Many roads through the Cascade Mountains were closed or severely restricted for hours Wednesday afternoon as a winter storm bore down on the passes, resulting in spinouts and snow slides and making cross-state travel “very limited,” according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Eastbound Interstate 90 was closed between North Bend and Snoqualmie Pass, and Highway 2 was closed between Scenic and Coles Corner. The passes reopened about 6 p.m., with vehicles required to have chains. WSDOT did avalanche control in both passes, with all manner of equipment assisting: loaders, blowers, graders and plows.
Additionally, Highway 12 by Rimrock Lake was closed shortly before 3 p.m. because of a small snowslide, and would remain closed overnight due to avalanche danger. Roads on the eastern side of the mountains faced numerous challenges, as well.
“Here’s the situation: It’s nasty out there,” WSDOT wrote shortly after 4 p.m. on the social media platform X. “Has been all day, will continue to be tonight. … We highly recommend if you can avoid traveling this PM, please do.”
Stevens Pass Ski Area, meanwhile, has canceled its Wednesday night operations because of the highway closure. The ski area said it plans to operate normally on Thursday.
