Freezing rain alert for Mid-Columbia travelers. Dusting of snow possible in Tri-Cities

A 30% to 40% chance of snow is forecast for the Tri-Cities before 7 a.m. Thursday, but temperatures should be warm enough it may not stick when it hits the ground.

Snow is most likely to fly from 4 to 7 a.m. and in the higher elevation neighborhoods and areas such as just south of the Kennewick Interstate 82 and Highway 395 interchange, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

Precipitation is most likely to fall as rain at lower elevations near the rivers.

Any precipitation should turn to rain between 7 and 10 a.m., though there is a chance of rain or snow into early afternoon.

Friday through Saturday night the forecast calls for a 30% to 50% chance of rain in the Tri-Cities as the weather warms.

Nighttime lows should be just below freezing Thursday night, warming to 37 on Friday and Saturday night.

Daytime highs should warm from the 30s during the workweek to the 40s on the weekend. The sky could clear Sunday, according to the weather service.

Travel weather

Travelers heading east from the Tri-Cities through Oregon on Interstate 84 on Thursday between 4 and 10 a.m. could hit freezing rain, according to the weather service.

It has issued a winter weather advisory for the highway in the Pendleton area and north to the Washington state line from 10 p.m. Wednesday to noon Thursday.

Snow is likely on the interstate at Meacham, Ore., on Thursday through Friday, but with little accumulation.

Travelers heading to Spokane or across the Cascade Mountains on Interstate 90 could see some snow, but accumulations Thursday and Friday should be less than half an inch.

Up to an inch is possible Friday night at Snoqualmie Pass in Washington.

This story was originally published December 11, 2024 at 3:45 PM.