50-60 mph wind gusts forecast for Tri-Cities. Temperatures will plunge

Fall leaves will fly today in the Tri-Cities as wind gusts of up to 50 mph are forecast in town as a cold front blasts into the area.

Wind could reach as high as 60 mph in outlying areas and in higher regions.

The forecast calls for a stronger windstorm than Sunday, when a gust of 48 mph was reported at the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco at about 3:30 p.m.

Winds from the southwest should start to pick up Monday about 1 p.m. with afternoon gusts up to 44 mph in the Tri-Cities.

A wind advisory has been issued starting at 1 p.m. across much of Southeast Washington, from Walla Walla west to Yakima and from Moses Lake south to Pendleton.

The stronger gusts may come in the early evening, with the wind advisory issued through 10 p.m.

Power outages are possible, warns the weather service.

Temperatures will take a sharp drop this week after an unseasonably warm weekend with a high of 73 reported Sunday in Richland.

A high of 66 was forecast for Monday in the Tri-Cities, but high should drop into the 40s by midweek.

Thursday should be the coldest day of the week, with a high forecast at 45.

Lows are forecast to drop below freezing starting Tuesday, the coldest night of the week.

A low of 28 is forecast in the Tri-Cities Tuesday night and a low of 31 on Wednesday.

More rain is possible later in the week, with a slight chance of snow on Thursday.

The chance of precipitation Thursday is just 20%, with any precipitation more likely to fall as rain than snow.

Thursday night the chance of rain increases to 40%, according to the weather service.

This story was originally published November 15, 2021 at 11:52 AM.