WENATCHEE – The North Cascades Highway (SR 20) temporarily closed at 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29, in lieu of weather forecasts projecting up to 2 feet of new snow tonight through Tuesday.
 
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) closed the highway because the potential for avalanches is too high and dangerous.
 
The highway is closed between milepost 134, seven miles east of Diablo Dam on the west side of 4,855’ Rainy Pass and milepost 171, nine miles west  of Mazama on the east side of 5,477’ Washington Pass.
 
Crews will reassess the avalanche and road conditions following the storm to determine if the roadway can be safely cleared and reopened.
 
Crews were able to keep the highway open through Thanksgiving weekend despite new snow and an avalanche that closed one lane for several hours.
 
Crews are taking advantage of the good weather and pavement conditions today to contact the drivers of vehicles parked at trailheads and are encouraging them to go home before the gates swing shut.
 
For information on the North Cascades Highway:
www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/northcascades
 
For other mountain passes:
www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes or call 5-1-1