Rain and snowmelt causing flooding in Mid-Columbia. Ski Bluewood closes

Rain and snowmelt were filling rivers in the Mid-Columbia Saturday, with flooding on roads closing Ski Bluewood and the National Weather Service keeping an eye on the Yakima River near the Tri-Cities.

The Yakima River at the Kiona gauge, just upriver from the Tri-Cities, showed the water at 7.2 feet deep Saturday afternoon. But the river is expected to start rising later in the coming week and reach 11.5 feet by the end of the week.

Flooding starts at 13 feet there, but the weather service labels river depth at the Kiona gauge between 11 and 13 feet as the action stage and urges caution.

Residents near the river at Benton City and West Richland should be prepared to secure any belongings near the water and consider moving animals out of low-lying pastures when the river reaches the action stage. People should use caution along its banks.

Saturday in Columbia County, the Dayton School gymnasium was opened by the Red Cross for anyone who needed shelter due to flooding.

Ski Bluewood closed due to heavy flooding in Dayton and along Highway 12 Saturday. North Touchet Road from the county line was closed, it told customers.

In addition, the ski area near Dayton reported damage to the road that accesses the mountain. It planned a damage and safety inspection Sunday or Monday.

The closure came after the ski area staff had been thrilled by a weather forecast on Thursday of up to 29 inches of snow by Saturday.

“Please keep the communities of Dayton and Waitsburg in your thoughts as they navigate the impacts of this flood,” the ski area posted on Facebook Saturday.

Residents of Waitsburg posted photos of the Touchet River flooding and rising close to the bottom of the bridge there on Saturday.

In Walla Walla County, residents were warned Saturday of minor flooding.

Closed roads in the county included:

• Scott Road at Biscuit Ridge Road

• Lower Hogeye Road at Highway 12 to the county line

• Scenic Loop at Mormon Road

• Mill Creek Road at Walla Walla County Fire District 4 Station 45

Drivers also were warned to stay off roads that had not been closed but were beginning to flood.

“In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are potentially dangerous in heavy rain,” the weather service posted. “Do not attempt to cross flooded roads. Find an alternate route.”

This story was originally published March 14, 2026 at 3:07 PM.