Monday, Dec. 22, 2008

Kennewick closing in on record snowfall

By Michelle Dupler, Herald staff writer

The National Weather Service warned Mid-Columbians on Sunday to brace for more snow on top of the 3 to 5 inches that fell overnight Saturday.

Forecaster Marilyn Lohmann said the region was expected to get another 1 to 3 inches overnight Sunday, and another inch today. A winter storm warning is in effect until 10 a.m.

A break will come tonight and Tuesday, but another arctic storm blowing in from the Gulf of Alaska will dump even more snow Wednesday night and Thursday. And with temperatures expected to be in the upper 20s to lower 30s, don't expect the snow to melt anytime soon, she said.

"It's not going to get very balmy," Lohmann said.

By the end of the month, the Tri-Cities could come close to matching Kennewick's record snowfall for December of 16.3 inches that was set in 1955, Lohmann said.

The weather service did not have measurements of how much snow has fallen in the region since the first flakes dropped on Dec. 13.

Police agencies reported some minor but no major accidents Sunday, despite the snow and ice that piled up on roads overnight.

Lohmann advised drivers to use caution as they travel this week, because wind could cause blowing snow and lower visibility at higher elevations, such as the Horse Heaven Hills.