50-mph gusts possible in Tri-Cities. Heavy mountain snow forecast on I-90

Bring in the patio furniture and tie down the trampoline.

Wind gusts as high as 50 mph are forecast in the Tri-Cities area on Monday.

And travelers across the Washington Cascade Mountains should be prepared for some slow driving conditions.

The National Weather Service has issued a high wind watch for 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday for most of Eastern Washington and Northeast Oregon.

In the Tri-Cities, wind gusts of up to 45 to 50 mph and sustained wind speeds of 20 to 30 mph are expected on Monday.

Rain showers are possible. But if no rain falls, blowing dust could be a problem.

The weather forecast called for breezy weather starting Saturday, with gusts as high as 25 mph both Saturday and Sunday in the Tri-Cities before the wind is predicted to peak on Monday.

Tuesday also is forecast to be breezy.

Temperatures should be pleasant through the coming week, with highs in the 60s in the Tri-Cities through Wednesday and then possibly reaching the low 70s for the remainder of the work week, according to the weather service.

Travel forecast

Those returning to the Tri-Cities on Sunday can expect rain on Interstate 90 at Snoqualmie Pass, but little new snow.

But the next storm forecast to move in on Monday should make it the worst day of the week to cross the Cascade Mountains on I-90, with lots of fresh snow and a brisk wind blowing it across the roadway.

The forecast calls for 5 to 9 inches of fresh snow on the roadway during the day, with gusts up to 32 mph, blowing snow during the afternoon.

Monday night another 8 to 12 inches of snow are possible, with widespread blowing snow before midnight. Thunder is possible Monday afternoon through the night.

On Tuesday, another 3 to 5 inches of snow are possible at the pass, according to the weather service.

Travelers heading east on Interstate 84 through Oregon should have better driving conditions.

Blowing snow is possible on Monday with wind gusts up to 36 mph at Meacham, Ore., about 30 miles east of Pendleton on I-84 in the Blue Mountains.

But only an inch of new snow is forecast.

This story was originally published April 2, 2022 at 11:34 AM.