A period of wintry weather was noted across the Western Washington lowlands at the beginning of December, earlier than what is typically experienced. Snow began at the end of November with several rounds continuing through the first few days of September.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS SEW wrote it up.
A period of wintry weather was noted across the Western Washington lowlands at the beginning of December, earlier than what is typically experienced. Snow began at the end of November with several rounds continuing through the first few days of September. While accumulations did not meet winter storm criteria Dec 1-2, widespread heavy snow accumulations were experienced on Dec 3. These conditions were largely due to Fraser outflow in the low levels. with deep upper troughing in the upper levels.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Seattle, WA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 30, 4:25 PM PST, 7 hours 35 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Seattle WA
425 PM PST Wed Nov 30 2022
.SYNOPSIS...Cold conditions and lower snow levels are in the
forecast as an active pattern remains into next week. Another
round lowland snow is expected tonight through Thursday morning,
possibly affecting the morning commute. An additional system is
forecasted to traverse the area on Friday followed by more into
next week.
&&
.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...Another interesting
forecast is shaping up across the area tonight. Taking a look at
the upper-levels, a positively tilted trough ushering into the
PNW is tapping into an arctic airmass positioned over far northern
Canada. Closer to the surface, high pressure over interior BC in
concert with a developing low center offshore is slated to
kick-start Fraser Outflow again this evening. Breezy to gusty
conditions are likely over western Whatcom county and the San Juan
Islands. Winds combined with cold temperatures in place will set
the stage for well-below freezing wind chill values anywhere
between 0 to 15 F for these locations. Impacts are likely after
midnight into Thursday morning. Additionally, post-frontal showers
are likely across western Washington for the remainder of the
evening. Snow has been reported in heavier precipitation so can't
rule out additional bouts. More snow is possible overnight into
Thursday morning as the aforementioned developing surface low
tracks near the Columbia River. Wrap around precipitation
associated with this feature looks to track into the CWA during
this time. Model derived soundings are indicative of a fairly
saturated dendritic growth zone and an atmospheric column at or
below freezing towards the surface over much of the area is
further increasing confidence. Because of this, a Winter Weather
Advisory is in effect over most of the CWA except for the Northern
Interior where precipitation is not expected to enter. Snowfall
amounts up to 1 to 3 inches are possible over the lowlands with 5
to 8 inches over the mountains and higher elevations into the
first half of Thursday. This can very well bring impacts to the
morning commute. Areas that won't receive snow may still see
potential impacts as any lingering moisture on untreated roads is
likely to freeze with cold temps in place.
A brief break in the action is likely to set up as Thursday
progresses. A transient ridge looks to pass over and remain into
early Friday allowing the return of drier weather but well-below
temperatures are to remain. However, conditions are on tap to
deteriorate again as another shot of widespread rain and snow
potential appears to be looming. To note, confidence is not high
as many variables appears to be in place. But, we'll see below
freezing temperatures at the start of the day before conditions
warm up by way of a warm frontal passage. An event similar to
Tuesday is possible as the warm front looks to over-run cold air
at the surface, bringing precipitation that could start off as
snow then an eventual transition to rain for some lowland
locations. More details will be provided in further updates on how
this system is expected to evolve.
Looking ahead, the general trend for Saturday is that it will
remain somewhat unsettled and chilly as an upper-level low is
forecasted to churn over the coastal waters. Conditions are to be
drier in comparison to Friday but can't rule out lingering
scattered shower activity.
.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...A brief dry period
expected on Sunday as any chance for precipitation appears to be
well off to the south of the CWA. But, it won't be too long before
the next system begins to move in on Monday with another chance
for lowland snow for the start of next week. Temperatures will
remain near 40 during the day and near freezing during the
overnight.
McMillian
&&
.AVIATION...South/southwest flow aloft will persist through the
evening. Precipitation bands this afternoon have resulted in a
mix of rain/snow across terminals near Puget Sound and the South
Sound, with a mixed bag of MVFR/IFR ceilings. These bands look to
stick around throughout the evening with lowered ceilings
persisting. Elsewhere, expect VFR conditions into tonight. North-
northeasterly winds will increase into the evening, around 8 to 12
kts as Fraser River Outflow ramps up later tonight. With this,
expect gustier winds especially near (KBLI) with gusts 15 to 20
kts possible. Winds will gradually taper off early Thursday
afternoon.
KSEA...The convergent band of precipitation has been persisting
over the terminal for the last hour or two should gradually move
to the northeast this evening. North-northeasterly winds will
increase into this evening and generally be in the 8 to 12 kt
range. Another band of precip will generally be south of the
terminal later tonight, but cannot rule out a mix of light snow
showers and rain near the terminal into Thursday morning.
Visibilities likely around 3-5 SM within the precipitation and
ceilings likely to be in the MVFR/IFR category until the late
morning / early afternoon.
&&
.MARINE...A low pressure system just offshore will start to track
southward through the evening. with strong southwest flow aloft.
Small craft advisories are out for all area waters except for
Puget Sound, Hood Canal, and Admiralty Inlet for this afternoon. A
surface high pressure over British Columbia will move southward
later this evening, helping gusty Fraser Outflow winds expand into
adjacent waters. Therefore, have upgraded the Gale Watch to a
Gale Warning for the Northern Interior Waters. Have also included
a Small Craft Advisory for Admiralty Inlet, and have extended
existing Small Craft Advisories elsewhere until Thursday morning.
A brief lull in the winds expected throughout the day on Thursday
before another frontal system arrives on Friday which will likely
bringing another round of headlines - potentially widespread gales
over coastal waters.
Coastal seas hovering around 10 to 12 feet per recent
observations, and will gradually subside to just around 10 feet
through Thursday. Seas will build back up into the 11 to 12 feet
range with the other system on Friday.
Mazurkiewicz
&&
.HYDROLOGY...There will be active weather this week with
significant amounts of precipitation, but snow levels will be low.
Rivers will rise, especially the Skokomish, but there will not
likely be enough storm runoff for river flooding due to the
snowfall over much of the area.
&&
.SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...Winter Weather Advisory until 4 PM PST Thursday for Admiralty
Inlet Area-Bellevue and Vicinity-Bremerton and Vicinity-
Central Coast-East Puget Sound Lowlands-Eastern Strait of
Juan de Fuca-Everett and Vicinity-Hood Canal Area-Lower
Chehalis Valley Area-Olympics-Seattle and Vicinity-
Southwest Interior-Tacoma Area-West Slopes North Central
Cascades and Passes-West Slopes South Central Cascades and
Passes-Western Strait of Juan De Fuca.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory until midnight PST tonight for Grays Harbor
Bar.
Small Craft Advisory until 7 AM PST Thursday for Central U.S.
Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-Coastal Waters From Cape
Flattery To James Island 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From
Cape Flattery To James Island Out 10 Nm-Coastal Waters From
James Island To Point Grenville 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters
From James Island To Point Grenville Out 10 Nm-Coastal
Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater 10 To 60 Nm-
Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater Out
10 Nm-East Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-West
Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.
Small Craft Advisory until 10 PM PST this evening for Northern
Inland Waters Including The San Juan Islands.
Gale Warning from 10 PM this evening to noon PST Thursday for
Northern Inland Waters Including The San Juan Islands.
Small Craft Advisory from 4 AM to 9 AM PST Thursday for
Admiralty Inlet.
&&14 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
CoCoRAHs observing sites around the Bellevue area reported light snow averaging around 1 inch on Dec 1st, around a half an inch on Dec 2nd, and 2-4 inches on December 3rd.
Observations across the Admiralty Inlet area reported light snow over the first several days of December. Observations Dec 1 and Dec 2 averaged around 1 inch or less, with an observation to the northwest of Port Ludlow reporting around 4 inches on December 3.
A period of wintry weather was recorded across the Kitsap Peninsula during the first few days of December. Observations on Dec 1 and Dec 2 generally averaged less than an inch, with much higher amounts on Dec 3 with an average of 1-3 inches (several reports were much higher, particularly from Bremerton to Port Orchard to Silverdale where 5-9 inches were reported).
A period of wintry weather was experienced along the coast at the beginning of December. Reports on Dec 1 generally averaged around an inch (highest report of 2.1 inches), with an average of less than 1 inch on Dec 2 and Dec 3.
Winter weather was experienced during the first few days of December. Local observations averaged around 3-5 inches on December 1 (highest report of 7 inches), with less amounts the following days, averaging less than 1 inch on Dec 2 and 1-2 inches on Dec 3.
A period of winter weather was experienced during the first few days of December. Local observations show an average of 1-3 inches of new snow fell on Dec 1 (with the highest amount at 5.8 inches), with less than 1 inch on Dec 2 and Dec 3.
Snow continued at times through the first few days of December. Observations averaged less than 1 inch on Dec 1, with an average of 1 inch on Dec 2 and an average of 2-3 inches of new snow on Dec 3 (highest amounts of 4-5 inches reported, especially from Mill Creek to Everett).
Snow was experienced the first few days of December. An average of around 1 inch was reported on Dec 1, an average of 2 inches was reported on Dec 2, and an average of 3-6 inches was reported on Dec 3.
A period of winter weather set in at the beginning of December, generally resulting in an average of 1 inch of new snow Dec 1-3.
A period of wintry weather was experienced during the first few days of December. An average of around 1 inch of snow was reported on Dec 1, with less than 1 inch on Dec 2, and an average of 1-2 inches on Dec 3 (several reports of 4-5 inches, particularly from Woodinville to Shoreline).
A stretch of winter weather affected the Southwest Interior at the beginning of December. On Dec 1, an average of 1-2 inches was reported (highest report of 3.5 inches), on Dec 2 an average of 0.5-1 inch was reported, and an average of 1-3 inches was reported on Dec 3.
A stretch of winter weather brought snowfall accumulation to the Tacoma area during the first few days of December. An average of 1-3 inches was reported on Dec 1, with less than 1 inch averaged on Dec 2, and around an inch averaged on Dec 3.
A period of winter weather was experienced across the WA lowlands at the beginning of Dec. Western Whatcom County experienced measurable accumulations particularly on Dec 3 where an average of 1 inch was recorded.
Light snow was reported during the first few days of December, with the highest amount on Dec 1 reported around Concrete at 1 inch. More widespread 1 inch reports were collected on the 3rd.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Washington in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, December 2022
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1073320, 1073321, 1073322, 1073323, 1073324, 1073325, 1073326, 1073327, 1073330, 1073331, 1073332, 1073333, 1073334, 1073351.