Two major WA state passes to be closed overnight due to heavy snow, spin-outs
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- Interstate 90 was shut down in both directions from North Bend to Ellensburg on Friday.
- The closure stemmed from accumulating snow, spun-out vehicles and downed trees.
- The I-90 stretch will remain shut down overnight Friday, according to WSDOT.
Snoqualmie Pass and Stevens Pass were shut down Friday in both directions and expected to remain closed overnight due to accumulating snow, traffic issues or debris, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Interstate 90 was closed from North Bend to Ellensburg to clear multiple spun-out vehicles, 100 miles of snow, and downed trees, WSDOT said in a post on its Snoqualmie Pass X account at 10:33 a.m.
By the mid-afternoon, the agency’s expectations that the I-90 closure would last all day were confirmed.
“I-90 from North Bend to Ellensburg will remain CLOSED overnight. The highway has severe compact snow and ice, making for treacherous driving conditions with more weather on the way,” WSDOT said on X. “Spring storms bring freeze/thaw/freeze conditions, essentially turning I-90 into an ice rink.”
Shortly before 2 p.m., WSDOT said that Stevens Pass on Highway 2 was shut down in both directions between the summit and Coles Corner, west of Leavenworth, due to heavy traffic and weather. At 3:20 p.m., the agency updated that the pass would remain closed overnight Friday and reassessed Saturday morning. Plows were also not able to clear the road due to illegally parked vehicles at the summit, according to WSDOT.
White Pass on Highway 12 was closed in both directions as of 8:30 a.m. Friday for avalanche assessment, but reopened by 11 a.m., WSDOT said.
Chains were required at Blewett Pass on all vehicles except all-wheel drive, according to WSDOT’s pass report.
WSDOT noted that cross-state travel was “very challenging today.”
“About the only viable route is along the Oregon border,” the agency said on X.
Motorists can visit the agency’s real-time travel map for updated conditions.
This story was originally published March 13, 2026 at 11:58 AM.
