Check the forecast before weekend travel

If you're still thinking about heading over the mountains for the Apple Cup — or for other weekend adventures, be aware that the forecast is for a 60 percent chance of precipitation at Snoqualmie Pass — that could be either rain or snow. On Interstate 90, chains were not required at the pass Friday night but traction tires were advised.

Before embarking across any of the state's mountain passes, it's smart to check the Department of Transportation's Web site: www.wsdot.wa.gov/small (click on "mountain pass reports"). Some had snow, slush or ice Friday night.

For the Seattle area, after Friday night's rain and wind, there should be some sun today — though there is a chance of morning showers. Look for highs in the mid-40s to low 50s. By tonight, it is expected to be partly cloudy with patchy fog and lows 35 to 40, according to the Weather Service. On Sunday, the forecast calls for patchy morning fog with highs in the upper 40s to mid-50s.

It should be mostly cloudy in the mountains, and in Pullman it should be mostly cloudy and dry today after a slight chance of morning showers. Sunday should be a bit clearer.

Weather Service meteorologist Dennis D'Amico says the forecast looks good for Thanksgiving travel, too. By Wednesday in the Puget Sound area, it should be mostly sunny and in the upper 40s. D'Amico says Thanksgiving Day could be mostly sunny and a little warmer.

The state Department of Transportation's Web site also provides the best times to travel the state's highways over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Most highways and local roads are expected to be busy on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, and the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Traveling at other times may help people avoid delays.

Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday weekend of the year on Interstate 90 over Snoqualmie Pass and Interstate 5 south of Olympia through Lewis County, the department said.

Past travel data show that travel times are much shorter Wednesday and Thursday mornings and on the Monday after the holiday.

Longer-than-usual wait times at ferry docks and at Canadian-border crossings also are expected most of the weekend.

Ferry travelers should allow extra time for holiday travel. Four routes — Point Defiance-Tahlequah, Seattle-Bainbridge, Edmonds-Kingston and Mukilteo-Clinton — will be on a holiday schedule on Thanksgiving. All other routes will be on the regular Thursday schedule. There is be no passenger-only service between Seattle and Vashon Island on Thanksgiving. All ferry routes will be on regular schedules the day after the holiday.

At ferry terminals, the longest backups are expected westbound on Wednesday afternoon and evening, and eastbound on Friday morning.

Canada-bound motorists can check the DOT Web site, where traffic cameras can help select the crossing with the shortest lines. There are eight cameras on I-5, five on Highway 543, two on Highway 539 and one on Highway 9.

Amtrak will have an extra daily round trip between Seattle and Portland from Wednesday-Sunday. Passengers traveling by train should make reservations early, because trains often sell out on holiday weekends.

In Seattle, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in downtown Seattle will mean closures of the southbound I-5 exit to Union Street through midmorning Friday. On Nov. 30, I-90's center roadway will be closed through midmorning for the Seattle Marathon.

In the Bellingham area, a series of slides has closed Highway 11, Chuckanut Drive, in two places. The DOT is keeping the road closed to clear debris and stabilize the hillside.

Highway 169 is closed at the Green River Bridge because of unstable ground and the potential for sliding under one of the Kumer Bridge's piers.

On Highway 16 over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, the DOT expects increased eastbound traffic on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The state expects a higher-than-usual number of motorists to use the tollbooths, and all manual tollbooths will be open during peak hours.

At the DOT Web site, drivers can get updated traffic and construction information, weather forecasts and road temperatures throughout the state, traffic alerts, and there's a color-coded map of statewide traffic conditions.

A 511 information phone line provides real-time traffic, incident and closure information. Drivers with Web service on a cellphone or PDA can access small-screen I-90 pass updates at www.wsdot.wa.gov/small by clicking on the "mountain pass reports" link.