Pause spring planting? Late April freeze warning for Tri-Cities region

The National Weather Service is warning of freezing temperatures across the Mid-Columbia from midnight to 8 a.m. Saturday.

Although the Tri-Cities is at the center of the area under the warning, temperatures there are expected to remain several degrees above freezing.

However, outlying rural areas could have temperatures low enough to cause crop damage, and some towns, including Connell and Pendleton, are forecast to have temperatures below freezing, according to the weather service.

Temperatures are forecast to warm in the Tri-Cities after highs in the 60s under a sunny sky this weekend.

High temperatures should be back in the 70s by Tuesday and as warm as 77 by Thursday, according to the weather service. Lows could be as warm as 49 by Wednesday night.

Normal highs for this time in April in the Tri-Cities area about 70 and normal lows are about 40.