Snow blankets Tri-Cities, closing some roads. Next comes the big chill

The Tri-Cities woke up to snow Wednesday, with Benton County getting hit with the worst of the storm.

By 9 a.m. about 1 to 2 inches covered the ground in Richland and Kennewick.

Multiple crashes were reported on slick pavement. In a half-hour period, Tri-Cities emergency crews responded to four crashes.

The crashes started piling up as Kennewick police were finishing up a standoff in the 300 block of North Underwood, leading to a delayed response by police officers and traffic backing up.

The Washington State Patrol also reported that it investigated 47 crashes Wednesday morning in the Tri-Cities.

“Roads are slick this morning,” Benton County Fire District 1 said in a Facebook post. “If you can stay home, hunker down and stay warm. No unnecessary travel. If you must travel, please slow down and use caution.”

There were no serious injuries reported.

All Benton County roads in the Horse Heaven Hills were closed Wednesday morning due to drifting and blowing snow. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office described conditions as “whiteout,” at 8 a.m.

In addition, there are reports that Plymouth Road going into the small community in southern Benton County is completely blocked by tumbleweeds.

Wind gusts of up to 30 mph were forecast by the National Weather Service for the Tri-Cities on Wednesday.

Most students went to school as usual Wednesday. However, the tiny Paterson School in southern Benton County was closed.

Hanford nuclear reservation site workers reported to work as usual, but were warned there was snow before they started their morning commute.

Weather forecast

With colder temperatures, snow may be slow to melt.

A cold front has dropped temperatures, with a Tri-Cities low of 18 forecast for Wednesday night, dropping to 14 Thursday night and 16 on Friday night.

The forecast high of 34 Wednesday was predicted to drop to just below freezing Thursday and Friday.

By Saturday night lows should be back in the 20s and highs should be in the upper 40s starting Sunday, according to the weather service.

Windy weather is forecast to continue through Thursday with gusts up to 24 mph Thursday and 26 mph Thursday night.

A small chance of snow was predicted for Saturday night into Sunday morning in the Tri-Cities.

But heavy snow is expected over Cascade Mountain passes in Washington then, including Snoqualmie Pass on Interstate 90.

This story was originally published February 22, 2023 at 10:27 AM.