Another blast of Tri-Cities wind coming. Heavy snow on Snoqualmie Pass
Another blast of spring wind is expected in the Tri-Cities just days after the last “trade winds” hit the area.
The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning for most of Southeast Washington, including the Tri-Cities from 5 p.m. Wednesday to 11 a.m. Thursday.
In the Tri-Cities gusts as high as 33 mph were forecast for Wednesday and 40 mph Wednesday night with sustained speeds up to 23 mph.
On Thursday, sustained wind speeds of 18 to 21 mph are forecast with gusts as high as 38 mph.
The windstorm may not be as bad as the one on Sunday that turned the air brown near bare ground and had a peak gust of 56 mph at about 12:15 p.m., as measured at the Tri-Cities Airport, according to the weather service.
People were still looking Tuesday for their garbage cans and returning neighbors’ trampolines that landed in their yards during what some called the “trade winds” as they posted lost and found notices on social media.
With the wind will likely be rain, helping keep down the blowing dust in the Tri-Cities.
By Wednesday night the chance of rain is forecast at 40%, increasing to 50% Thursday and 60% late Friday.
Rain should clear for a sunny Saturday and a mostly dry, but cloudy, Sunday, according to the weather service.
Snoqualmie Pass storm warning
The same storm system will be bringing much needed snow to Washington’s Cascade Mountains, where the snowpack in the Eastern Cascade Mountains in the lower half of the state is at 44% of normal just ahead of irrigation season.
But travelers may want to postpone trips over Cascade Mountain passes.
The weather service issued a winter storm warning for Interstate 90 at Snoqualmie Pass from Tuesday evening through 5 p.m. Friday due to heavy snowfall.
Wednesday 8 to 12 inches of new snow is forecast, on top of Tuesday night snow of 6 to 10 inches.
Snowfall should slow Wednesday night, but then 9 to 13 inches of new snow is forecast for both Thursday and Thursday night, according to the weather service.
This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 11:54 AM.