North Cascades Highway is temporarily closed through the weekend, beginning 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, due to snowfall.
The State Route 20 closure, announced by the Washington State Department of Transportation Friday evening, will be between the Ross Dam Trailhead (milepost 134) on the west side and Silver Star gate (milepost 171) on the east side.
There is no estimated reopening time. WSDOT expects colder and drier weather beginning Sunday night, Nov. 17 and into next week, and said maintenance and avalanche crews will reassess conditions Monday, Nov. 18. Reopening the route will depend on snowpack levels and avalanche risk, according to WSDOT.
On Saturday night, Nov. 16, the National Weather Service in Seattle also issued a winter storm warning for the North Cascades from Sunday morning until 10 a.m. Monday, November 18.
The warning indicates heavy snow in the Cascades at or above 2,000 feet, with total accumulations between 6–18 inches. NWS said the heaviest snowfall will happen Sunday once snow levels drop below pass level.
For travelers, roads, bridges and overpasses will likely become slick and hazardous, making travel very difficult to impossible, according to the NWS.
