Drivers were able to cross Snoqualmie Pass on Tuesday afternoon after a grueling 11-hour shutdown on Interstate 90 caused by avalanches earlier in the day.

The problem was rain – the same rain that was raising river levels in Western Washington – which was adding weight to new snow and making it more likely to slide.

“It rapidly loads the snowpack and can trigger widespread avalanching very quickly,” said John Stimberis, an avalanche forecaster for the state.

Stevens Pass, meanwhile, was shut down Tueday night and wasn't expected to reopen until sometime Wednesday.

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Flooding expected on Western Washington rivers

The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the Snoqualmie, Tolt and Puyallup Rivers.

"The fire hose is aimed at Western Washington," said KIRO 7 meteorologist Sam Argier. "The heaviest precipitation will be focused over the Cascade Mountains, where 4 to 8 inches of rainfall is forecast through Wednesday. Around the Sound, the heaviest rain will be focused north of Seattle and south of Tacoma with 0.5 to 1.5 inches are expected."

Rain and melting snow will fill rivers, and the Weather Service has issued a flood watch for most Western Washington rivers not covered by the flood warning through Thursday afternoon.

More information: www.kirotv.com/news/weather/forecasts/fire-hose-storm-bringing-flooding-avalanche-danger/nJQXW/

Avalanches snarl Snoqualmie Pass traffic

The backup on Snoqualmie Pass stretched for several miles. Cars and trucks were pulled over on I-90 just waiting for the state to open up the roadway again.

“My daughter just had a baby last night, and you want to get there. I want to get there,” said Gloria Anderson, who was headed from Port Orchard to Idaho.

A former soldier was steering toward Ft. Myers, Florida.

“I spent three-and-a-half years in the Army and (it’s) time to go home,” Don Lampher said.

Both had to wait until noon for the state to reopen I-90.

“Any time we have a lot of new snow followed by some heavy rain, it’s a very, very tricky situation,” Stimberis said.

He said nearly 3 feet of snow had fallen in the last two days, and that 4 to 6 inches of rain was forecast to fall Tuesday and add weight to the snow.

The state used explosives overnight to shake loose unstable snow over the interstate. Crews then spent hours watching the slopes to make sure more wouldn’t come down on its own.

Lampher said he didn’t think the work justified such a long closure.

“It’s not bad enough,” he said. “They’re frettin’ over it for no reason.”

But after four people were killed in mountain avalanches over the weekend, most motorists were more than willing to wait.

“I’m good with that,” Anderson said. “They have to be safe.”

Stimberis said Tuesday afternoon he thought he was done with avalanche control at Snoqualmie Pass, but he said the state was continuing to monitor snow conditions just in case more control work is necessary.