Video: Powerful storm brings avalanche danger

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STEVENS PASS, Wash. – Two avalanches have closed Stevens Pass and the ski area is being evacuated, while more slides have closed Highway 20.

The Washington State Department of Transportation says one of the slides near Stevens Pass is a couple miles west of the summit. The other is in Tumwater Canyon just west of Leavenworth.

The one near Stevens Summit was initially reported to be 12 feet deep. As far as troopers can tell, no cars were buried.

US 2 is closed between milepost 56 at Scenic and 99 near Leavenworth.

WSDOT workers are pulling out of the area, saying it is too hazardous to clean up.

A front end loader was used to open up one westbound lane to evacuate people from the Stevens Pass Ski Area. An official with the ski area could not say how many people are there today, but on a typical day, there are about 700-800.

The ski area already plans to be closed Wednesday because of avalanche danger.

Highway 20 avalanche

WSDOT says both directions of State Route 20 are closed at milepost 121 in Newhalem due to avalanches.

SR 20, also known as the North Cascades Highway, is already closed for the season from milepost 134 to milepost 171. The reported avalanches are about 13 miles west of the closure area.

Mount Baker avalanche

Both directions of Mount Baker Highway SR 542 were closed Tuesday evening at east of the town of Glacier due to an avalanche. The roadway is expected to remain closed throughout the night and no detour is available. No vehicles were caught in the avalanche.

More avalanche control work on Snoqualmie Pass

Traffic is moving again on I-90 through Snoqualmie Pass after an hour-and-a-half closure for avalanche control.

The Transportation Department says there are no restrictions but drivers can expect some standing water from rain and melting snow.

Traction tires are advised on Stevens and White passes.

More snow trouble in Spokane

Snow on roof tops a major concern in Spokane through Wednesday.

Snow loading on flat roofs and low sloped roofs could become a serious problem as rain is predicted in the Spokane and Coeur d'Alene areas.

The heaviest rains are expected Wednesday night into Thursday morning. By Thursday afternoon total rain amounts of an inch and a half are expected in Spokane. Amounts exceeding 2 inches are possible in the Coeur d'Alene and Pullman areas.