I-90 reopens near Snoqualmie Pass after avalanche danger
Dec 24, 2015, 6:08 AM | Updated: Dec 25, 2015, 5:58 am
(WSDOT)
(WSDOT)
Update: I-90 near Snoqualmie Pass was closed all day Thursday for avalanche danger. It finally reopened eastbound around 7 p.m. and westbound early Friday morning. Stevens Pass reopened around 1 p.m. on Thursday.
–Original story–
The Washington State Department of Transportation reports eastbound lanes reopened around 7 p.m., but westbound lanes could remain closed through the night from (MP 34) North Bend to (106) Ellensburg.
Related: Chance of White Christmas in the lowlands remains
At one point on Thursday, 15 feet of snow covered I-90, according to WSDOT.
Alternate options are US 2, US 12, US 14, 1-84 to get across the Cascades.
Avalanche crews began work at Stevens Pass just before 6 a.m. WSDOT reports Stevens opened at 1 p.m.
Stevens Pass ski resort closed at noon.
“Due to the continued US HWY 2 closure by WSDOT we are closing the resort at noon. We will be open full swing tomorrow from 9am – 10pm.”
Snoqualmie Pass has received about 25 inches of snow within 24 hours, according to WSDOT. About 112 inches of snow have fallen in the last week, amounting to nearly a quarter of the annual snowfall at the pass.
“(Wednesday) night we were getting two inches of snow an hour in spots.”
The large amount of snow is also weighing down trees along I-90, causing them to bend over the roadway and take out power lines.
The National Weather Service released a graphic showing the immense amount of snow the Cascade Mountains have received.
A visual representation of the dramatic change in NW mountain snowpack in just two weeks. #wawx #orwx pic.twitter.com/bO7FxDkoys
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) December 24, 2015
