Hurricane Ridge Road will open today — weather permitting — after Olympic National Park maintenance crews finish cleaning the last stretch of the 17-mile mountain highway.
Park spokeswoman Barb Maynes said the road could be opened as early as 9 a.m.
The park officially begins its winter operation schedule Friday.
Unless closed by storms, the road will be open from 9 a.m. to dusk Friday through Sunday and on specific Monday holidays.
Maynes said Wednesday about 14 inches of snow had accumulated at the summit, but snow on most meadows and hillsides had melted.
Maynes said the forecast shows the freezing level well above the ridge’s 5,230 feet summit through Tuesday.