Cold season temperature inversions

From about November to February temperature inversions accompanied by low clouds and fog are a common weather feature in the Columbia Basin. These are not unique to the Columbia Basin with many valleys throughout the Western United States and the world also experiencing strong inversions, including the Salt Lake City area in Utah and Almaty, […]

Continue Reading

Hurricane-force storm in Alaska to bring rain and mountain snow to most of the West Coast

A rapidly intensifying low pressure system is moving north through the Gulf of Alaska on Wednesday afternoon. It is forecast to make landfall on or near Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula early Thursday morning. Off the coast of Alaska, hurricane-force winds are forecast to extend eastward from the Kenai Peninsula toward the southeastern portion of the state. […]

Continue Reading

Cool and wet weather returning to the Northwest this weekend

Ridging over the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday along with a strong low in the Gulf of Alaska are driving mostly sunny and seasonably warm conditions in the Portland area. Meanwhile to the north, a Pineapple Express has been aiming at Vancouver Island, producing up to 200 mm (8 inches) of rain. This Pineapple Express is […]

Continue Reading

Winter weather advisory for snow in the Columbia Basin on Sunday

A low pressure system slowly moving offshore is forecast to spin moisture into the Columbia Basin Sunday as it meanders closer to the Southern Oregon Coast. This has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a winter weather advisory for the Tri-Cities, Walla Walla, Hermiston, and surrounding areas in effect from 04:00 to 22:00 Sunday. […]

Continue Reading

Inversion conditions with low clouds and fog possible later this week

Colder temperatures are swinging into the Pacific Northwest out of British Columbia and Alberta with a brisk north to northeasterly breeze forecast on Tuesday. Those winds die down early Wednesday morning and despite mostly sunny skies temperatures aren’t likely to hit 40° that afternoon. Again under mostly clear skies, temperatures are forecast to get quite […]

Continue Reading

Freeze warning for the Columbia Basin and Yakima Valley Thursday morning

Source: NWS

Rain showers diminish Tuesday afternoon and evening, though a few isolated showers are possible during the day Wednesday. After that, skies are forecast to clear over the Columbia Basin allowing for temperatures to get below freezing in most lowland areas. This has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a freeze warning for everywhere in […]

Continue Reading

Rain and cooler temps expected with pattern change this weekend

The first half of October brought mostly sunny skies and warm temperatures to the Pacific Northwest as a persistent ridge of high pressure sat overhead, forcing the storm track into Southeast Alaska. The Tri-Cities have recorded ten days with highs at or above 80° so far this month, tying the record set in 1945. Temperatures […]

Continue Reading

Winter making a return with cooler weather expected for the Tri-Cities next week

Afternoon highs in the Tri-Cities have been running above average for the last several days in the Columbia Basin with some places even approaching 70° late last week. These mild conditions are likely to come to an end with a strong upper level trough diving south out of Canada and into the Pacific Northwest. While […]

Continue Reading

Low pressure in Saskatchewan, high pressure over the Pacific, breezy for the Tri-Cities Saturday

An active weather pattern is expected to continue into the weekend. The Inland Northwest isn’t likely to see much in the way of precipitation as a ridge of high pressure off the Pacific Northwest puses weather systems up into Alaska and down the east side of the Rocky Mountains, dropping most of their moisture before […]

Continue Reading

Coldest temperatures so far this season coming with a chance of snow

Yes that’s right, we have a chance of snow in the Tri-Cities. The big weather story this week, though, will be cold temperatures. There’s been a lot of uncertainty surrounding what to expect this week, but it looks like the models have finally reached some sort of agreement on what we can look forward to. […]

Continue Reading