SEATTLE — A warm front moving into Western Washington has dumped several inches of heavy wet snow in the Cascade Mountains and temporarily closed mountain passes.
The National Weather Service in Seattle says the storm brought 13 inches of new snow at Stevens Pass between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Snoqualmie Pass, Mount Baker and White Pass also picked up several new inches of snow.
But meteorologist Andy Haner says the snow will likely turn to rain by Thursday afternoon. He says rain and snowfall are likely to taper off by Friday.
The Northwest Avalanche Center on Thursday warned of high avalanche danger along the west slopes and the Cascade Passes. It advises against backcountry travel.
State transportation officials temporarily closed Snoqualmie Pass and Stevens Pass, two major east-west routes in the state, due to high avalanche danger.
