"17 Inches of Water" Reported at Stevens Pass Ski Area Amid Washington Floods
Another staggering stat has emerged from Washington’s ski resort industry, which has faced heavy rain and continued opening day delays in the past week as the state tangles with the aftermath of serious floods.
Stevens Pass, a popular haunt for Seattle area skiers, saw 17 inches of water over a five-day period, according to a recent social media post.
Stevens Pass noted that, thankfully, the resort remains “in good shape,” but communities on both sides of Stevens Pass are dealing with devastating flooding.
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The impacts extend to US Highway 2, which connects Stevens Pass to western Washington, and faces a closure with rocks, trees, and mud over the roadway.
Last week, WSDOT said that a section of US Highway 2 washed out into the Wenatchee River, according to KIRO 7 News. The closure, per WSDOT’s current map, starts at Skykomish and continues until Leavenworth, on the other side of the pass. “There is no detour available and no estimated time for reopening,” according to WSDOT.
“We recognize there is a lot of speculation circulating right now—and we will continue to share updates as information becomes available and is confirmed,” Stevens Pass noted in its social media post, which was shared on Sunday.
“Our teams are ready to move forward as soon as road access and weather conditions safely allow,” the post added.
Other Washington mountains have also adopted a wait-and-see stance.
Crystal Mountain, as of its latest update, said it would reassess conditions on Tuesday, December 16. The Summit at Snoqualmie noted that it’s watching the weather, with hopes of colder temperatures and snow in the near future.
At Stevens Pass, the Summit, and Crystal Mountain, falling temperatures and more moisture could, indeed, produce heavy snow this week.
On Monday, the National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Watch for the Cascades between Tuesday night and Wednesday night, with total snow accumulations of one and a half to three feet possible, accompanied by winds gusting as high as 70 miles per hour.
“Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Very strong winds could cause extensive tree damage,” the warning reads.
Simultaneously, a Flood Watch is in effect for much of western Washington through Thursday afternoon. The National Weather Service advised those living in flood-prone areas to be prepared to take action.
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