Strong wind gusts to blast Tri-Cities area. Will it finally dry out?

Wind gust up to nearly 40 mph are forecast for the Tri-Cities early this week.

The National Weather Service has issued a high wind watch from 10 a.m. Monday morning to 4 p.m. Tuesday for the Tri-Cities and the surrounding area from Goldendale east to Walla Walla and from Hermiston, Ore., north to Connell.

But Tri-Cities residents may want to be prepared for strong winds earlier — securing patio furniture, trampolines and free-standing basketball hoops.

Sunday night wind gusts of up to 38 mph are forecast and sustained south wind speeds of 9 to 18 mph in the Tri-Cities, according to the weather service.

Monday night sustained wind speeds of 14 to 17 mph are forecast with gusts up to 30 mph.

The strongest winds are forecast for Tuesday with sustained winds of 22 to 25 mph from the southwest and gusts as high as 38 mph.

The Tri-Cities should get a break from the rain after Monday night. A partly to mostly sunny sky Tuesday through Thursday is forecast by the weather service.

Slightly warmer weather than usual for the last week of February in the Tri-Cities is expected.

On Sunday the high was forecast at 62 and then should be almost as warm in the mid to upper 50s through the work week in the Tri-Cities.

Lows will be above freezing. The warmest night should be Monday with a low of 46 forecast and the coldest should be Tuesday night at 33 degrees when the sky is mostly clear.

Normal highs for the last week of February in the Tri-Cities are about 52 and normal lows are about 29.

This story was originally published February 23, 2025 at 4:18 PM.