Snowy roads send drivers skidding around Tri-Cities and NW. How long will it last?
Snow slick roads sent drivers skidding across highways, interstates and local roads Monday morning.
Winter weather rolled into the Tri-Cities and Yakima areas late Sunday, leaving about an inch of snow in some areas but still causing headaches.
The slick roads led to 12 crashes on regional highways and interstates, said Washington State Patrol Trooper Chris Thorson. Most of those were people driving too fast, he said.
The majority of the wrecks were south of Kennewick on Interstate 82 where colder temperatures can make the snow last longer on the road, Thorson said.
“The roadways have some slush on them, and it’s about 29 degrees,” he reported at 7:30 a.m. “That means you’re going to need to slow down.”
By mid-morning no serious injuries were reported from any of the crashes.
Richland police also asked people to make sure the snow has been brushed off of their vehicles before they started driving Monday to make sure they had clear views of the roads and other vehicles.
In Oregon, snow and ice led to crashes that have shut down Interstate 84 across most of northwest Oregon for several hours.
The highway reopened about 11:30 a.m. Monday.
The eastbound lanes of Interstate 90 over Snoqualmie Pass in Washington closed just before noon on Monday but reopened less than an hour later.
Traction tires were required in the morning because of the compact snow and ice on the road.
Travelers heading over the mountains later this week should expect snow on the pass through Thursday, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
More snow?
The National Weather Service is predicting the winter weather will stick around through Monday afternoon, with snow turning to rain later in the day.
About 1 to 2 inches could accumulate, and daytime high temperatures are expected to rise to 33 degrees.
There’s a slight chance of rain and freezing fog overnight Monday and Tuesday morning.
A 30 percent chance of snow is forecast for after 10 p.m. Tuesday night, said the weather service. Though it’s unclear whether the Tri-Cities will see any of it because the snow level is expected to reach 1,100 feet.
Temperatures are predicted to rise for Wednesday and Thursday with highs in the low 40s.
This story was originally published December 20, 2021 at 10:53 AM.