Northwest snowstorms increase risk to travelers

SEATTLE — Weekend storms across Western Washington have produced an increased risk of landslides and difficult driving for holiday travelers.

Forecasters say more snow is on the way.

On Stevens and Snoqualmie passes, the National Weather Service was predicting 6 to 10 inches of snow on Sunday night, the Seattle Times reported.

Sunday morning was the calm before the storm in Oregon. KOIN-TV reported that a winter storm warning went into effect for the Cascades at 3 p.m. Sunday and lasts until 6 p.m. today.

Passes could pick up another foot of snow, while the higher elevations could grab a few feet. Officials warned that those conditions could create travel problems for those heading over the mountain passes after the Thanksgiving holiday.

A series of storms dropped more than 2 feet of snow in 24 hours at Hurricane Ridge in Washington’s Olympic National Park by late Saturday. The storms also dumped nearly 3 inches of rain at Hood Canal.

Storms left much of Western Washington with an increased risk of landslides because of the oversaturated soil. A winter-storm warning or watch was in effect for parts of 13 Washington counties, as the region prepared for more storms Sunday.