All three passes over the Cascades are now open

All three major routes over the Cascades were open to traffic with some restrictions today, following a day in which high avalanche danger forced the closure of Snoqualmie, Stevens and White passes.

About 11 a.m., Highway 12 over White Pass became the last of the three routes open to traffic. Traction tires were required there and on Highway 2 over Stevens Pass, which reopened about 8 a.m. today.

Meanwhile, traction tires were advised on Interstate 90 over Snoqualmie Pass, which reopened to traffic about 8 p.m. Thursday.

A 50-mile stretch of Highway 410 east of Enumclaw leading to the Crystal Mountain ski area reopened shortly before 11 a.m. after crews cleared fallen trees from the roadway. Chains were required due to icy conditions.

Showers of snow and mixed rain-and-snow around parts of the Puget Sound area diminished through the day, with sun breaks forecast this afternoon. But about an inch of snow could fall in the metro area tonight as temperatures dip back into the 20s, according to the National Weather Service.

The weekend forecast calls for a chance of showers on Saturday, with highs in the mid-30s and lower 40s, and rain on Sunday, with slightly higher temperatures.

A risk of avalanches, though reduced from Thursday's level, continued in the Cascades today, and backcountry travelers were urged to use caution in areas that typically have avalanches.

Relatively light snowfall expected today and tomorrow may help stabilize the mountain snowpack, but avalanche danger could rise again by late Sunday as another weather system arrives, said Garth Ferber of the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center.

Ferber said the possibility for avalanches is likely to continue for some time, due to the fact that a light snowpack in very cold temperatures in December caused the snow to "recrystallize" rather than form a firm snowpack. And now heavy, wet snow is falling on top of it.

"It's sort of like putting a brick onto a pile of potato chips. It doesn't necessarily hold up well," Ferber said.

Nick Perry: 206-515-5639 or nperry@seattletimes.com.