Avalanche danger shuts down three cross-state mountain passes overnight
Feb 22, 2021, 6:34 AM | Updated: 12:06 pm
Due to high avalanche danger, I-90 Snoqualmie Pass, US 2 Stevens Pass, and US 12 White Pass all closed at 6 p.m. Sunday and remained closed overnight. As work continues Monday to clear the roads, US 12 and I-90 have now reopened to traffic.
US 12 White Pass reopened at 10 a.m. Monday. The roadway, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation, is bare and wet with slush and standing water in places. Traction tires are advised and oversize vehicles are prohibited.
Snoqualmie Pass reopened at 12 p.m. Stevens Pass remains closed, with an update expected at 2 p.m.
OK, for those keeping score at home:
▪️ White Pass opening at 10 am
▪️ Snoqualmie Pass opening at noon
▪️ No ETA yet for Stevens Pass as avalanche control cleanup is continuing https://t.co/PFye7HIZ25— Washington State DOT (@wsdot) February 22, 2021
After 7 a.m. Monday, avalanche control work on US 2 Stevens Pass was expected to inform an update for that highway from WSDOT. As of 7:45 a.m., the WSDOT said conditions are “making for a longer than usual clean up” on US 2, and there is no estimated reopening time for the pass at this point.
On US 2 Stevens Pass several natural slides, along with snow that was brought down by avalanche control, are making for a longer than usual clean up this morning. At this time we do not have an estimated reopening for the pass- stay tuned for updates. pic.twitter.com/3IbbbnQQOT
— WSDOT East (@WSDOT_East) February 22, 2021
US 2 Stevens Pass is closed from milepost 58 at Scenic to milepost 64.5 at the summit of Stevens Pass.
On I-90, traffic stopped eastbound at milepost 34 near North Bend and westbound at milepost 106 near Ellensburg, milepost 84 near Cle Elem, and milepost 70 near Easton.
US 12 White Pass has been closed overnight into Monday morning eastbound at milepost 135, 16 miles west of the summit, and westbound from milepost 158 Upper Tieton Road, 7 miles east of the summit, and milepost 183 Oak Creek Road, 32 miles east of the summit.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
