Daily weather record set in Tri-Cities. Lightning strikes hit in Franklin County
The Tri-Cities set a daily hot weather record Wednesday just hours before a thunderstorm rolled into Eastern Washington.
The storm moved through the Mid-Columbia to the north of the Tri-Cities, but the National Weather Service reported about six lightning strikes to the ground around 10 p.m. and almost 25 lightning strikes by 11 p.m. just to the north of the Tri-Cities.
They were mostly in Franklin County, including near Mesa, Connell and the Hanford site before the storm moved north into Adams County, according to the weather service.
Closer to the Pacific Ocean the storm pelted parts of the Olympic Peninsula with hail the size of nickels and lightning strikes damaged at least five homes and structures across Western Washington, including setting a roof on fire and blowing out windows, the Seattle Times reported.
A strong offshore low-pressure system brought warm, moist air into the Pacific Northwest Thursday night, creating conditions ripe for thunderstorms.
The high temperature in the Tri-Cities Thursday was 79 degrees in the late afternoon, setting a new record for March 27 in the area.
The previous record high for the date was 76, as recorded in 1997.
High temperatures are forecast to be back in the low 60s from Thursday through Tuesday.
Chances for rain in the Tri-Cities will decrease Friday and the sky should clear to mostly sunny on Sunday. The start of the work week may be rainy, with a chance of showers Monday and Wednesday.
Warmer weather is causing snow to melt in the Cascade Mountains and filling the Yakima River with cold and fast-moving water.
The Yakima River is forecast to crest at 12 feet at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Kiona gauge upstream from the Tri-Cities.
That is 1 foot above what is set as the “action level,” at which residents are urged to use caution on the banks of the river and make sure livestock are out of nearby low-lying pastures.
But it is still 1 foot below what is considered the start of flood stage.