Thursday is another snow day for some Tri-City students

Many Tri-City area schools will be closed again Thursday or at least open late.

The Pasco and Kennewick school districts were among those that initially planned a late start and then announced a closure. Richland schools opened two hours late.

No snow is forecast for the Tri-Cities, but roads are slick.

Snowfall started Wednesday evening. For a time in the late evening precipitation turned to sleet in parts of the Tri-Cities and then fell as snow later in the night.

“The roads are extremely hazardous at this time with compact snow and ice,” the Benton County Sheriff’s Office reported on social media shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday.

The Washington State Patrol reported investigating 20 crashes by 9 a.m.

The Tri-Cities should have some time in the next few days to dig out after close to 20 inches of snow has fallen this month, according to the National Weather Service.

Just a 10 percent chance of snow is forecast Friday night, increasing to a 20 percent chance of snow Saturday morning.

A chance of rain and snow also is possible next Wednesday, according to the early forecast.

Benton County has made some progress on clearing drifts from rural roads. Webber Canyon Road and Travis Road to Reese Road were open as of about 5:30 a.m. Thursday.

School delays and closures

▪ Richland School district was on a two-hour delay Thursday and buses used snow routes.

▪ Kennewick School District closed Thursday. No after-school activities or events.

▪ Pasco School District closed Thursday. All athletic and school events are canceled.

▪ Finley School District started classes two hours late Thursday. The engineering competition field trip is postponed.

▪ Columbia School District (Burbank) on a two hour delay Thursday. Buses were on emergency routes.

▪ North Franklin School District closed Thursday.

▪ Prosser School District schools are closed Thursday, but offices are open.

▪ Grandview School District is closed.

▪ Kiona-Benton City School District closed.

▪ Paterson School District closed.

▪ Dayton School District started two hours late Thursday.

▪ Kahlotus School District opened two hours late Thursday.

▪ Touchet School District was on a two hour delay Thursday.

▪ Prescott Elementary and High schools were on a two hour delay.

▪ Christ the King Parish school started two hours late Thursday.

▪ Bethlehem Lutheran School was closed Thursday and activities are canceled.

▪ Liberty Christian School Tri-Cities closed.

▪ Calvary Christian School was on a two hour delay Thursday.

▪ St. Joseph’s School in Kennewick closed Thursday. Children’s center was closed.

▪ Kingspoint Christian School closed.

Other delays and closures

▪ Hanford is on a staggered late start Thursday for workers not essential for safety and security. Workers should report to the 200 West and 100 Areas at 9 a.m. and the 200 East Area and areas south of the Wye Barricade, including Richland, at 9:30 a.m. Swing and graveyard shifts are on the regular schedule.

▪ Hanford vitrification plant workers not essential for safety and security reported to work at 9:30 a.m. Thursday to the construction site, in-town offices the simulator building, the Material Handling Facility and the Pasco lab.

▪ Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) employees in Richland and on the Hanford Site who are not essential for safety and security should report to work at 10 a.m. Thursday.

▪ Mid-Columbia Libraries Kennewick, Keewaydin Park, Pasco, West Pasco, Prosser, Connell, Basin City and Benton City branches are closed Thursday.

▪ West Richland city offices opened at 10 a.m.

▪ Prosser city offices opened at 10 a.m. Thursday.

▪ Meals on Wheels dining centers are closed and meals will not be delivered to homes Thursday.

▪ Childrens Development Center closed Thursday.

▪ Benton Franklin Head Start is closed. All home visits and evening events are canceled.

▪ West Side Church in Richland canceled morning preschool classes, Parent Connect, Morning Glory and Compassionate Caregivers Thursday.

Check back for updates.

This story was originally published February 28, 2019 at 7:33 AM.