All Cascade Passes Remain Closed Until Sunday: WSDOT

SNOQUALMIE PASS, WA — Snoqualmie, Stevens, White and Blewett passes will remain closed until at least Sunday after recent storms hammered the Cascades with snow and brought extreme avalanche dangers.

In an update shared Thursday evening, the Washington State Department of Transportation said hazardous conditions and the amount of work required to clear the four major passes made it unlikely any of them would be able to safely reopen before late in the weekend.

"Conditions are too dangerous for crews to be in the pass areas," WSDOT wrote. "Snow & debris continue to slide onto the highways. Crews are working in areas where it is safe to plow, clear catch basins & do other work to have those areas ready when we can reopen."

At Snoqualmie Pass, WSDOT said more than two feet of snow fell in 24 hours, adding to what has already been a historic winter. By Friday morning, Snoqualmie had recorded 286 inches of seasonal snowfall, nearly doubling its typical accumulations to date.

WSDOT said crews would spend most of Friday evaluating avalanche issues and attempting to create safe work zones, before spending Saturday plowing and treating roads, clearing downed trees and other debris, and removing snow and ice from road signs.

"We recognize the importance of these corridors but nothing is more important than the safety of our crews and the public," WSDOT wrote. "We are prepared to move in once it is safe, and we appreciate your patience during this challenging situation."

Transportation officials also noted significant rainfall across the region, increasing the risk of flooding, washouts and more downed trees due to saturated soil. Western Washington was also cut off from Portland Friday, as floodwaters from the Chehalis River in Lewis County forced the lengthy closure of a 20-mile stretch of Interstate 5 between Grand Mound and US 12.

Travelers can find the latest information on pass closures and conditions on WSDOT's website and social media channels and follow the latest updates on WSDOT's blog. Drivers can also find a live map of traffic issues across the region online.