High close to 90° Wednesday, t-storm chances a bit less impressive

Mostly clear skies through the morning hours with temperatures starting in the upper 40s in the Tri-Cities area. Upper level low pressure remains in place, centered near San Francisco. This is forecast to continue spinning moisture into the Inland Northwest today and tomorrow. The moisture from the San Francisco low will likely generate a few […]

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Upper level low spinning clouds, isolated t-storms in Tuesday

Tri-Cities weather – May 2, 2023 A strong upper level low pressure system centered near San Francisco this morning is driving the weather pattern over the Pacific Northwest today. In the Columbia Basin, this is likely to produce intermittent clouds and sun along a fairly narrow band. Previously, temperatures were forecast to reach into the […]

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The Pacific Northwest’s other Ice Age Floods

Toward the end of the Last Glacial Maximum, catastrophic flooding surged down parts of the Columbia River watershed as natural dams creating large lakes failed. Some originated from Glacial Lake Missoula, which was created by a large dam of ice in Montana and Idaho that periodically failed. These, often termed Missoula Floods are probably the […]

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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. […]

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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 […]

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Wind storm likely for the Columbia Basin and Spokane on Friday

Mostly dry weather (with a few isolated showers) comes to an end on Friday as an atmospheric river takes aim at the Pacific Northwest. This is likely to bring the first wind storm of the season to much of the region, including the Columbia Basin, Palouse, and Spokane area culminating during the afternoon hours. Current […]

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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 […]

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The Tri-Cities got more rain in 22 hours than in the previous four months combined

Gillfoto/Wikimedia Commons

Spring of 2022 was notoriously wet across the Pacific Northwest, but an abrupt pattern change in June left the region unusually dry through the rest of the summer and into the first half of fall. Some rain did fall during this time in the Tri-Cities, but from June 13 to October 20, only 0.39 inches […]

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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 […]

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Late season heat advisory for the Lower Columbia and Yakima Valley

A building ridge of high pressure this week is forecast to bring a late-season heatwave to the Pacific Northwest. This has prompted the National Weather Service in Pendleton to issue a heat advisory from 11:00 to 20:00 Wednesday for the Lower Columbia Basin and Yakima Valley. This includes the Tri-Cities, Yakima, and Hermiston, but excludes […]

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