Winter Weather WA: ‘Drive with Extreme Caution’ Over the Passes This Week

If you have road trip travel plans through the snowy Cascade and Olympic Mountain passes, this message is for you. There is a heavy snow warning, with a possible blizzard and whiteout road conditions forecasted by the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Weather Service for the rest of this week.

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2026 "Persons should consider delaying all travel. If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution."

National Weather Service Pendleton, OR

The two roadways that could see the harshest impact from the expected blizzards are Stevens Pass and Snoqualmie Pass. Just today alone, Snoqualmie Pass saw seven inches of snow, according to the WSDOT snowfall report. UGH!

Tri-Cities residents already got a heads up yesterday about the upcoming winter storm, thanks to local reporter Patti Banner, who was full of great tips for travelers including packing a winter weather survival kit to keep in your car.

Read More: 9 Everyday Things That Will Freeze in Your Car in Yakima Valley

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How Long Will the Blizzard Prediction Last?

WSDOT says the major snow storm is expected to last at least through Friday, March 13th. The hazardous winter weather warning expires at 5 a.m. on Friday, March 13th, so hopefully if you're going over the passes early Saturday morning, you won't have to drive in the crud!

I feel your pain if you are groaning loudly about this news, especially since I have plans to drive up to Easton on Saturday morning and the blizzard warning from the National Weather Services specifically states that this includes the cities of Roslyn and Easton.

Big shout out to all of the workers at WSDOT who will be working hard to keep our roads safe and as clear from the snow as possible. We appreciate each of you so much!

For more updates visit the WSDOT website.

"Significant snowfall with periods of heavy snowfall rates will combine with low visibility to create difficult driving conditions."
-WSDOT