Poor Visibility Causes Multiple Spinouts & Road Closures in WA

Who knew we'd wake up to record snowfall in the Tri-Cities?

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Driving into work to Pasco from Richland on Monday morning was quite an experience. I knew that I'd be encountering rain, but I hadn't planned on snow.

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Highway 97 south of Toppenish was closed for a time Monday morning.

WSP Trooper Chris Thorson encountered the following:

There were multiple road closures due to poor visibility and slick conditions. Washington State Patrol was on the scene of many incidents.

So, how many collisions were there?

Total collision numbers for today's snow fall: Yakima: 18 Grandview: 33 Tri-Cities: 27 Walla Walla: 3 Speed too fast for conditions was the number one cause for crashes. — Trooper C. Thorson (@wspd3pio) April 11, 2022

Yakima County Fire District 5

Can you believe the snowfall we received?

Thousands of people were without power for a time in the Benton City and Prosser areas Monday morning. Benton PUD had power restored to the communities just before noon on Monday.

Showers are still in the Tri-Cities forecast tonight. And a low of 32 is expected overnight with gusty winds. Gotta' love Mother Nature.

TIPS: Here's how you can prepare for power outages

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.

Gallery Credit: KATELYN LEBOFF