Heavy Rain from Atmospheric River Over Washington State Delays Openings and Causes Critical Infrastructure Damage - SnowBrains

"Access to Mission Ridge, however, may be challenging. Multiple landslides along US-2, just west of Leavenworth, have forced an indefinite closure of the highway while crews work to clear debris. WSDOT has also closed I-90 eastbound from milepost 27 to 32, with traffic detoured onto local roads. If neither US-2 nor I-90 reopens in time, Seattle-area skiers heading to Mission Ridge will be limited to these alternate routes."

"Another complication has emerged near the Summit at Snoqualmie, where a damaged section of SR-906 just east of the resort could create further issues once operations begin. Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency on Wednesday, December 10, as significant flooding is expected across Washington. Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation orders have been issued in several communities, including for roughly 100,000 residents along the Skagit River."

"Forecasts show warm, wet conditions persisting until Tuesday, when temperatures are expected to drop and snow may return to the mountains. However, rain is likely to continue at lower elevations. Residents in affected areas are advised to stay updated and prepared to evacuate if necessary. Washington is among the most landslide-prone states in the U.S., with slides causing tens to hundreds of millions of dollars in damage each year. The combination of unstable glacial soils, steep terrain, and frequent winter storms makes landslides a recurring hazard, though they can occur year-round. While they cannot be prevented entirely, ongoing mapping and monitoring of high-risk areas helps reduce their impact."

An atmospheric river produced heavy rain and unusually warm temperatures across Washington, delaying opening at every ski resort except Mission Ridge. Multiple landslides closed US-2 west of Leavenworth indefinitely while crews clear debris, and WSDOT closed I-90 eastbound from milepost 27 to 32 with detours. A damaged section of SR-906 near the Summit at Snoqualmie could complicate resort operations. A statewide emergency was declared on December 10 and Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation orders cover several communities, including roughly 100,000 residents along the Skagit River. Warm, wet conditions should persist until Tuesday before cooler temperatures return to the mountains.

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