Oregon-Washington Freeze: Temperatures May Drop to 30°F in Tri-Cities
Late Monday night, farmers and gardeners in eastern Oregon and southeast Washington should brace themselves for a severe cold blast that could drop temperatures as low as 30°F by Tuesday morning.
The Kittitas and Yakima valleys, the foothills of the Northern and Blue Mountains, and the Lower Columbia Basin of both Oregon and Washington are under a Freeze Watch from 12 a.m. to 9 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Pendleton National Weather Service. The lowest temperatures are predicted to occur in wind-sheltered valleys like Pendleton, Hermiston, Yakima, and Walla Walla.
Frost and freeze conditions might harm unproductive flowers, vegetables, and outdoor plumbing. In locations such as Athena, Connell, and Prosser, sensitive vegetation can be particularly at risk in the early morning.
Officials advise households to insulate exposed pipes to prevent damage, bring potted greenery indoors, and cover plants. Since the region started to warm in the early spring, this is the first widespread freeze. Updates may be made if lower temperatures extend beyond Tuesday’s 9 a.m. deadline for the freeze watch.
