STEVENS PASS, Wash. - Highway 2 may remain closed between Leavenworth and Stevens Pass until a significant weather change.
The 35-mile stretch of highway has been closed since Saturday evening, after falling trees hit two cars and killed two people.
The highway is one of two primary east-west routes through the mountains typically open during the winter.
State transportation officials said the trees along the roadway are overloaded with snow and pose a hazard to drivers. Officials said they do not have a way to clear the snow of tree branches so they need to wait for wind to move the snow or warmer temperatures.
Officials said 7,000 to 10,000 drivers cross Stevens Pass on a typical holiday. Instead, drivers will need to cross the mountains on Snoqualmie and Blewett passes this year.
