How cold did the Tri-Cities get? Chilly enough to set a new record

The temperature in the Tri-Cities dropped to 10 degrees early Friday morning at the Pasco airport, setting a new record for cold weather for Feb. 24, according to the National Weather Service.

The previous record was 12 degrees set in 1962 for that date.

Cold daily weather records also were set in Walla Walla with 9 degrees, Yakima with 8 degrees and Hermiston, Ore., with 5 degrees.

Saturday morning also was cold with a low of 13 in the Tri-Cities. The record low for Feb. 25 is 7 degrees set in 2011.

Normal highs for the Tri-Cities at the end of February are about 53 degrees and normal lows are about 29.

Temperatures started to warm Saturday, with the high for Sunday forecast in the 40s and highs expected to continue in the 40s until they hit about 50 degrees Thursday and Friday.

Lows will remain below freezing through Wednesday, with the coldest temperature of the week forecast at 26 degrees Tuesday night.

A slight chance of snow is forecast for Monday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., with any precipitation falling as rain later in the afternoon, according to the weather service.

A slight chance of a freezing mix of rain and snow is forecast for Monday after 7 p.m.

The rest of the work week should be dry, with a slight chance of rain or snow forecast for Saturday.

This story was originally published February 24, 2023 at 7:52 PM.