Snoqualmie Pass conditions dicey

Numerous accidents caused the Washington State Patrol to close both directions of Interstate 90 across Snoqualmie Pass late this afternoon. Eastbound and westbound traffic was flowing again by 7 p.m., but eastbound lanes were shut down again at 7:40 p.m. because of multiple spinouts. By 8 p.m. the eastbound lanes were open again, but the Washington State Department of Transportation cautioned that the freeway could be closed and reopened multiple times overnight. Chains are required on vehicles that are not all-wheel drive and traffic is moving slowly. The National Weather Service has issued a freezing rain advisory for areas along the western Columbia Basin, including Moses Lake and George along I-90. Ice accumulations of up to a tenth of an inch were predicted in the advisory issued at 5 p.m. The freezing rain should continue until about 9 p.m. forecasters said.