waterville plateau

DOT project engineer Jeff Deal says there's been urgency to get U.S. 2 reopened as soon as possible.

Local residents and farmers have questioned why work is not being done 24 hours a day on the crucial east-to-west roadway.

Governor Jay Inslee issued an emergency proclamation Monday to activate state resources to assist with recovery efforts.

The National Weather Service Office in Spokane has posted a Red Flag Warning for much of North Central Washington through today (Monday, July 24). Meteorologist Ken Daniel with the National Weather Service office in Spokane says the notice has been issued due to several factors that will elevate the risk of wildfire spread...

The roadway originally closed late Monday afternoon, but then reopened to single lane traffic Monday night before closing down once again Tuesday afternoon.

The roadway is down to one lane between SR 172 to the west and SR 17 on the east end.

The haze will persist through Thursday night in the Waterville Plateau and the Columbia Basin as well as parts of Okanogan County, including Omak.

Snow accumulations are projected to reach one-to-two inches in Wenatchee, but National Weather Service meteorologist Ken Daniel says there'll be more at higher elevations.

The area is expected to receive 2-4 inches of snow.

National Weather Service meteorologist Valerie Thaler says the rapid increase in intensity has to do with forecasting models.