Winter storms were causing problems across the state earlier today.

The state Transportation Department reported snow or ice on most highway mountain passes in the state. The department recommended traction tires on Interstate 90 at Snoqualmie Pass and on Highway 2 at Stevens Pass. Oversize vehicles were prohibited on both Snoqualmie and Stevens passes.

In Spokane, the first snow of the season caused at least 41 collisions on Thursday morning, with one fatality.

The fatal collision occurred around 8:40 a.m. on State Route 2 near Deep Creek, involving a semi-truck and two passenger vehicles.

Meanwhile, freezing rain was falling in the Columbia River Gorge and other parts of eastern Oregon and Washington where temperatures have been below freezing for more than a week.

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