Update | Snow socks in Tri-Cities. Schools, businesses, roads closed or delayed
Most school children were staying home and some businesses did not plan to open Friday after up to 4 inches of snow fell in the Tri-Cities.
By 6 a.m. Friday snowflakes were turning to sleet as temperatures warmed.
The National Weather Service predicted that sleet would stop by 7 a.m. in the Tri-Cities.
Forecasters said as temperatures warm to about 29 degrees Friday, the snow level should rise from 400 feet, the elevation for much of the Tri-Cities, to about 6,000 feet in the afternoon.
School, other closures and delays
Richland, Kennewick, Pasco and Finley school districts were closed Friday. Pasco and Kennewick said after-school and evening events also were canceled.
Washington State University Tri-Cities closed its campus in Richland Friday, after initially planning a late start. Some classes may be held online.
Columbia Basin College campuses also are closed Friday.
The Prosser, Kiona-Benton, Kahlotus, Paterson, North Franklin School District, Columbia School District in Burbank, Grandview and Sunnyside schools also will be closed Friday, along with St. Joseph’s School, Calvary Christian School and Bethlehem Lutheran School, all in Kennewick, and Liberty Christian School and Christ the King School, both in Richland.
Head Start classes and home visits are canceled.
Check for additional delays or cancellations Friday at bit.ly/SchoolClosuresDelays.
The Hanford nuclear reservation site canceled work for employees not needed for safety and security for the day shift, although some employees were working from home, according to the Hanford app. Many Hanford employees work four 10-hour shifts a week and already were not scheduled to work Friday.
Meals on Wheels in the Tri-Cities area will be closed Friday, except for the Fowler Street Cafe in Richland. It will be open 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be no meals delivered to homes.
The Reach museum in Richland did not plan to open Friday and some restaurants also announced plans to remain closed, including El Fat Cat Grill in Kennewick and Tumbleweeds in Richland.
All Mid-Columbia Libraries branches will stay closed on Friday.
Many city and county offices expected to open late at 10 a.m. That included the Franklin and Benton counties superior courts. West Richland city offices will be closed Friday.
Richland garbage services told residents that if their address is in a zone considered inaccessible due to snow and ice for garbage trucks, you can set out extra bags next week at no additional charge.
Columbia Industries planned to open at 10 a.m., including its CI Community Center.
Tri-Cities area roads
Keene Road between Jericho Road and Duportail Street closed after a water main break at the Interstate-82 overpass on Keene Road.
Interstate 182 remained open but one westbound lane is flooded and muddy near the overpass.
The Richland Water Department dug through the ground until it found an air relief valve on the water main that had failed. Workers were attempting a temporary fix and plan a permanent fix in the spring.
Richland officials said at 2 p.m. they expected Keene Road to reopen later in the afternoon.
Many rural Benton County roads closed due to blizzard conditions late Thursday night, with no time for reopening announced. Officials warned that barricades would be set up to block travelers at perimeters but not in all spots where drivers might access the roads.
Closures included Sellards Road from Highway 221 to Plymouth Road, Webber Canyon Road from Badger Road to County Well Road, County Well Road from Highway 221 to Webber Canyon Road, Plymouth Road from Highway 14 to Sellards Road, and Locust Grove Road from Clodfelter Road to Plymouth Road.
Richland street maintenance crews worked through the night to plow main arterials and most collector streets and school zones. Crews were expected to complete most of those and some steep streets by evening.
Law enforcement was busy responding to crashes Thursday night and early Friday morning. One crash near Keene and Shockley roads in south Richland took out a power pole.
Thursday there were 32 crashes on snowy state highways in the Tri-Cities area, and 111 from Yakima to Walla Walla, according to Trooper Chris Thorson of the Washington State Patrol.
Most were caused by drivers going too fast, he said in a social media post.
Tri-Cities forecast
No more snow is in the immediate forecast for the Tri-Cities.
But there is a slight chance of freezing rain after 4 p.m. Saturday until 1 a.m., according to the weather service.
Rain is possible Sunday through Thursday in the Tri-Cities as temperatures warm.
Lows should be in the 20s through Sunday night and then rise into the 30s, with overnight temperatures just above freezing by Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
Highs should warm to the 30s starting Saturday and be above freezing on Sunday. By Thursday the high could reach 39.
WA, OR travel forecast
Interstate 90 at Snoqualmie Pass was open Friday morning with compact snow and ice on the roadway. Chains were required for most vehicles.
Snow and freezing rain was forecast until 1 p.m. and then rain or freezing rain through the afternoon. Total daytime ice accumulation of less than half an inch is possible, according to the weather service.
A chance of snow and freezing rain was forecast overnight and then a wintry mix on Saturday before 1 p.m. and after 4 p.m.
Sunday should be better for travel, with a rainy day forecast during the day. A wintry mix is possible for Sunday night, but then several days of rain should follow.
Interstate 84 through the Columbia River Gorge could continue to be icy through Saturday.
Sleet before 5 p.m., then freezing drizzle and sleet were forecast at Hood River, Ore., for Friday. A 40% chance of a wintry mix with freezing drizzle was forecast Saturday morning followed by possible freezing rain.
Precipitation should change to rain Sunday morning.
Travelers heading east from the Tri-Cities on I-84 through the Blue Mountains of Oregon should not have to worry about snow. Rain is possible through the weekend.
This story was originally published January 19, 2024 at 7:35 AM.