Snoqualmie Pass, Washington – Holiday travelers crossing the Washington Cascades are being warned to prepare for treacherous conditions through Thanksgiving Eve as a mix of snow and freezing rain threatens key pass routes until Wednesday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Pendleton, light snow has already started across the region, triggering a Winter Weather Advisory in effect for Snoqualmie, White, and Stevens Passes. Overnight, rising temperatures may cause a shift to freezing rain, creating an even more hazardous glaze on roads before conditions improve midmorning Wednesday.
Accumulations through 10 a.m. Wednesday could top 4 inches of snow in some areas, with ice totals nearing a tenth of an inch. The greatest impacts are expected on eastbound travel routes heading into central Washington.
Drivers crossing the Cascades should delay travel if possible, carry traction devices, and monitor road conditions via WSDOT. Visibility may also be reduced in higher elevations overnight, making evening or early morning travel especially risky.
Conditions are expected to ease after sunrise Wednesday, though additional alerts could be issued if temperatures remain colder than expected.
