Weather
Washington Snow Squalls: Spokane, WA Drivers Face Whiteout Risks
Seattle, WA – Imagine heading east on Interstate 90 for Thanksgiving when a sudden wall&n…
By Mason Reid · 2026-11-14T11:38:06.757Z
Seattle, WA – Imagine heading east on Interstate 90 for Thanksgiving when a sudden wall of blowing snow sweeps across Snoqualmie Pass. Within moments, semitrailers fade into the whiteout, brake lights become difficult to see and a familiar holiday drive turns dangerous.
It's a winter driving hazard Washington motorists should understand before Thanksgiving on Thursday, Nov. 26.
According to the National Weather Service NWS , snow squalls are brief, intense bursts of snowfall that can produce strong winds, near zero visibility and rapidly deteriorating road conditions. Sometimes informally called "micro blizzards," they can make highways hazardous within minutes.
Washington Highways Where Sudden Whiteouts Are a Concern Interstate 90, connecting Seattle, Ellensburg, Moses Lake and Spokane, is a major Thanksgiving travel corridor where winter precipitation can sharply reduce visibility.
Snoqualmie Pass in the Cascades and the I 90 corridor toward the Idaho border deserve particular attention during winter weather.
U.S. Highway 2 over Stevens Pass, Interstate 82 near Yakima, and U.S. Highway 97 through central Washington are additional routes where snow, ice and strong winds can disrupt travel.
Drivers in King, Kittitas, Yakima, Chelan and Spokane counties should monitor forecasts when snow showers and gusty winds are possible.
Mountain passes can experience intense snowfall, while exposed highways in eastern Washington may face blowing and drifting snow.
Not every heavy mountain snow band qualifies as a snow squall, but both can cause dangerous visibility loss.
What Happens When a Snow Squall Warning Is Issued? The NWS issues Snow Squall Warnings when dangerous snow squalls are occurring or imminent.
Warnings generally last 30 to 60 minutes and may trigger Wireless Emergency Alerts on compatible mobile phones.
Sudden whiteouts at highway speeds increase the risk of multivehicle crashes, especially when drivers brake abruptly or follow too closely.
What Thanksgiving Travelers Should Do If a Snow Squall Warning affects a planned route, delay travel until conditions improve .
Drivers already traveling should gradually reduce speed, increase following distance, use low beam headlights and avoid sudden braking.
If visibility becomes dangerously poor, safely exit the highway when possible rather than stopping in an active travel lane.
Mountain travelers should also check traction requirements, carry appropriate winter equipment and prepare for possible pass closures.
Before departing, check WSDOT Real Time Travel Information for road conditions, mountain pass restrictions and closures.
Official forecasts and warnings are available from NWS Seattle , NWS Spokane and NWS Pendleton , which cover different portions of Washington.
This is a Thanksgiving travel preparedness reminder, not a prediction that snow squalls will strike Washington during the holiday. Recognizing how quickly visibility can disappear could help families make safer decisions on mountain passes and exposed highways.