Update: Slick Tri-Cities roads possible. Freezing rain advisory issued

Freezing rain may coat roads in the Tri-Cities and much of Washington and northern Oregon with a layer of ice, the National Weather Service is warning.

It has issued a widespread winter weather advisory from 4 a.m. New Year’s Day to 5 a.m. Friday, including for the Tri-Cities. The highest risk for slippery roads is expected to be Thursday morning and evening.

The weather service predicts a 46% chance of 0.01 inch of ice or more in the Tri-Cities.

But after Friday morning, temperatures should warm in the Tri-Cities.

New Year’s Day is forecast to be cold, with a below-normal high of 33. But highs should warm to 38 on Friday and then be in the 40s for Saturday through at least Tuesday.

A low of 24 on New Year’s Eve or early New Year’s Day should warm lows in the 30s through at least Monday.

Normal highs for the start of January in the Tri-Cities are 40 degrees and normal lows are 27 degrees.

An air stagnation advisory for the Tri-Cities is scheduled to lift a noon New Year’s Day.

Travel forecast

Travel conditions including possible ice in all directions from the Tri-Cities.

That includes possible ice on Interstate 84, particularly west of Hermiston through the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon.

The chance of 0.01 inch of ice or more is 70% at Arlington, Ore., and 72% at The Dalles, Ore., from Thursday morning through Friday morning, according to the weather service.

Those traveling between Spokane and the Tri-Cities can expect the highest possibility of icy roads the closer they are to the Tri-Cities.

Travelers on I-90 through the Cascade Mountains are advised that the chance of icy roads from Ellensburg to Snoqualmie Pass is about 40%, up from 26% at Yakima.

This story was originally published December 31, 2025 at 11:46 AM.