Avalanche risk forces hours-long closure of Snoqualmie Pass
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SNOQUALMIE PASS, Wash. -- I-90 reopened Tuesday afternoon after dangerous avalanche conditions forced an hours-long closure of the pass early in the morning.
Department of Transportation officials closed the pass around 1 a.m. to begin avalanche control work, but so much snow and rain has fallen that the highway could not be quickly reopened.
A 70-mile stretch of I-90 was closed for about 11 hours between North Bend and Ellensburg. A backup more than two miles long of trucks and cars was stopped on the west side about 20 miles from the summit.
Officials said heavy snow over the weekend combined with overnight rain is causing the snow to cling high above the freeway and it's not moving despite blasting designed to cause the snow to slide.
"Those are the classic conditions for very extreme dangers," said Avalanche Meteorologist Kenny Kramer.
Department of Transportation spokesman Mike Westbay said conditions are so dangerous that only limited numbers of DOT employees are being allowed into the areas prone to slides.
"We don't want to put our whole crew out there because it's very high risk for avalanche danger," he said.
Snoqualmie Pass has reported 1.71 inches of rain in the storm through 11 a.m. Tuesday while Stevens Pass had 0.81 inches of water-equivalent rain and snow.
Heavy rains cause flooding too
In addition to the avalanche danger, the heavy rains are also pushing some rivers over their flood banks.
A Flood Warning has been issued for the Snoqualmie, Puyallup and Tolt Rivers. Moderate flooding is expected on the Snoqualmie River while minor flooding is expected on the Tolt and Puyallup near Orting.
Flood Watches remain in effect for all other rivers as rain continues to fall through Tuesday night.
Department of Transportation officials closed the pass around 1 a.m. to begin avalanche control work, but so much snow and rain has fallen that the highway could not be quickly reopened.
A 70-mile stretch of I-90 was closed for about 11 hours between North Bend and Ellensburg. A backup more than two miles long of trucks and cars was stopped on the west side about 20 miles from the summit.
Officials said heavy snow over the weekend combined with overnight rain is causing the snow to cling high above the freeway and it's not moving despite blasting designed to cause the snow to slide.
"Those are the classic conditions for very extreme dangers," said Avalanche Meteorologist Kenny Kramer.
Department of Transportation spokesman Mike Westbay said conditions are so dangerous that only limited numbers of DOT employees are being allowed into the areas prone to slides.
"We don't want to put our whole crew out there because it's very high risk for avalanche danger," he said.
Snoqualmie Pass has reported 1.71 inches of rain in the storm through 11 a.m. Tuesday while Stevens Pass had 0.81 inches of water-equivalent rain and snow.
Heavy rains cause flooding too
In addition to the avalanche danger, the heavy rains are also pushing some rivers over their flood banks.
A Flood Warning has been issued for the Snoqualmie, Puyallup and Tolt Rivers. Moderate flooding is expected on the Snoqualmie River while minor flooding is expected on the Tolt and Puyallup near Orting.
Flood Watches remain in effect for all other rivers as rain continues to fall through Tuesday night.
