Washington pass closures: Snoqualmie, other passes likely closed until Sunday
Snoqualmie Pass closed until possibly Saturday
Washington State Department of Transportation has closed Snoqualmie Pass, as well as the state's other three passes, due to snow and ice conditions. The passes could be closed until Saturday
WASHINGTON - The latest storm to hit the Pacific Northwest brought flood warnings, the shutdown of a major mountain pass, school closures and icy roads Thursday.
Interstate 90 over Snoqualmie Pass in Washington state’s Cascade mountains was closed Thursday due to high avalanche danger, zero visibility, and blowing, drifting snow. Stevens Pass on U.S. 2, White Pass on U.S. 12 and Blewett Pass on U.S. 97 were also closed Thursday.
All four mountain passes are closed through at least Sunday, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. Hazardous road conditions shut down multiple state mountain passes around 1 a.m. Thursday.
Initially, Snoqualmie, Stevens, White & Blewett passes were scheduled to open either Friday or Saturday.
According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, there were snow slides, trees falling, poor visibility and high avalanche concerns.
RELATED: Snow, rain brings flood concerns to Pacific Northwest
How to get around Washington mountain pass closures
FOX 13's Adam Gehrke explains how to get around four mountain pass closures on Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington state. Snoqualmie, Stevens, White and Blewett passes were all closed due to dangerous driving conditions.
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Snoqualmie Pass was shut down between North Bend and Ellensburg due to high avalanche danger, snowing hard, zero visibility, blowing, drifting snow.
Stevens Pass was closed from Milepost 58 at Scenic to Milepost 99 at West because of the heavy snow and poor visibility.
RELATED: Here’s what you should keep inside your car in case of an emergency
White Pass was closed because of the hazardous driving conditions and falling trees. Eastbound traffic is stopped at Milepost 135, near Packwood, 16 miles west of the summit due to hazardous conditions. Westbound traffic is stopped at Milepost 183, Oak Creek Road, 32 miles east of the summit.
Blewett Pass is closed in both directions from Milepost 149.7 at the junction with SR 970 and Milepost 177.99 Ingalls Creek Road, due to heavy snow and poor visibility.
WSDOT is encouraging travelers to adjust their plans for the next couple of days.
FOX 13 Seattle Weather Alert Day: Flood watches, Passes closed and slide threats
FOX 13 is giving you team coverage from around the state as the area experiences flood warnings and watches, Pass closures due to snow and threats of landslides due to heavy rains
RELATED: PHOTOS: Snow piles up at levels not seen in decades at Snoqualmie Pass
RELATED: Check School Closures & Delays
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.