One Sure Sign Winter Is Coming: Passes Closing Down

OLYMPIA (AP) -- Heavy weekend snow has closed three Washington mountain passes that typically close for the winter because of deep snow and avalanche danger.

The Washington Transportation Department closed the North Cascades Highway on Sunday and Chinook and Cayuse passes on Monday.

The North Cascades Highway closure is a 37-mile stretch of Highway 20. Chinook is on Highway 410 and Cayuse on Highway 123, both on the east side of Mount Rainier National Park.

The department plans to reopen the passes in the spring when crews clear the snow.