EARLY OPENING FOR NORTH CASCADES HIGHWAY

According to a recent press release from the Washington State Department of Transportation, the North Cascades Highway is expected to be open around the first of May. The clearing project will begin on March 25 -- about the same time it began last year -- but unusually low snowpack in the area means the project will be completed more quickly. In 2012 the road was opened May 10.

 From the press release:

Snow depths at the summit of Washington Pass measured about 5 feet compared to 7.5 feet last year, while snow was 5.5 feet deep at Rainy Pass compared to 8 feet last year. Snow piles in the Liberty Bell avalanche zone ranged from 25 to almost 40 feet compared to 35 to nearly 60 feet in 2012.

You can learn more details about this year's snow study, as well as a few statistics from previous winters, by visiting the press release at this link.