SEATTLE -- Icy conditions caused spinouts and collisions on the Eastside Tuesday, forcing authorities to close highways and send students home from school early.

Trucks lined up about 11 miles west of Snoqualmie Pass, waiting during one of the multiple closures of Interstate 90.

"It been a mess," said trucker Mark McDowell. "We chained over there on 84 because everybody's sliding around, and we come over here."

Highway 18 over Tiger Summit was closed for hours.

"We only had one collision up there, with two cars, but it just was at the right time when things were icing up," said Washington State Patrol Trooper Kelly Spangler.

Highway 169 was closed from 10 a.m. to nearly 1 p.m. because of a number of accidents there.

The Enumclaw school district decided to send kids home early for the day.

Up to two feet of new snow fell in the Central Cascades during the day.

Snow that fell early in the morning stuck all day at higher elevations, including Tiger Mountain. Snow still coated the ground at the top of 1,600-foot Cougar Mountain in late afternoon.

To the north, at Stevens Pass, icy conditions caused spinouts and accidents.

The threat of snow showers continues in the days ahead, said Chief Meteorologist Andy Wappler.

"We'll continue to tread the line between rain and snow for the next few days, with higher hills seeing an inch or so of snow in local areas during heavier night time showers," he said.

The most serious threat of snow comes on Friday.