U.S. 2 update: Stevens Pass won’t open before Tuesday

STEVENS PASS — The state Department of Transportation doesn’t expect U.S. 2 at Stevens Pass to open before Tuesday.

Snow slides have created piles up to 35 feet tall, WSDOT reported on Saturday. Furthermore, snow has built up in “rare locations on the mountain.” As a result, crews may use a helicopter for avalanche control.

At Tumwater Canyon east of U.S. 2, the department reported a total of 208 snow slides, or “about 25 slides per mile.”

We used a blower yesterday to cut a path through Stevens Pass to allow our avalanche crew to get in and start doing their thing. There is a lot of snow to clear but we're back at it this morning. pic.twitter.com/0SdUuxT1Om

— WSDOT East (@WSDOT_East) January 8, 2022

Avalanche danger was still “considerable” Saturday on either side of Stevens Pass, according to the Northwest Avalanche Center.

The weather Sunday should be fairly sunny, and dry, according to the National Weather Service. Monday might see some more snow.

“We continue to monitor conditions and work where it is safe to do so to get this stretch of highway open,” WSDOT tweeted.

Meanwhile, I-90 at Snoqualmie Pass and U.S. 97 at Blewett Pass should be on track to open Sunday, restoring connection to Eastern Washington. U.S. 12 at White Pass might not open until Monday.

A plow named “Plowie McPlow Plow” assisted with the I-90 cleanup.