm) a little snow at the end of January, multiple snow events in February, and snow to start March with a little more later in the month! I forget exactly how much total but was probably in the 30’s” wise. 
Here are some highlights! 

[ShawniganLake]

32.5F with a thick frost this morning.   

[Port Angeles Foothiller]

4 hours ago, Meatyorologist said:

This conversation is tapping into my very specific flavour of autism... I love it.

From my years of perusing properties on the westside for snowfall, it's very difficult to find a palatable overlap between optimal snowfall dynamics, and the difficult logistics of owning property in climates that are objectively harsher than even the snowiest microclimates found within the metropolitan core; difficulties compounded by the distance between said regions. That includes HOA fees, what kinds of amenities you will need to ensure for yourself on your own terms, as well as your actual ability to access your property when the exact snowfall events you are seeking do eventually pan out. These civil logistics are region dependent and don't really follow any geographical trend. So it's really up to the specific tract of land you are looking at, and that research is pretty new to me, so this post won't cover any of the sort, since that would turn this this post from what is already a crazy wall of text, into the scroll from Kung Fu Panda.

Each microclimate in the region has its own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to snowfall. The Pacific Northwest is positioned in a very unique spot, sitting within a few hundred miles of, if not directly over, the 45th parallel; all the while our complex terrain facilitates the meeting grounds between continental Arctic airmasses, and a climatologically dominant moisture rich Pacific windflow. Not only does this mean that there is a sharp gradient in average snow level decreasing as you go north, but it also creates specific differences in the type of snowfall a location is likely to recieve.

Let's reference the hotly discussed Lake Cushman, for example. Positioned in the heart of the infamous Hood Canal cold air dam, right within the sharp southern foothills of the Olympic range, it's in a perfect spot to be gifted a plethora of terrain enhanced wet snowfall, while Seattle and co may be stuck above forty degrees receiving less than half the equivalent precipitation, in the form of drizzle nonetheless. The caveat to a such a location, however, is that it is just about as far away from the interior west as you can be without officially being coined a coastal town. This means that, while seasonal snowfall averages may exceed 100"; an insane number for just about anywhere along the west coast of the United States below a grand in elevation, and probably topping said chart I just invented; its snowfall in question will almost always be in the form of wet, sloppy quick-to-melt PNW brand concrete.

If we shift our focus further east toward North Bend, where our grumpy forum favorite huffs and puffs about his innate ability to #snowandcold when he never even wants it to (we can happily trade places buddy, you don't have to be miserable anymore), we begin to tap into continental easterly winds spilling west out of the Snoqualmie gap. This drier air means that, while elevation, annual snowfall, and annual liquid equivalent precipitation may be a near-exact match to Lake Cushman, North Bend, particularly its higher elevation boroughs along its southern perimeter; more sheltered but still accessed by those easterlies; can be ransacked by dry, fluffy snow during Arctic events, and keep it around for days longer, thanks to those easterlies keeping temperatures below freezing until whatever Arctic airmass is responsible finally leaves the much more sheltered Columbia River basin.

From my years of research, there are a few general rules of thumb:

1) Snowfall will tend to increase as you head north. This is fairly self evident... Proximity to the Arctic and lower sun angles will compound temperature differences along a tight latitudinal gradient. This can be bucked by local microclimates which shelter specific parts of the region from Arctic air, but this is more of a minority situation, as even coastal Vancouver island right at sea level regularly sees convective offshore wraparound dumping tens of inches in the right year.

2) Snowfall will always increase with elevation. This one is a universal truth along all areas of the west and eastside, within any mentioned microclimate. Firstly this is enforced by basic physics. Snow falls downward due to gravity. Whoa, shocked me too. If lower elevations are getting snowfall, the higher elevations are receiving at least that much, but usually more, thanks to colder temperatures and higher snowfall ratios (and less melting during marginal events). But the PNW specializes in making this vertical snowfall gradient even harsher, thanks to the dominant marine influence which defines our climate, meaning that unless there is a deeply embedded offshore Arctic flow regime, a regime that may avoid the region entirely during one of our increasingly common dud winters (account for the -PDO phase of the last decade or so and this trend is even more evident), whether any given location recieves snowfall or not will be dependent on whether said location is above the snow level. Often times this snow level is as sharp as the height of a tree, or even your own house; truly fascinating stuff worthy of its own deep dive.

3) Lastly, and I think this is most crucial when defining snowfall microclimates anywhere along the westside, is that beginning roughly around the Columbia River gap (PDX-Sandy), and continuing northward toward the border: the closer you are to the Cascades, the drier your snow will be. This is of course ignoring the universal snow drying influences of increasing in elevation. South of the Columbia River gap, most of the Cascade gaps are too shallow to locally influence drying during most Arctic setups. The Mackenzie gap east of Eugene, for instance, blocks Arctic air surging east of the crest with over a vertical mile of volcanic terrain. If continental Arctic air is influencing snowfall events in Salem and Eugene, that air is almost always being sourced from the Columbia and Fraser river gaps, and will be influenced by that air in no particular parity compared to the foothills to their east. In fact, as we've seen a number of recent times beginning February 2021, the western foothills of the OR Cascades can evade continental Arctic air entirely, since that dense, cold air will tend to first pool in the valleys below, before reinforcing masses of air enforce the valley cold and push the vertical boundary upward.

So, summing this all up, there are a handful of locations that stand out to me in terms of snow efficacy. I'll name some:

- Lake Cushman: As stated before, lots of wet snow thanks to being simultaneously in the lee of the Olympics, whilst never being within its rain shadow. Of course this is almost always wet snow, but when it comes to seasonal totals, Lake Cushman is a perfect case of having your cake, and eating all of it too. Close analog: Silver Falls

- North Bend: Oh look, the two specific examples I mentioned. There's a reason why I did so. This place is kind of a cheat code, with all the precip and snow of Lake Cushman, but more of an Arctic flavor. Eat all your blessed cake, but with frosting on top too! Tim, that offer still stands, I'll work full time at whatever garden you are tending to in Sacramento/Tacoma, or wherever. Please mate. I deserve your climate more than your San Diegoan fleeing-from-Minnesota azz  Close analog: Skykomish

- Columbia River region, from Cascade Locks to Yacolt. A similar situation to North Bend, with a wide variety in extremes and elevation. Direct Pacific moisture influence with a touch of Columbia River easterlies. Some of the properties here exceed 2k ft in elevation. There is a criminal lack of data here, and it spans both WA and OR, so @SpaceRace22 would have a chance to rep the opposing team

- Port Angeles/Sequim foothills. Hi, @Port Angeles Foothiller! This is probably the most boom-or-bust location west of the WA Cascades. It sits squarely in the middle of the cursed Olympic shadow, meaning it can completely dud when even Seattle gets a taste of frozen goodness, but when Fraser outflow picks up Juan de Fuca moisture and slams it against the NE Olympics, or when a CZ eddy parks itself to the south of PA proper, this place can cook harder than the east coast. I'm serious. And I'm not just referencing some obscure 19th century event we would all hope to re-live.... February 2019, while crushing even Seattle proper with two overperforming snow events, knelt to these foothills as the true kings of the infamous snowmaggeddon, plopping feet of unending whiteout powdery snow in a night, on two separate occasions. This place also has over two thousand feet in elevation potential, in addition to recent analogs to evidence its snowfall ability. Not to mention, I know for a fact that most of the properties for sale, including the ones highest above sea level, have ready access to Port Angeles electricity, water, and gas, without any of the HOA fees, while bordering on BLA territory, thanks to the ongoing logging industry in the area. Underrated IMO, even with the shadowing.

- Lynden, or anywhere near the Fraser River gap: This is the westside's best attempt at a continental airmass. If a system's low center is approaching from the southwest from November through March, this place is probably going to start off with (at the very least wet) snow, and maybe even stay frozen entirely, even without deep Arctic influence. It's just that reliable. This is one of those cool locations, that, while increasing elevation will still do wonders, even the valley floor will provide a snow climate unlike anywhere south of Whatcom County. A true hidden gem. This place is also notable for being blasted by outflow, being one of the only spots in the lowland Pacific Northwest to regularly get blowing snow and blizzard conditions. And if you like rapid, almost instantaneous Arctic fronts and their associated precip switches, this is your go-to spot. Have at it, weather nerds.

Great write up! This area really is special. When we win big… we GO BIG. The shadow is a bummer, but also gives a break from the non stop grey. We get days of sun in winter when the rest of the state is getting rain. I’ll never sell this property, even if I have to move for work, I’ll rent this place out until I can come back. 

[the_convergence_zone]

My wife and I have both wanted a vacation home for a while but we have too many competing interests to find a compromise. I want somewhere close to trail running with decent accessibility, she wants amenities nearby, views, and somewhat consistent sunshine. 

This one near Blanchard came up as decent spot for cloud watching and occasional snow, but we felt like you were still paying Bellingham prices:  https://www.redfin.com/WA/Burlington/3291-Blanchard-Knob-Trl-98233/home/173899971

Suncadia is another possibility — easy access from Seattle, lots to do, occasionally gets hammered with snow. Personally I’d be happy with a little place right near Alpental — I don’t even ski but where else in Washington can you live that gets 350 inches of snow per year with reliable plowing and services? 
 

We both love Orcas Island so maybe I’ll pitch that spot on Mt Constitution — can’t beat the trail running right out the back door there. 

 

[Edmonds Husky]

Seems like tomorrow and Thursday are going to be very rainy round these parts

[Ken in Wood Village]

It's interesting to see all this activity for the upcoming storm from the SPC

I also want to apologize to @TT-SEA I was looking at the wrong calendar for the dates. That's why I was confused. It also doesn't help that I'm up at 3am and by 8pm I'm very exhausted. It does look like it could be dry this weekend.

[Brian_in_Leavenworth]

 

Siberian SSW events tend to bring the cold weather to North Pacific and Western Canada, whereas the Atlantic SSW events tend to send the cold toward the Eastern US.

[MR.SNOWMIZER]

I spent the winter at lake Cushman winter 2011 2012, We had 140 inches of snow, i had snow on the ground for over 3 months. 

Max depth was 48 inches.

max 24hr snow fall was 32 inches.

For only 1k feet this area ROCKS.

Only a 30  minute drive to Shelton for shopping.

[High Desert Mathew]

7 minutes ago, Brian_in_Leavenworth said:

 

Siberian SSW events tend to bring the cold weather to North Pacific and Western Canada, whereas the Atlantic SSW events tend to send the cold toward the Eastern US.

If we want the effects of a SSW for Xmas, we’d need one to happen around mid month or so. It’s not really forecasted at the moment. 

[MossMan]

Wasn’t quite a powerful as the early November 2022 west wind event, last years was still a good one! 
And the Fuzz looks to start dropping after mid month…1985, 1996, 2006, 2010 repeat!! C’MON!! 

[LowerGarfield]

Had 0.37 overnight. Rainy fall continues.

[Brian_in_Leavenworth]

23 minutes ago, High Desert Mathew said:

If we want the effects of a SSW for Xmas, we’d need one to happen around mid month or so. It’s not really forecasted at the moment. 

It wouldn't be as these are the precursors. 

All I want is normal weather and I'll get snow.  But  an arctic outbreak would be great too.

[MossMan]

I kind of miss the old days of Jim and Tim duking it out…

 

[Chewbacca Defense]

5 hours ago, Meatyorologist said:

- Lynden, or anywhere near the Fraser River gap: This is the westside's best attempt at a continental airmass. If a system's low center is approaching from the southwest from November through March, this place is probably going to start off with (at the very least wet) snow, and maybe even stay frozen entirely, even without deep Arctic influence. It's just that reliable. This is one of those cool locations, that, while increasing elevation will still do wonders, even the valley floor will provide a snow climate unlike anywhere south of Whatcom County. A true hidden gem. This place is also notable for being blasted by outflow, being one of the only spots in the lowland Pacific Northwest to regularly get blowing snow and blizzard conditions. And if you like rapid, almost instantaneous Arctic fronts and their associated precip switches, this is your go-to spot. Have at it, weather nerds.

Spot on for the Whatcom County area, and to add to that, the north county towards Lynden does good for thunderstorms in the summer.  They start popping up Lynden and points north.

[Front Ranger]

58 minutes ago, Brian_in_Leavenworth said:

 

Siberian SSW events tend to bring the cold weather to North Pacific and Western Canada, whereas the Atlantic SSW events tend to send the cold toward the Eastern US.

Dec 1990 SIBERIAN EXPRESS!

iykyk

[Edmonds Husky]

I hope we have something along the lines of 08-09 this year

[TT-SEA]

1 hour ago, Ken in Wood Village said:

It's interesting to see all this activity for the upcoming storm from the SPC

I also want to apologize to @TT-SEA I was looking at the wrong calendar for the dates. That's why I was confused. It also doesn't help that I'm up at 3am and by 8pm I'm very exhausted. It does look like it could be dry this weekend.

No apology needed!   I love droning on and on about weather models as my family can attest to. 

[MikeInEverett]

30 minutes ago, MossMan said:

I kind of miss the old days of Jim and Tim duking it out…

 

And Andrew posting GFS frames that show his location getting marginal snow while the rest of us get rain along with him celebrating saying "OH MY GOD" or something along those lines