Dreaming of a white Christmas? What you can expect in Tri-Cities
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Snow has yet to blanket the Tri-Cities this winter.
- Mountains expect mixed snow and rain: 5–7 inches upper slopes, light lower rain.
- Travelers could see slick roads and mixed precipitation across passes.
If you are longing for a white Christmas in the Tri-Cities this year, expect to be disappointed.
But if you are traveling over the mountain passes, either the Cascade Mountains or the Blue Mountains, you could be navigating through falling snow — or rain — as another storm system moves from the Pacific Ocean east across the state of Washington.
It’s looking like a rainy and gray Christmas week for the Tri-Cities, with at least a chance of rain every day through Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
The Tri-Cities has yet to have a snowfall that covers the ground this winter.
On Christmas Day 2025, a 30% chance of rain is forecast, with precipitation most likely to fall before 10 a.m.
Temperatures should be a little warmer than usual for the last 10 days of December.
Highs this week are forecast to range from 42 to 47 and lows are expected in the mid to low 30s.
Normal temperatures for Christmas Day in the Tri-Cities are a high of 40 and a low of 27. This year a high of 43 and a low of 35 is predicted by the weather service.
If you are looking for sunshine in the Tri-Cities, the Saturday after Christmas should be your day. Enjoy it before clouds again cover the sky on Sunday, according to the weather service forecast.
Mountain travel forecast
From noon Monday through Wednesday, the upper slopes of the Eastern Washington Cascade Mountains could get 5 to 7 inches of new snow. Lower mountain elevations could get up to 1 inch of rain.
At Snoqualmie Pass on Interstate 90 in the Washington Cascade Mountains, snow could be mixed with rain Wednesday, with little snow accumulation.
Snow is likely on Christmas Day, but any accumulation is forecast to be slight. More snow is possible through Saturday night, with a chance of rain and snow on Sunday.
Travelers should be prepared for slick roadways.
“When peak traffic slows down, melted snow from higher volume driving can refreeze and create slick spots,” warns the weather service.
Travelers heading east from the Tri-Cities across Oregon on Interstate 84 can expect mostly rain and some patchy fog through Christmas Day. Then snow is likely Friday morning. The weekend should be dry.