Heavy snow makes for slow travel in the mountains
SNOQUALMIE PASS - Heavy snow is falling in the Cascade Mountains, making a mess for people driving over Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes. Chains are required on both passes for vehicles without all-wheel drive.
It snowed steadily at Snoqualmie Pass for most of the day Thursday, and a winter storm warning remained in effect through noon Friday. 19” of snow had already fallen at both Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass during the day Thursday, and forecasters expected another 12 to 24 inches of snow in the mountains through early-to-midday Friday.
Most of Interstate 90 in the higher elevations was covered with several inches of snow Thursday evening, forcing vehicles down to about 30 miles per hour. Many drivers were chaining up more than 5 miles before the pass.
Plows have been out in force, but the heavy snow is making it tough for them to keep up.
Department of Transportation spokesman Mike Westbay says the department is bringing in extra crews to keep I-90 open through the Thanksgiving weekend, as snow levels are expected to drop to as low as 500-1,000 feet through the period.
The snow should lighten up in the mountains later Friday into early Saturday, but then another wave of snow will come in Saturday night into Sunday, although not as heavy as the current snowstorm.
Sunday is expected to be one of the busiest travel days on the pass. Normally, about 30,000 vehicles a day cross the Cascades on I-90, but on Sunday the flow will approach the record of 58,000.
Westbay says the best advice to avoid congestion is to try to reach the summit before noon. Just be prepared for another snowy drive.
When it starts snowing, the department plans to restrict the flow of westbound traffic east of North Bend to the summit. Westbay says this is the hill with a banked turn at the top where semi-trucks tend to jackknife.
By restricting traffic, Westbay says, the department hopes to make room for snowplows and emergency vehicles and avoid having to close the pass.
And snow might not just be staying in the mountains this weekend. With snow levels dropping to around 500 feet, that could spell a few snowflakes in the lowlands as well. Check the latest forecast on the weather page for more information.
It snowed steadily at Snoqualmie Pass for most of the day Thursday, and a winter storm warning remained in effect through noon Friday. 19” of snow had already fallen at both Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass during the day Thursday, and forecasters expected another 12 to 24 inches of snow in the mountains through early-to-midday Friday.
Most of Interstate 90 in the higher elevations was covered with several inches of snow Thursday evening, forcing vehicles down to about 30 miles per hour. Many drivers were chaining up more than 5 miles before the pass.
Plows have been out in force, but the heavy snow is making it tough for them to keep up.
Department of Transportation spokesman Mike Westbay says the department is bringing in extra crews to keep I-90 open through the Thanksgiving weekend, as snow levels are expected to drop to as low as 500-1,000 feet through the period.
The snow should lighten up in the mountains later Friday into early Saturday, but then another wave of snow will come in Saturday night into Sunday, although not as heavy as the current snowstorm.
Sunday is expected to be one of the busiest travel days on the pass. Normally, about 30,000 vehicles a day cross the Cascades on I-90, but on Sunday the flow will approach the record of 58,000.
Westbay says the best advice to avoid congestion is to try to reach the summit before noon. Just be prepared for another snowy drive.
When it starts snowing, the department plans to restrict the flow of westbound traffic east of North Bend to the summit. Westbay says this is the hill with a banked turn at the top where semi-trucks tend to jackknife.
By restricting traffic, Westbay says, the department hopes to make room for snowplows and emergency vehicles and avoid having to close the pass.
And snow might not just be staying in the mountains this weekend. With snow levels dropping to around 500 feet, that could spell a few snowflakes in the lowlands as well. Check the latest forecast on the weather page for more information.