More snow expected for Tri-Cities. Heavy snow to pound I-90 and I-84 passes
More snow is forecast for the Tri-Cities as a series of storms continue to sweep across the Northwest.
No snow fell Monday night, but some students still got a few hours or the day off on Tuesday, mostly because of icy rural roads.
Students in the Pasco and Prosser school districts started class two hours later than usual, and class was canceled in Burbank’s Columbia School District and in the Hermiston School District.
A few crashes were being reported on Tuesday, but roads were better than Monday when Trooper Chris Thorson with the Washington State Patrol reported 16 collisions in the Tri-Cities area.
Driving too fast on roads icy from snow and freezing rain was the leading cause, he said.
Snow could still make travel difficult in the mountains and down the Columbia River Gorge, according to Washington and Oregon Department of Transportation officials.
The Washington State Department of Transportation reported Monday that 236 inches of snow had fallen so far this winter on Interstate 90 at Snoqualmie Pass, the most as of Jan. 3 in 20 years.
The Tri-Cities could see more snow Tuesday night through Wednesday night, according to the National Weather Service forecast.
But by the end of the work week, precipitation should be falling as rain.
Rain could fall in the Tri-Cities Tuesday evening, possibly mixed with snow that night. But less than an inch of snow, if any, is expected to accumulate overnight and Wednesday morning by 10 a.m.
Wednesday night 1 to 2 inches of new snow is possible, although snow could again be mixed with rain. The chance of precipitation is forecast at 80%.
Thursday through Friday could be rainy as highs in the Tri-Cities climb into the 40s, which is about normal for January.
The month of January is expected to be colder and wetter than usual in the Tri-Cities, according to the weather service.
Normal highs are just under 42 degrees and normal lows are about 29. Typical precipitation is a little over an inch.
December averaged about 4 degrees normal than usual in the Tri-Cities, with just 13 days when low temperatures dropped below freezing.
Snowfall totaled just under 2 inches for the month, according to the weather service.
Travel forecast
Travel will continue to be tough for those planning to drive to the west side of Washington state this week.
The weather service forecast 8 to 16 inches of new snow Tuesday and Tuesday night on Interstate 90 at Snoqualmie Pass. Chains were required for most vehicles Tuesday.
Wednesday travelers could get a break, but Wednesday night another 13 to 19 inches is possible at the pass.
Thursday the forecast predicts 3 to 7 inches of new snow and Friday the forecast calls for 2 to 4 inches of new snow.
The weather should start to clear on Saturday, with no snow forecast for Sunday.
On Monday I-90 was closed from 2 a.m. to 8 p.m. from North Bend to Ellensburg.
Interstate 84 through the Columbia River Gorge also was closed all day Monday and Interstate 84 from Pendleton to Baker City was closed for nine hours.
I-84 was open on Tuesday but drivers were required to carry chains in their vehicles.
This story was originally published January 4, 2022 at 11:19 AM.