Freak spring snowstorm coats Tri-Cities region. What to expect by Easter

The Tri-Cities was hit with a surprise spring snow shower with enough snow falling to stick to the ground in many areas of the three cities.

And there were reports of considerably more snow in the Horse Heaven Hills of Benton County and near Pendleton and Walla Walla.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office asked drivers to stay off the roads Monday morning in the Horse Heaven Hills, where the snow was several inches deep on the roadway.

“The roads are slick and there are areas of whiteout conditions,” the office posted to social media.

The snow level — the elevation at which precipitation falls as snow rather than rain — dropped below 500 feet in the Tri-Cities area.

Some parts of the Tri-Cities are as low as 400 feet.

With temperatures just above freezing in the Tri-Cities by 9 a.m., much of the snow quickly melted. But Rattlesnake Mountain remained coated in white.

The snow likely will be the last of the winter weather until the end of the year.

By Easter Sunday temperatures are forecast to warm up by 20 degrees to a high of 73 in the Tri-Cities, according to the National Weather Service.

The high Monday was forecast at 51 with an overnight low just below freezing as a storm system with some snow in the morning giving way to rain moved through the Tri-Cities.

Highs were forecast to climb to the 60s Thursday with a chance of rain through Friday night.

Tri-Cities Easter forecast

The weather outlook for public Easter egg hunts Saturday was good, with only a slight chance of showers and a high that should come close to 70.

Easter should be partly sunny.

Tri-Cities residents traveling to the Seattle area for the Easter weekend should have wet, but not snowy roads on Interstate 90 at Snoqualmie Pass if they wait until Friday.

Snow showers are possible until then, but should not be heavy, according to the weather service.

This story was originally published April 3, 2023 at 9:50 AM.