Update: Storm watch issued. Snow to blanket the Tri-Cities

The Tri-Cities could get several inches of snow in a weekend storm, according to the updated forecast of the National Weather Service.

Three to six inches of snow is possible this weekend in parts of the Mid-Columbia.

The storm could arrive Friday and snow could fall at times through Monday night.

The weather service has issued a winter storm watch for when the snowfall is expected to be heaviest in the Tri-Cities — late Friday night through late Saturday night.

The snow likely won’t affect schools Friday morning, but students can check for delays at bit.ly/snowdelays.

A 30 percent chance of snow is forecast for Friday in the Tri-Cities, increasing to an 80 percent chance of snow Friday night. Up to an inch of snow could accumulate overnight.

Saturday two to four inches of new snow is possible during the day. Another one to two inches could fall Saturday night.

Wind gusts of up to 24 mph Saturday afternoon and evening may cause blowing snow, making travel conditions hazardous in parts of the Mid-Columbia.

The chance of snow in the Tri-Cities drops to 20 percent on Sunday, said the weather service. Snow is a little more likely Monday night, with a 30 percent chance predicted.

The storm will bring warmer temperatures, but only temporarily.

Cold temperatures return

Highs should be about 25 degrees Friday and Saturday and the low will be as warm as 23 degrees on Friday night.

The low Thursday morning at the Pasco airport was a frigid minus 1.

It was far from a record breaker for the date. On Jan. 7, 1929, a low of minus 20 was recorded in Pasco, according to the weather service.

As the storm system starts to move past the Tri-Cities, temperatures are expected to drop again. The low Sunday night could be 10 degrees.

In the early part of the workweek, the highs should be around 20 and lows could be about 13 degrees, according to the weather service.

This story was originally published February 7, 2019 at 12:46 PM.