Travelers who wait until Sunday to return to the Tri-Cities after celebrating Thanksgiving could find themselves driving through heavy snowfall across Washington mountain passes.
Snow also is possible in the Tri-Cities during the coming work week as the storm system dumping snow in the mountains moves toward the east.
The National Weather Service predicts a 30% chance of snow on Monday and a slight chance of snow on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Tri-Cities.
Temperatures will be as warm as 48 degrees on Sunday, but then highs are forecast to drop to the 30s Monday and Tuesday.
Washington Cascade passes
The weather service has issued a winter storm watch for Washington state’s Cascade Mountain passes from Saturday night until Monday morning.
On Interstate 90 at Snoqualmie Pass a 30% chance of rain and snow is forecast Saturday.
That turns into an 80% chance of snow starting Saturday night through Sunday, with blowing snow likely.
On Sunday snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches is possible and the wind could gust up to 22 mph, according to the weather service.
The snow will continue to fall Sunday night, and 4 to 8 inches of new snow could accumulate.
On White Pass, 2 to 4 inches of snow are forecast Saturday night, with 3 to 5 inches on Sunday and 2 to 4 inches Sunday night. Wind gusts of up to 38 mph are forecast on Sunday.
On Stevens Pass, 1 inch of new snow is forecast Saturday, with 5 to 9 inches possible that night and 3 to 7 inches possible on Sunday, with more snow Sunday night. Gusts of up to 32 mph are forecast Sunday.
I-84 Oregon forecast
No snow is forecast after daylight Saturday on Interstate 84 at Meacham, Ore., about 30 miles east of Pendleton, in the Blue Mountains.
But light snow could start falling Sunday afternoon, and Sunday night 2 to 4 inches of new snow could accumulate, according to the weather service.
