Schools cancel Monday night events. Tri-Cities police ask drivers to get off the roads

Tri-City schools canceled afternoon and evening activities Monday as streets continue to grow more treacherous.

Drivers are slipping and sliding and law enforcement officers are asking people to stay home, if possible.

All evening classes and other activities at Columbia Basin College and Washington State University Tri-Cities are canceled.

Road conditions deteriorated shortly after noon in Benton County, said the sheriff’s office there. Roads were getting caked with ice, slush and snow.

The Washington State Patrol was warning early Monday afternoon of multiple car crashes on Interstate 82 between Benton City and the Oregon state line.

“Please use caution for this evenings commute,” said Trooper Chris Thorson on social media. “Speed too fast for the roadway conditions is the leading cause for these wrecks today.”

Drivers were struggling to get up the Vancouver Street hill in Kennewick Monday afternoon just as students were being released from school.

Highway 221 closed in both directions from Paterson to near Prosser at 11 a.m. Monday because of blowing and drifting snow. Shortly after that students in the Paterson School District were sent home early.

Numerous other rural roads were closed in Benton County by late morning because of blowing snow and white-out conditions. Barricades where being placed at intersections to warn drivers.

Highway 241 east of Sunnyside remained closed in both directions from near Sheller road and Highway 24 due to blowing and drifting snow on Monday.

Schools cancel activities

Most K-12 Mid-Columbia schools were on a late start Monday morning after the Tri-Cities received several inches of new snow on Sunday. Only some rural school districts, including the Paterson and North Franklin districts, sent students home early.

The first day of spring sports practices was canceled at most Mid-Columbia schools.

Richland, Kennewick and Pasco school districts canceled most sports practices and after-school activities on Monday.

Richland also canceled its Choral Showcase set for Tuesday at the Richland High School.

See more information about school delays and closures at bit.ly/snowdelays.

The Mid-Columbia Library planned to close all branches at 5 p.m.

Kennewick city canceled its recreation activities Monday night.

The Hanford site sent its workers home early on Monday, making for a short work day after they were told to report to work on a staggered schedule of start times at 9 and 9:30 a.m.

They were sent home at 2:15 and 3 p.m., depending on where they worked. Swing and graveyard shifts Monday were canceled at the nuclear reservation.

The Franklin County Courthouse will not open until 10 a.m. Tuesday. And the Benton-Franklin County Superior Court and Benton County Clerk’s Office also will open at 10 a.m.

This story was originally published February 25, 2019 at 7:37 AM.