Cold front to bring first significant snow to mountains this fall, cooling in Tri-Cities

The first significant mountain snow of the season was forecast for this weekend in the Cascade and Blue mountains, according to Washington and Eastern Oregon forecasts.

The Tri-Cities weather also will be cooling significantly, with highs dropping into the 50s from Saturday through Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

However, lows should remain well above freezing in most of the Tri-Cities.

A cold front was sweeping across central and eastern Washington Friday with cooler temperatures and wetter weather forecast to follow.

No rain was forecast for the weekend, but wet weather should return on Monday.

Highs were forecast to drop to 56 to 58 from Saturday through Wednesday and rise only to 60 and 61 Thursday and Friday.

Saturday night was forecast to be the coldest, with a low of 37. Lows should warm to the 40s in the coming week.

On Monday morning, kids likely will need to grab a coat as they head out the door for school. The temperature is forecast to be in the mid 40s at 8 a.m. in the Tri-Cities.

Mountain travel forecast

Travelers across Washington can expect snow, rain or a mix this weekend.

At Snoqualmie Pass on Interstate 90 less than a half inch of snow was expected to accumulate with a mix of rain and snow expected Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

But travelers on highways across higher Washington Cascade Mountain passes should expect more snow.

The snow level for both the Cascade and Blue mountains in Washington and Eastern Oregon is about 4,000 feet.

At White Pass east of Yakima on Highway 12 the weather service forecast called for 1 to 2 inches of snow Sunday night and 1 to 3 inches both Monday and Tuesday, after snow started falling Friday.

Stevens Pass on Highway 2 also had snow starting Friday, with 1 to 3 inches forecast for Sunday night, 2 to 4 inches on Monday and 1 to 2 inches on Tuesday, according to the weather service.

Travelers headed west from the Tri-Cities on Interstate 84 can expect some rain.

A winter weather advisory for the northern Blue Mountains of Oregon, plus the Ski Bluewood Resort was in effect until early Sunday morning.

At Meacham, Ore., new snow accumulation of less than an inch was forecast for Saturday night by the weather service. More snow was forecast for early Monday morning with a slight chance of snow Monday night and Tuesday morning.

This story was originally published October 21, 2022 at 12:37 PM.