Freezing rain, snow turned Tri-Cities roads and sidewalks into icy headaches
Freezing rain overnight turned roads in the Tri-Cities icy and put many schools and offices on a two-hour delay Wednesday morning.
The Pasco, North Franklin, Prescott, Touchet, Finley, Kahlotus and Columbia in Burbank school districts and Kingspoint Christian School in Pasco all were closed on Wednesday after announcing delays earlier in the morning.
School districts and private schools sticking with two hour delays included Richland, Kennewick, Kiona-Benton in Benton City, St. Joseph’s in Kennewick, Bethlehem Lutheran in Kennewick, Christ the King in Richland and Liberty Christian in Richland.
Hanford nuclear reservation workers who work at the site and in Richland were told not to report to work until 9 a.m. unless their jobs are essential for safety and security.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory employees were told not to report to offices in Richland and on the Hanford site until 10 a.m. unless their jobs are essential for safety and security.
Franklin County planned to close offices, including the courts, at noon and send workers home.
The Basn City and Merrill’s Corner library branches of Mid-Columbia Libraries were closed Wednesday.
Law enforcement was responding to crashes, including a semi truck in the ditch at Travis and Sellards roads about 6:45 a.m. Wednesday.
About 8:15 a.m. two semi trucks crashed head on at Hagen Road and Highway 240 in Richland due to ice. Injuries appeared to be minor.
“If the roadway is wet on your commute this morning, watch out for frozen ice,” said Trooper Chris Thorson of the Washington State Patrol on Twitter, posting a video of the ice-caked window of his patrol car. “It is one of the most dangerous driving conditions to be in!!
Before midnight Tuesday Franklin County Fire District 3 was at a crash on Highway 395 after a pickup rolled. Injuries were minor.
But officials said they were concerned that cars were passing the crash scene at normal speeds.
“Please slow down,” the fire district posted on Facebook.
Interstate 84 closed at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday from near Pendleton to Baker City, Ore., due to unchained semi trucks blocking lanes on Cabbage Hill, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.
It anticipated a lengthy closure.
Snow forecast
Snow is in the forecast for the Tri-Cities Wednesday and early Thursday morning, with a winter snow advisory issued by the National Weather Service from 1 p.m. Wednesday until noon Thursday.
The weather service forecast less than a half inch of new snow Wednesday during the day, followed by 1 to 3 inches Wednesday night into early Thursday morning.
Warming temperatures should turn precipitation to rain on Thursday.
A high of 31 was forecast on Wednesday, increasing to 38 on Thursday and 46 on Friday.
More rain is possible Friday. But that should be the last of the precipitation in the Tri-Cities through at least Tuesday, according to the weather service.
The forecast for snow Wednesday extended across most of Eastern Washington, with heavy snow possible in the Yakima, Moses Lake and Spokane areas.
Travel forecast
A winter storm warning was issued for Wednesday afternoon through noon Thursday for Interstate 90 at Snoqualmie Pass.
The worst of the storm was expected Wednesday night with 16 to 22 new inches of snow forecast then.
Thursday 4 to 8 inches were expected, with another 1 to 2 inches Thursday night.
Friday 6 to 10 inches were forecast to accumulate during the day through overnight.
Saturday and Sunday lookslike the best travel days on I-90, with sunshine and no snow at the pass. Then a chance of snow is forecast from Sunday night through at least Tuesday.
A winter storm warning also was issued for the Blue Mountains through noon Thursday.
Travelers on Interstate 84 east of the Tri-Cities through Oregon can expect 3 to 7 inches of fresh snow Wednesday and another 3 to 5 inches Wednesday night about 30 miles east of Pendleton.
Some snow or a rain and snow mix also is possible Friday and Friday night on Interstate 84 through the Blue Mountains.
This report will be updated as information changes.
This story was originally published January 5, 2022 at 7:54 AM.