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 […]
Freeze warning for the Columbia Basin and Yakima Valley Thursday morning
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Tri-Cities no longer experiencing drought or abnormally dry conditions
For the first time since November 2019, the Tri-Cities is no longer listed as having drought or abnormally dry conditions according to the National Drought Mitigation Center, which maintains the U.S. Drought Monitor. The scale this center uses starts with abnormally dry (D0) then proceeds from moderate drought (D1) to exceptional drought (D4). At the […]
Marginal (level 1/5) risk of severe weather for the Tri-Cities area on Wednesday
Monsoon moisture is surging into the Inland Northwest Tuesday evening as an upper level low spins off the coast of Oregon. On Monday, I reported that Wednesday was likely to see thunderstorm activity pushed eastward into Idaho and Utah because of how close the low was expected to be to the Washington coast. Updated models […]
Low chance of thunderstorms for the Tri-Cities area Tuesday
Over the next couple of days, the Columbia Basin is forecast to see highs in the 100s, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a heat advisory for the region. It is in effect from 12:00 Monday to 23:00 Tuesday. This heatwave is much smaller and shorter in comparison to the one at the end […]
Short heatwave for the Columbia Basin, but temps won’t be as hot as the end of July
Well below average temperatures were observed throughout the Inland Northwest Friday as an upper level trough makes its way through British Columbia. The Tri-Cities recorded a high of 84° on Friday. The average for this time of year is in the mid 90s. Temperatures warm some Saturday, but will only be near average. The bulk […]
Upper-level trough bringing quick cool down Thursday to Saturday in the Tri-Cities
One last day of near 100° highs are expected in the Tri-Cities on Wednesday before an upper level trough passes through the region. This is forecast to place the jet stream right over the Washington/Oregon border, allowing cooler air from the north to dip into the Pacific Northwest. This trough in the upper level flow […]
Monsoon moisture moderated highs in the Columbia Basin on Sunday and Monday
On both Sunday and Monday highs in the Tri-Cities and surrounding areas came in below the forecast (though still quite hot) because of cloud cover. On Sunday these clouds were remnants of thunderstorm activity from the night before in the Blue Mountains and Central Oregon. On Monday, radar data showed some light shower activity trying […]