How hot will it get at Benton Franklin Fair? Here’s the latest forecast

The Benton Franklin Fair and Rodeo is here, which means many Tri-Citian will soon be out and about at the Kennewick fairgrounds.

Visits to the fair typically include a lot of time spent outside, and potentially more walking around than usual.

While it’s always hot in mid-August in Eastern Washington, Tri-Cities will experience hotter and dryer conditions than normal heading into the weekend, according to meteorologist Mariama Feaster with the National Weather Service in Pendleton.

This is due to a weather system moving into the region Friday through Sunday, Feaster said.

Here’s how hot it will get during the “Best Week of Summer” — and when temperatures are expected to peak.

When is the 2025 Benton Franklin Fair and Rodeo? Where?

The Benton Franklin Fair and Rodeo runs from Tuesday, Aug. 19, to Saturday, Aug. 23.

The fairgrounds are at 1500 South Oak Street in Kennewick. The site is open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to midnight on Saturday.

What’s in the weather forecast for Tri-Cities?

The Tri-Cities area was expected to be sunny on Tuesday, Aug. 19, with a high temperature of 89 degrees and winds around 6 mph, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service. The temperature will drop to 61 degrees during the evening, which will be “mostly clear,” the weather service said.

More sunshine is forecast for Wednesday, Aug. 20, when the high temperature will be around 89 degrees and the low will be 56 degrees. Winds are expected throughout the day, reaching 7 mph, but will quell by nighttime.

Thursday, Aug. 21, will also be sunny with a high of 91 degrees and a nighttime low around 55 degrees. Some wind may occur in the afternoon.

How hot will it get in Kennewick over the weekend?

By Friday, Aug. 22, temperatures will exceed the historical normal temperatures for Tri-Cities, according to the weather service.

Friday’s daytime high will be 96 degrees, the weather agency said, while the low will drip to around 60 in the evening.

On Saturday, Aug. 23, the high will reach 99 degrees, while the nighttime low will be around 64 degrees.

Historically, high temperatures in Tri-Cities on Aug. 22 and Aug. 23 tend to be in the mid-80s, according to the Weather Service’s Online Weather Data.

Following the fair, the Tri-Cities area will see a high of 99 degrees and a low around 64 on Sunday, Aug. 24.

How to stay cool at the Benton Franklin Fair

Headed to the Benton Franklin Fair and Rodeo? You should be sure to use sunscreen, drink plenty of water and bring a portable fan if you have one.

Empty, refillable water bottles are allowed into the Kennewick fairgrounds. Free refill stations are placed throughout the fair.

A first aid tent will be set up near the center of the fairgrounds, next to Old MacDonald’s Farm. Head over if you feel signs of heat exhaustion or need to step out of the heat.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you should look out for these signs of overheating:

• Unusually heavy sweating
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Muscle cramping

This story was originally published August 19, 2025 at 9:12 AM.