Washington digs out after record-breaking weather leads to 38 avalanches
The Snoqualmie, Stevens, White and Blewett passes — major routes that connect the western and eastern parts of the state — will likely remain closed until at least Sunday, according to the department.
“Crews are working hard & progress is being made, but there is still a lot of work to go,” WSDOT said.
The state has been dealing with bad weather for weeks. Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency on Friday after “a series of severe winter storms” that started December 17, caused flooding, evacuations and road closures.
State agencies and local officials are “coordinating resources to address damaged property and infrastructure, assess damage caused by the storms, and implement repairs,” the declaration said.
One man is missing and presumed dead after he tried to move his car from rising flood waters, the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Friday.
The sheriff’s office will keep searching for the man as water in the area recedes, the release said.