Date:  Friday, April 10, 2009

Contact: Meagan McFadden, WSDOT Communications, 509-577-1618 (Yakima)
Summer Derrey, WSDOT I-90 Communications, 509-945-4584 (Yakima)

HYAK– It may feel like spring in the valleys, but winter weather will continue in the Cascade Mountains this weekend. Drivers are likely to see snow on the mountains above I-90 on Friday and Saturday, and may have to drive through heavy snow and wind on the return trip Sunday. Check the web, call 5-1-1, be attentive to roadside signs and tune to highway advisory radios 530 AM or 1610 AM.

WSDOT maintenance crews have not put the plows away yet and avalanche forecasters are paying close attention to the snow pack and the risk of avalanches. “We may see snow falling above the road level as early as Friday evening but we don’t expect much to stick to the road until mid to late afternoon on Sunday. If the snow pack becomes unstable, we will need to stop traffic to do avalanche control work,” said John Stimberis WSDOT Avalanche Forecaster. We try to do control work when traffic is light but there are times when it is necessary to stop traffic at midday due to the warming temperatures that cause the snow to slide.

“We don’t typically see heavier than normal traffic volumes on Easter weekends, but if we have to stop traffic for spin-outs, collisions or avalanche control, we could see long back ups and delays”, said Rick Gifford WSDOT Region Traffic Engineer.

Drivers need to prepare for winter driving conditions by carrying chains and allowing more time to get to their destinations in case of delays.

Know before you go:

Sign up to get the latest pass conditions sent to your hand-held device by visiting: www.wsdot.wa.gov and click the link for e-mail updates.

At www.wsdot.wa.gov/winter drivers can find WSDOT’s winter driving-related information, including preparing a vehicle for winter driving, safe driving tips and mountain pass travel advisories. The WSDOT winter site also offers information about chains, winter tires and how WSDOT maintenance crews work in winter weather.

On WSDOT’s Web site, www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/weather , drivers can look roadway temperatures and see camera images from across the state.

At www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/trafficalerts a map shows highway incidents and closures.

Sign up for news. WSDOT offers subscribers more than 25 specialized e-mail alerts, including news and information for freight haulers, construction related traffic revisions, project updates from all around the state, and timely updates on pass conditions.

Twitter users can add WSDOT to their personal accounts at: www.twitter.com/wsdot .

511 - This driver information phone line provides current traffic, incident and closure information. TTY users can call 1-800-833-6388. Out-of-state callers can access the information at call 1-800-695-ROAD (7623).

On the Road:

Overhead and roadside electronic signs
Highway advisory radio - WSDOT advises drivers to program 530 AM and 1610 AM on your radio.

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