Date:
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Contact:
Mike Westbay, WSDOT Communications, 509-728-4712 (Hyak)
Meghan Soptich, WSDOT Communications, 206-440-4788 (Seattle)
Snow levels to pick up throughout the day with more than a foot expected overnight
HYAK – Crews and drivers get a brief respite this morning on I-90 at Snoqualmie Pass with just four inches of snow falling Tuesday night. However, forecasters expect the next round of heavy snow to start this afternoon, with a possible 13 to 19 inches of more snow arriving overnight.
Maintenance crews are using the break to continue clearing the snow that has accumulated in the last two weeks. Avalanche crews are monitoring conditions and restocking explosives for the next round of avalanche control work. They used over 300 pounds of explosives yesterday to bring snow down onto the pass.
While crews don’t expect to close the pass this morning, heavy snow this afternoon could bring more closures while WSDOT avalanche experts do control work. Drivers should check pass conditions before traveling to the pass and should expect possible long delays on I-90 over the next few days.
Crews continue to work around-the-clock to attack this season’s unusually heavy snowfall. 26 crew members worked the pass overnight, with over 40 out today. Already, more than 30 feet of snow has fallen on the pass this season, bringing the snowpack to just over ten feet.
What can drivers do?
- Know before you go and check the Web pages before you head out to snowy areas. Bookmark www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes
- Use the 511 traveler information system to get up-to-date information about road closures
- Near the pass, tune 1610 AM or 530 AM on your radio for the latest pass information
- Be prepared and keep a winter car kit in your vehicle. Find out more on WSDOT’s Web site: www.wsdot.wa.gov/winter
- Remember: Ice and snow, take it slow
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