Snow Closes Cascades Roads Briefly

Tue., Jan. 6, 1998

Compiled From Wire Services

Highways through Washington’s Cascade Range were closed briefly Monday due to a storm that left 2 feet or more of new snow in the mountains.

Interstate 90 at Snoqualmie Pass was closed for about an hour Monday morning for avalanche control and again Monday afternoon due to heavy snowfall and congested traffic. State transportation officials said the later closure was necessary to clear vehicles so plows could get through.

Transportation Department spokeswoman Clarissa Lundeen said drivers on U.S. 2 through Stevens Pass also faced intermittent delays for avalanche control work.

The National Weather Service said the hazardous travel was likely to continue through at least Wednesday as cold, moist air flowing inland from a low-pressure system off the coast of British Columbia dumps more snow over the Cascades and Olympic mountains.

The Weather Service said snow was falling Monday at a rate of about an inch per hour.

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