Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008

Mid-Columbia weather goes from white to wet and wild

By John Trumbo, Herald staff writer

The weather will change in the Mid-Columbia from snow to rain, and with it could come the threat of flooding in some areas.

The change should help reduce snowpack in the region, but created new road hazards Friday evening, with standing water and slick spots overnight as puddles freeze.

The Washington State Patrol responded to 23 collisions in the Tri-Cities area between 5 and 10:30 p.m. Friday. The accidents resulted in a couple of minor injuries, but nothing significant, said Sgt. Roger Wilbur of the state patrol.

"Mostly slide-offs and a few rollovers from driving too fast on the slick roads," he said.

The National Weather Service in Pendleton said Friday's high of 26 degrees will begin to creep toward a thaw overnight.

"The temperatures will move into the 30s and could be 37 by mid-afternoon today," said Rob Brooks a hydro meteorologist in Pendleton.

Rain is forecast for today, tonight, Sunday and into next week for the Mid-Columbia.

"It should help wash out some of the snow," Brooks said.

The warm-up could help or worsen conditions on the Yakima River where ice clogs much of the flow, said Bob Spencer, emergency management manager for Benton County Emergency Services.

Spencer said so much ice has piled up in the river that minor flooding has occurred along the North Yakima River Road near West Richland. If the rain and temperature increases come gradually over a few days, the river can begin to flow easier and reduce the flood threat.

But if the changes come quickly, there could be too much water too soon, creating worse flood conditions.

"Right now the river is chunky and scary looking," Spencer said Friday.

"My biggest fear is how the ice breaks up. We really don't want a Pineapple Express in higher elevations," he said, referring to Pacific storms that come without arctic air.

"Backups on storm drains are possible," he added.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for much of Western Washington because of the possibility of urban and small stream flooding from the rain.

December's snowfall in the Tri-Cities was well on its way to setting a new record for the month, but the predicted change from snow to rain make that unlikely.

Brooks said December 1955 brought 16.3 inches of snow, which means the Tri-Cities would have to see another 6 inches in the remaining six days of 2008 to beat that record.

Pete Rogalsky, Richland's director of public works, said snow removal crews have kept the city's equipment moving throughout the recent snows.

"They are working two shifts," he said.

Rogalsky said he's not concerned about a quick meltdown of accumulated snow in the city.

"Everything we've seen would suggest it will be a slow melt-off," he said.

* Herald staff writer Joe Chapman contributed to this story.