Spokane, WA – Holiday travelers heading across the Cascades or toward Montana this Thanksgiving week should prepare for early-season snow, slippery roads, and shifting travel impacts across Washington’s major mountain passes.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS) Spokane office, an active storm pattern will move in Sunday and continue through the holiday, bringing repeated rounds of snow and mixed precipitation to Snoqualmie Pass (I-90), Lookout Pass (I-90), and Stevens Pass (US-2). Drivers can expect periods of minor travel impacts most days, with the highest chance for hazardous conditions on Wednesday.
NWS forecasters report that Snoqualmie and Lookout Passes will see primarily minor impacts early in the week, including light snow and slick pavement from Sunday through Tuesday. Stevens Pass, however, is projected to face a mix of minor and moderate impacts throughout the week as colder air and steadier snowfall move across the higher elevations.
Wednesday stands out as the most challenging travel day, with moderate impacts likely at Stevens Pass and a chance of heavier bursts of snow at Snoqualmie and Lookout. Commuters and holiday travelers may experience reduced visibility, compact snow on roadways, and slower traffic on both I-90 and US-2.
On Thursday and Friday, conditions ease slightly but remain unsettled. Light snow and wintry mix conditions may still create slick patches and slowdowns over the passes, especially during the morning and evening hours.
Additional passes including Sherman, Blewett, and Washington Pass may also experience periods of light to moderate snow through the week.
Drivers are urged to use caution, check WSDOT pass cams before leaving, and allow extra travel time as holiday traffic increases.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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