Snow dumped onto the Cascade Mountains and on Snoqualmie Pass over the weekend and Monday morning, paving the way for some winter driving reminders.
Slopes for skiing and snowboarding are not open yet, but if you are driving across Snoqualmie Pass now or in the future, here’s what to know:
You must have tire chains in your car starting Nov. 1. Even if you don’t need the chains on your tires, if you are pulled over and don’t have a set in your car, you face a $500 fine.You can use studded tires starting Nov.1 through March 31. The Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) recommends using stud-free winter tread traction tires though, because they are more aggressive and cause less damage to the roads.
If you drive from Seattle over Snoqualmie Pass on Interstate 90, the first warning you will see about snowy, icy, and slushy roads is about 25 miles out from the West Summit. It was not until about two to three miles out that roads became more treacherous.
“I see people spin out all the time,” the bartender at The Commonwealth, Spencer Meckley, said. “I’ve pulled people out of many ditches before in my truck. And it’s just respecting Mother Nature and making sure it’s bigger than you.”
And even though heavy snowfall is not new to the Cascade Mountains, some students on their way to school Monday morning, despite the winter weather, said it was more than they expected.
“I asked my mom, if I get ready fast enough for school, can I go outside and build a snowman? And then I did,” student Micah McBride said.WSDOT officials said they have nearly 1,500 maintenance workers across the state getting roads ready for winter. Sheds are being stocked with salt and equipment, too, including 500 snow plows ready to go.
트위터 공유: 눈폭풍 경보! 캐스케이드 눈보라 시동