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Pacific Northwest Thanksgiving: 'Micro Blizzards' on I-90?
Seattle, WA – Imagine heading east on Interstate 90 for Thanksgiving, climbing toward Snoqualmie Pass when a sudden curtain of blowing snow sweeps across the highway. Within moments, semitrailers fade
By Elliot Vaughn · 2026-11-14T11:36:08.684Z
Seattle, WA – Imagine heading east on Interstate 90 for Thanksgiving, climbing toward Snoqualmie Pass when a sudden curtain of blowing snow sweeps across the highway. Within moments, semitrailers fade from view, brake lights disappear into the whiteout and a familiar holiday drive turns dangerous.
It's a winter driving hazard Pacific Northwest 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 gusty winds, near zero visibility and rapidly deteriorating road conditions. Sometimes informally called "micro blizzards," these events can make highways hazardous within minutes.
Pacific Northwest Highways Where Whiteouts Are a Concern Interstate 90, connecting Seattle, WA; Ellensburg, WA; Spokane, WA; and Coeur d'Alene, ID, is a major holiday travel corridor where sudden snowfall can sharply reduce visibility.
Snoqualmie Pass in Washington and Lookout Pass near the Idaho Montana border are especially important winter travel locations.
Interstate 84 through Oregon's Columbia River Gorge and Blue Mountains, U.S. Highway 97 through central Oregon, and U.S. Highway 2 across northern Washington are additional routes where snow and strong winds can disrupt travel.
Drivers near Bend, OR; Pendleton, OR; Leavenworth, WA; and Sandpoint, ID, should monitor forecasts when winter precipitation is possible.
Mountain elevations and exposed passes can experience rapidly changing visibility. Heavy mountain snowfall is not always classified as a snow squall, but it can produce similarly dangerous driving conditions.
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 can increase the risk of multivehicle crashes, particularly 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.
Travelers crossing mountain passes should also check traction requirements, carry appropriate winter equipment and prepare for possible road closures.
Before departing, check Washington 511 , Oregon TripCheck and Idaho 511 for highway conditions.
Official forecasts and warnings are available from NWS Seattle , NWS Spokane , NWS Portland and NWS Boise .
This is a Thanksgiving travel preparedness reminder, not a prediction that snow squalls will strike the Pacific Northwest during the holiday. Recognizing how quickly mountain visibility can disappear could help families make safer decisions on some of the region's busiest holiday highways.