Three major mountain passes reopen across Cascades after overnight closures

Mountain passes back open after avalanche closures

Snoqualmie, Stevens and White Passes were closed overnight on Sunday.

SNOQUALMIE, Wash. - Three major mountain passes in Washington state were closed overnight due to avalanche danger after heavy rain fell on a large snowpack from recent storms, state transportation officials said.

Snoqualmie Pass along Interstate 90, Stevens Pass on U.S. Route 2 and White Pass on U.S. Route 12 were closed Sunday at 6 p.m. and remained closed Monday morning due to "very high avalanche danger."

WSDOT reopened White Pass at 10:00 a.m. Monday. Snoqualmie Pass reopened at noon.

Stevens Pass reopened about 2 p.m. Monday.

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Officials said snow brought down from natural slides along with avalanche control work was causing it to take longer than usual to clear Stevens Pass.

An update on Stevens Pass was expected at 2:00 p.m. Monday.

An Avalanche Warning is in effect for the Cascades until 6 p.m. Monday due to heavy snow, strong winds, and warming temperatures.

Expect very dangerous avalanche conditions, even for low elevations which include Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes.

Avalanche danger closes three mountain passes in Washington

Three major mountain passes in Washington state were closed overnight due to avalanche dangers after heavy rain fell on a large snowpack from recent storms.

On Sunday, the Washington State Department of Transportation asked drivers to be off the pass by 6 p.m. and to expect slow-moving traffic.

Earlier in the day, westbound I-90 at the Snoqualmie summit was closed for avalanche control work.