Snow causes wrecks across Tri-Cities. Schools, businesses impacted. When will it clear up?

The Tri-Cities woke up to fresh snowfall covering the ground Friday morning with the most snow the Tri-Cities has seen this winter.

About 1.5 inches fell Thursday, with another 1.5 inches Thursday night into early Friday morning. More snow began falling a few hours after dawn.

Another storm system is forecast to reach the Tri-Cities Saturday night, bringing more snow or a mix of rain and snow.

Roads continued to be slick Friday morning.

On Thursday a Kennewick woman died in a crash on Interstate 90, and 18 vehicles crashed on Interstate 82 south of Kennewick.

Kennewick, Richland and Pasco school districts and Columbia Basin College canceled classes on Friday, and some other schools and government offices and work sites delayed opening.

Some clinics and other businesses were also closed.

Crashes on snowy roads

Eighteen vehicles, including three semi trucks, were involved in a wreck on Interstate 82 south of the Tri-Cities near the Beck Road overpass around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday.

One person was taken to a hospital with serious injuries and several others had minor injuries, according to Benton County Fire District 1.

There were several other crashes in Benton County late Thursday, Benton County Sheriff’s Office posted on social media.

The name of the Kennewick woman who died in a crash on I-90 about 15 miles west of Vantage in Kittitas County was not immediately released by the Washington State Patrol.

The woman, age 23, was driving a subcompact car east on the interstate when she went off the roadway to the left just before 4 p.m. Thursday, according to WSP.

Also in the car were a 26-year-old man and a 14-year-old girl from Seattle. Neither was injured.

I-90 was closed in places at times late Thursday afternoon and evening due to crashes and spin outs.

Tri-Cities closures, delays

Richland and Pasco city offices and Franklin County, including the courthouse, opened about two hours late Friday to allow time for road conditions to improve.

Hanford workers were allowed a late start if they were not essential to safety and security and could not telework. Start times at the nuclear cleanup site were on staggered schedules starting at 9 and 9:30 a.m. for the limited number of workers not on 10 hour Monday through Thursday work schedules.

Swing and night shifts were scheduled as usual.

Mid-Columbia Libraries delayed opening until noon and the Richland Library and Richland Community Center planned to open at 10 a.m.

Workers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland were told not to report to work before 9 a.m.

Washington State University Tri-Cities also had a delayed start, with no classes on the Richland campus until 10 a.m.

Finley schools started two hours late, and the North Franklin School District, which includes Connell, canceled classes and activities Friday.

Seniors were told they would not receive their Meals on Wheels deliveries Friday, and the only Tri-Cities dining center that was serving was the Fowler Street Cafe in Richland.

Weather forecast

A 30% chance of precipitation was forecast for 10 a.m. to about 3:30 p.m. Friday, with less than half an inch of snow expected during those hours.

The new storm system could start dropping rain and snow on the Tri-Cities area after 4 p.m. Saturday with snow only at elevations of 1,400 feet and higher during the night. Much of the Tri-Cities is at about 400 feet.

That should be the last of the snow in the Tri-Cities over the next few days.

By 7 a.m. Sunday, precipitation should fall as rain.

The chance of rain Sunday is 80%, dropping to 60% Sunday night and 30% Washington’s Birthday.

Rain is likely again on Wednesday.

This story was originally published February 14, 2025 at 9:30 AM.