Weather Information : Seasonal Changes

Fall Foliage by Area
Blewett Pass Loop - From Snoqualmie Pass, I-90

Teanaway Valley SR 970, on to Blewett Pass & Stevens Pass at Peshastin. Near summit are Larch trees, only member of the fir family whose needles change color.

Chinook Pass - Highway 410

Vine Maple near Enumclaw, summit areas of Mt. Rainier, Lake Tipsoo recreational area, along the American River (cottonwood), through the town of Cliffdell & Nile and on into Yakima.

Mount Baker - SR 542

This area is known for good fall foliage. Road to Mt. Baker Ski Area, Austin Pass, and Artists Point (10 min. hike from Austin Pass parking area).

North Cascades - SR 20

This area is known for good fall foliage. Liberty Bell Mountain, Washington Pass overlook, Mazama/Methow Valley, the Winthrop area, and North Cascade Highway.

Olympic Peninsula

Colors change later and last longer. Hurricane Ridge area, Lake Crescent/Lake Sutherland area, Elwha Valley, Sol Duc Hot Springs, along Hoh and Quinault Rivers.

Snoqualmie Pass - I-90

Vine Maple at Echo Lake just west of North Bend and on to Cle Elum, gold cottonwoods. Also, near the Yakima River, Kachess Lake, Salmon la Sac, Cooper Lake area, Roslyn and Ronald.

Stevens Pass

US 2 west and east of Stevens Pass Highway. Red of vine Maples, red/gold of cottonwoods, red/gold of aspens. Best showing in Tumwater Canyon near Leavenworth.

Best Fall Colors
Time Of Year

The best colors are in the month of October. October 1 - 15 for mountain areas and October 15-31 for the lowlands. This, of course, can vary slightly depending on the amount of rainfall and the temperatures in that particular year.

Best Views Of Extraordinary Color

US 2 in Tumwater Canyon W. of Leavenworth, US 12 west of Leavenworth, US 12 west of White Pass, Washington Pass overlook SR 20 Mt. Baker Highway SR 542, both sides of Sherman Pass SR 20, Pen Oreille River, SR 20 north of Spokane. Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle, Point Defiance in Tacoma, Manito Park in Spokane.

Snow Information
Central Basin

Winter season snowfall ranges from 10-35 inches. You can expect snow after December 1st and to remain on the ground between mid-December and the last of February. Ellensburg Valley: depths range from 8-15 inches.

Cascade Mountains - West

Average snowfall ranges from 50-75 inches in the lower elevations, 400-600 inches at 4,000 - 5,000 feet. Snowfall begins in higher elevation in September down to 3,000 feet by the last of October.

Cascade Mountains - East Slope

Average winter snowfall decreases from approximately 400 inches near the summit of the mountains to about 75 inches at 2,000 feet above sea level. In October, snow will be present at 3,000 feet. Does not usually accumulate on the ground until November. In the lower elevations, the snow reaches a depth of 2-5 feet in January or February. Snow remains in the higher elevations until June or July.

East Olympic - Cascade Foothills

Annual snowfall increases from less than 10 inches in the lower valleys to 50 inches in elevations of 500-800 feet.

Northeastern Washington

Winter snowfall varies from 40 to 80 inches. Snow is present in the higher elevations in October and in the lower valleys by the last of November. Lower elevations the depth can be 15 to 30 inches and can remain on the ground from December to March.

Northeast Olympic - San Juan

Snowfall is light in the lower elevations adjacent to the water, increasing with distance from the water and the rise in terrain. The first freezing temperature in the fall is about the first of November.

Okanogan - Big Bend

Winter season snowfall varies from 30-70 inches and can be expected after November 1st and remain until March or April. Snow accumulates to a depth of 10-20 inches in valleys and over the Waterville Plateau. Higher grazing areas have a snow depth up to 40 inches.

Palouse - Blue Mountains

Winter snowfall can be anywhere from 20 to 40 inches increasing along the slopes of the mountains. You can expect it to begin in November and remain on the ground from December to March.

Puget Sound - Lowlands

Snowfall increases with a slight rise in elevation and distance from Puget Sound. The depth of the snow will seldom exceed 6 - 15 inches.

Snow in May

In May of 1996 there was still 122 inches of snow on the ground at Paradise and some new snow continued to fall. Most trails are not snow-free until late June or July.

West Olympic - Coastal

Winter season snowfall ranges from 10 to 30 inches in the lower elevations and between 250 to 500 inches in the higher mountains. In the lower elevations snow melts quickly. The mid-winter snowline is at 1500 to 3000 feet above sea level. Snow is in the higher ridges from November to June.

Western Washington

Year Round Snowcapped Peaks

Mount Rainier (14,408 feet), Mount Adams (12,307 feet) and Mount Baker (10,730 feet)