Snow already causing grief. Bad crash north of Pasco. Chains required on I-90
Chains were required on I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass on Friday after the interstate was closed because of spin outs on slick roadways in the morning, according to the Washington state Department of Transportation.
The Washington State Patrol also reported crashes on the interstate.
And snow north of Pasco may have contributed to a crash between a semi truck and car on Glade North Road that injured one person.
More problems are likely near the mountains as the National Weather Service forecast 7 to 11 inches of new snow Friday and possibly as much as 7 to 11 inches overnight on the I-90 pass.
Saturday travel conditions may not be much better with 6 to 10 inches of snow forecast, plus 6 to 10 inches Saturday night.
More snow is expected Sunday. The forecast calls for 7 to11 inches.
A winter storm warning in the Cascade Mountains has been extended until Monday morning.
I-90 was closed for about 30 minutes westbound starting at 8 a.m. Friday at Ellensburg. Before and after the closure travel time over the pass was about 30 minutes more than usual.
The Tri-Cities area has mostly seen rain from the same weather system, with the temperature rising to 39 degrees by 10 a.m. at the Pasco airport, according to the weather service.
Snow near Tri-Cities Friday
There was enough snow near Benton City to coat the ground Friday morning. and snow also was reported in Connell and Othello to the north of the Tri-Cities.
The road was snowy where a car and a semi crashed in Franklin County about 9 a.m. at North Glade Road and Ironwood Road.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office reported that a car traveling east on Glade slid through the intersection and was hit by a semi traveling south.
One driver of the car had to be cut out of the mangled car and taken to the hospital. Her injuries should not be life threatening, according to the sheriff’s office.
Snow is possible in the Tri-Cities next week, according to the early forecast of the weather service.
But the biggest weather impact may be the Arctic blast of cold air that should hit the Tri-Cities early in the week.
Be prepared for the coldest weather of the winter so far, says the weather service.
Wednesday is forecast to be the coldest day with a high as low as 19 degrees. Tuesday night should be the coldest night, with a low of 12 forecast.
Normal highs for the Tri-Cities in January average about 41 degrees and lows average about 29 degrees.
This story was originally published January 10, 2020 at 11:45 AM.