Mountain pass drivers likely to face treacherous conditions this weekend

Published 10:56 pm Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Cold, wet weather this weekend is expected to bring snow to the mountain passes and maybe even a soggy dusting to lowland areas in Snohomish County, officials said Wednesday.

Washington State Patrol troopers are encouraging drivers to prepare for icy roads, particularly if they are traveling to spend Thanksgiving with their families, trooper Keith Leary said.

“They need to be cautious, especially when it’s snowing,” Leary said.

The lowlands of Snohomish County are likely to see moderate winds and some rain throughout the weekend. Temperatures are forecast to keep dropping in the mountains, bringing some snow to Stevens Pass on Saturday and Sunday nights, said Dennis D’Amico, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Seattle.

“Sunday could be a difficult day to cross passes,” D’Amico said.

There is a small chance some areas between Marysville and Mountlake Terrace could see a mix of rain and snow, D’Amico said, but any accumulations shouldn’t affect traffic.

Steady winds of 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph are expected in the county today, D’Amico said.

The wet weather is expected to abate Monday.

As the holiday season nears, the State Patrol this week started spending overtime money to put more troopers on roads in the county, Leary said. Troopers are cracking down on speeders, aggressive drivers and drunks.

This weekend, many drivers are expected to use U.S. 2, which runs from Everett through Stevens Pass. Conditions could change quickly as drivers get near the pass, Leary said.

“The weather can be 100 percent different up on the pass,” he said.