Look, if you’ve spent more than twenty minutes in the Tri-Cities, you know the drill. You wake up thinking it’s a light-jacket kind of morning, and by noon, the wind is trying to relocate your patio furniture to the next county over.
Honestly, the Kennewick Washington weather forecast is a bit of a local legend because of how quickly it can flip the script. We live in this weird, beautiful "bowl" valley where the Cascade Mountains basically hog all the rain, leaving us with a dry, shrub-steppe vibe that feels more like Nevada than the rainy Seattle stereotypes people have about Washington.
Right now, as we sit in the middle of January 2026, things are staying pretty consistent with our high-desert roots. It’s chilly. It’s gray. But it’s not exactly the Arctic tundra some folks expect when they hear "Eastern Washington winter."
What’s Happening Right Now: The Mid-January Outlook
If you’re looking at the immediate Kennewick Washington weather forecast, we’re currently hovering around 39°F during the day. It’s mostly cloudy, which is pretty standard for this time of year—January actually holds the title for the cloudiest month in Kennewick, with gray skies sticking around about 57% of the time.
The wind is surprisingly calm today, just a light 3 mph breeze from the north. But don't let that fool you. Humidity is sitting high at 92%, so that 39 degrees is going to feel a lot "sharper" on your skin than it would if the air were dry.
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The Next Few Days (January 15–17)
- Thursday (Today): We’re looking at a high of 41°F and a low of 34°F. Expect mostly cloudy skies and maybe a 20% chance of some light rain tonight.
- Friday: Temps drop slightly to a high of 39°F and a low of 30°F. Still cloudy.
- Saturday: Cooling down further to 37°F for the high, with lows dipping to 29°F.
Basically, it’s "thick sweater and wool socks" weather.
The Chinook Factor: Why Snow Doesn't Last
One of the coolest things about living here is the Chinook winds. You’ll hear locals talk about them like they’re some kind of atmospheric magic. These are warm, dry winds that come down off the mountains.
They can literally eat snow.
You might wake up to three inches of powder on the ground, and by dinner time, it's just puddles and mud because a Chinook blew through and raised the temperature 20 degrees in a couple of hours. It’s one reason why we only average about 7 to 8 inches of total rain a year. We are officially a desert, even if the Columbia River makes everything look green and lush.
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The Wind: The Real Boss of Kennewick
If you’re new to the area, let’s talk about the wind. It’s the one part of the Kennewick Washington weather forecast that actually dictates your life.
We get these "wind events" a few times a year where gusts can top 40 or 50 mph. It’s not a tornado, but it’ll definitely blow a trampoline into a neighbor’s yard or knock over a weak fence. Most of the time, it’s just a steady 5-10 mph breeze, but in the spring and fall, the pressure changes between the coast and the inland areas turn the Columbia River Gorge into a giant wind tunnel.
Dust is the real enemy here. When the wind kicks up, it carries fine sand and dust from the surrounding fields. If you’re a homeowner, you just accept that your windows will never stay clean for more than three days.
Planning Your Week: January 18 and Beyond
As we move into next week, the Kennewick Washington weather forecast shows things getting even colder.
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By Sunday, January 18, we’re expecting a high of only 35°F. The silver lining? We might actually see the sun. It’s forecasted to be partly sunny, which is a rare treat in January. The lows will drop to 27°F, so make sure your pipes are protected and your outdoor faucets are covered.
Monday and Tuesday will stay in that mid-30s range. It’s "stagnant air" season, too. Because we’re in a valley, the cold air likes to settle at the bottom while warmer air sits on top (an inversion). This can lead to some pretty thick fog, so if you’re commuting on 395 or I-82, give yourself an extra ten minutes. Visibility can drop to almost nothing in a heartbeat.
Expert Insight: Why the Rivers Matter
Kennewick is hugged by the Columbia, the Snake, and the Yakima rivers. This "Tri-City" geography actually creates a microclimate. If you live right on the water, you might notice it's a few degrees cooler in the summer and a few degrees warmer in the winter compared to the folks living up on the Horse Heaven Hills. Those hills to the south act as a buffer, but they also catch the brunt of the wind.
Actionable Tips for Kennewick Weather
- Layer like a pro: In Kennewick, the "feels like" temperature is the only one that matters. A 40-degree day with a 15 mph wind feels like 25. Invest in a windbreaker that fits over a fleece.
- Secure the yard: If the forecast mentions gusts over 25 mph, check your trash cans and patio umbrellas. Tumbleweeds are a real driving hazard here—seriously, don't swerve for them unless you have to, just let 'em hit.
- Moisturize: The air here is incredibly dry. Between the winter heaters and the natural desert climate, your skin will thank you for using a heavy-duty lotion.
- Watch the fog: If an Air Stagnation Advisory is in effect, expect "pea soup" fog. Use your low beams and stay off the tail of the guy in front of you.
The Kennewick Washington weather forecast for the rest of this month looks like a typical high-desert winter: gray, chilly, and quiet. It’s the perfect time to hit a local winery—most of the tasting rooms are cozy this time of year—and wait for those 300 days of sunshine to start ramping back up in the spring.
Check your local sensors frequently, especially if you're heading across the blue bridge toward Pasco, as the bridge deck freezes way faster than the surface roads. Keep an eye on the barometer; when it starts dropping fast, the wind is usually right behind it.