The State Department of Transportation shut down all three main cross-state mountain passes over the Cascades Wednesday night due to avalanche danger and snow slides.
Interstate 90 over Snoqualmie Pass was shut down in both directions just before 9:00 p.m. from North Bend to Easton. WSDOT said it would evaluate conditions in the morning and is expected to provide an update around 10:00 a.m.
All EB/WB hwys over the Cascades are currently closed due to snow slides and high avalanche danger.
To the north on U.S. 2, the Summit over Stevens Pass reopened around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday night with traction tires were required. But, the highway remained closed further east at Tumwater Canyon from milepost 85 near Cole’s Corner to milepost 99 on the west end of Leavenworth.
Crews will assess the roadway in that area Thursday morning, but right now there is no estimated time for reopening.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Washington State Patrol said it had responded to more 51 crashes on U.S. 2 in a span of just seven hours.
The State Patrol said a detour for U.S. 2 was available using the Chumstick Highway and State Route 207. But, no semi-trucks are permitted on the detour route.
To the south, U.S. 12 was also shut down over White Pass due to a multiple snow slides. Westbound traffic is being stopped at milepost 183, near Oak Creek. Eastbound traffic is being stopped at milepost 138, near State Route 123.
WSDOT said White Pass will also remain closed overnight as crews monitor the stability of the snow pack above the highway.
A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for the Cascades, which could see up to two feet of new snow by Thursday morning.
Drivers trying to get to Eastern Washington may try to take Interstate 84 in Oregon, which hugs the Columbia River Gorge.
But, that alternative route could be just as dangerous. According the National Weather Service, there is an ice-storm warning for the Columbia River Gorge through 10:00 a.m. on Thursday.
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