Stevens, Snoqualmie passes open; White Pass closed

SEATTLE — Heavy snow kept one of Washington’s three main east-west mountain passes closed today and again made commuting miserable in Spokane on the first work day of the new year. All three Cascade passes were closed for most of New Year’s Day, but crews reopened Interstate 90 across Snoqualmie Pass Thursday evening. U.S. 2 over Stevens Pass reopened this morning, but U.S. 12 over White Pass remained closed due to a snow slide near Rimrock Lake, about five miles east of the summit. Avalanche warnings remain in effect for the Cascades and Olympics. The National Weather Service has posted a hazardous weather outlook for most of Eastern Washington, but says the gusty winds, rain and snow should taper off later in the day.