Weather
Washington November Weather Nov. 5-11: Snow Could Hit Passes
Olympia, WA – Washington drivers planning to cross the Cascade Mountains in early November have a reason to watch the forecast closely. While western Washington's lower elevations often experience rai
By Marcus Hale · 2026-10-29T07:23:27.099Z
Olympia, WA – Washington drivers planning to cross the Cascade Mountains in early November have a reason to watch the forecast closely. While western Washington's lower elevations often experience rain during autumn, mountain passes can face snow, ice and reduced visibility as winter approaches.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center, outlooks issued Wednesday, Oct. 28, cover Thursday, Nov. 5, through Wednesday, Nov. 11, and show a limited heavy snow hazard area in the Pacific Northwest.
The outlook does not establish that all of Washington will experience snow, nor does it confirm a major storm at any particular highway pass.
Cascade Passes Deserve Attention
Interstate 90 over Snoqualmie Pass is one of Washington's most important east west transportation routes, connecting the Seattle metropolitan area with communities east of the Cascades.
U.S. Highway 2 over Stevens Pass and U.S. Highway 12 over White Pass are also vulnerable to changing winter conditions.
When sufficiently cold air and moisture overlap, these higher elevation routes can experience accumulating snow while nearby lowland communities remain above freezing.
That elevation difference makes the mountains a more meaningful snow concern than Seattle, Tacoma, Everett or Olympia during early November.
Rain Below, Snow Above?
Washington's weather can vary sharply over relatively short distances.
Along the Pacific coast and in the Puget Sound region, November precipitation more commonly falls as rain. Higher elevations in the Cascades have a greater potential for snow.
Eastern Washington, including Spokane, Wenatchee and Yakima, can also experience freezing temperatures and winter precipitation, but conditions depend on the timing of individual weather systems.
The available NOAA outlook does not provide specific snowfall totals or establish which mountain passes, if any, will be affected during Nov. 5 11.
Travelers should monitor updated National Weather Service forecasts and Washington State Department of Transportation pass reports before crossing the mountains.
For Washington, the early November message is clear: mountain snow deserves attention, but the precise timing and travel impacts remain uncertain.