Memorial Day weekend brings more traffic, higher gas price and warm weather

Highways, border crossings and ferry docks in Washington are likely to clog with traffic for Memorial Day weekend – travelers, plan accordingly.

These highway areas are expected to be the busiest this weekend, according to the Washington Department of Transportation:

I-5 from Olympia to Tacoma;

I-90 from North Bend to Cle Elum;

U.S. 2 from Leavenworth to Stevens Pass;

I-5 at the U.S.-Canadian border.

More than 41.5 million Americans will travel over the extended weekend, nearly 5 percent more than last year, according to AAA.

Along with the increased traffic, gasoline prices are on the rise.

Nationally, motorists will pay the highest gas prices this weekend since 2014, AAA reported. Washington is ranked No. 3 for the highest gas prices in the U.S.; the state’s average is $3.41 per gallon, according to the report.

In Spokane, the weather this weekend should be warm, but there’s a chance of showers as well.

On Friday, expect partly cloudy skies with a high of 83, according to the National Weather Service. But on Friday night and Saturday, there’s a 20 to 30 percent chance of showers, and a high of about 72. Sunday’s high will be around 77, and Memorial Day is going to be mostly sunny with a high near 82.