Snoqualmie Pass, Wash. – Drivers crossing the Cascades early Monday face snow-packed highways and reduced visibility as up to a foot of new snow blankets the mountain passes before midday.
According to the National Weather Service in Seattle, a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 1 p.m. Monday for the Cascades of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Pierce and Lewis counties. Total snow accumulations of 8 to 12 inches are expected at Stevens Pass, Snoqualmie Pass, White Pass and near Mount Baker and Mount Rainier. Snow levels will hover between 3,000 and 4,000 feet, keeping pass elevations squarely in the heaviest snowfall.
Interstate 90 at Snoqualmie Pass and U.S. 2 at Stevens Pass could see chain requirements and slow-moving traffic during the Monday morning commute. State Route 410 near Crystal Mountain and SR 18 at Tiger Mountain Summit may also become snow-covered and slick.
Officials urge travelers to slow down, check Washington State DOT pass reports before departure and prepare for possible delays or temporary closures. Power outages are possible in higher terrain where heavy snow weighs on trees.
Snow will gradually taper late Monday morning, but travel conditions may remain hazardous into the early afternoon.
