Editing Kennewick, Washington (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Kennewick from Thompson Hill.jpg|thumb|Kennewick from Thompson Hill, which is in the south part of town.]]
Kennewick is located in [[Eastern Washington]] along the south side of the Columbia River and is one of three cities in the Tri-Cities. The other two cities are Richland, which is upstream of Kennewick on the same side of the river, and Pasco, which is across the river. The elevation within the city rises from the river to a line of ridges on the south side of town that are a result of the same [[anticline]] that created [[Badger Mountain (Benton County, Washington)|Badger Mountain]] and [[Rattlesnake Mountain (Benton County, Washington)|Rattlesnake Mountain]].<ref name=GeologicMap>{{cite map |first1=J. Eric |last1=Schuster |first2=Charles W. |last2=Gulick |first3=Stephen P. |last3=Reidel |first4=Karl R. |last4=Fecht |first5=Stephanie |last5=Zurenko |title=Geologic Map of Washington - Southeast Quadrant |year=1997 |publisher=[[Washington State Department of Natural Resources]] |url=https://www.dnr.wa.gov/publications/ger_gm45_geol_map_se_wa_250k.pdf |access-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-date=August 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805014833/https://www.dnr.wa.gov/publications/ger_gm45_geol_map_se_wa_250k.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Beyond that line of ridges, the city slopes up toward the [[Horse Heaven Hills]].<ref name=KennewickTopo>{{cite map |title=Kennewick, WA |year=2017 |scale=1:24,000 |publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]}}</ref> According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|28.36|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|26.93|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|1.43|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=December 19, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref> The former community of Vista is now a neighborhood fully contained within Kennewick.

The city overlies basalt laid down by the [[Columbia River Basalt Group]], which was a type of [[volcano|volcanic]] eruption known as a [[flood basalt]]. This erupted from fissures that were geographically spread throughout eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, and far western Idaho. Most of the lava erupted between 17 and 14 million years ago, with smaller eruptions lasting as late as 6 million years ago.<ref>{{Citation
|first1 = Robert J. |last1 = Carson
|first2 = Kevin R.  |last2 = Pogue
|author-link2=Kevin Pogue
|title = Flood Basalts and Glacier Floods: Roadside Geology of Parts of Walla Walla, Franklin, and Columbia Counties, Washington
|publisher = Washington State Department of Natural Resources (Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources Information Circular 90)
|year = 1996
|page=2
}}</ref><ref>{{Citation
|last1= Reidel |first1 = Stephen P.
|title = A Lava Flow without a Source: The Cohasset Flow and Its Compositional Members
|journal = Journal of Geology
|volume = 113 |issue =  1|pages = 1&ndash;21
|date=January 2005
|bibcode = 2005JG....113....1R |doi = 10.1086/425966 |s2cid = 12587046
}}</ref> The nearest eruptive vent to Kennewick from this period is near [[Ice Harbor Dam]] along the Snake River upstream of Burbank and Pasco. While outcroppings from the basalt flows can be seen throughout Kennewick, they are mostly buried by sediments.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://geologyportal.dnr.wa.gov/ |title=Washington Geologic Information Portal |publisher=[[Washington State Department of Natural Resources]] |access-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231205618/https://geologyportal.dnr.wa.gov/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The first major sediment deposit following the eruptions is the [[Ringold Formation]], which was placed by the Columbia River between 8 and 3 million years ago. Further deposition came as a result of the [[Missoula Floods]].<ref name=GeologicMap /> At the end of the [[last glacial maximum]], an ice dam blocked the [[Clark Fork River]] in [[Montana]]. The pressure from the resulting lake would periodically build to the point that the dam would fail, sending massive amounts of water cascading to the [[Pacific Ocean]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Clague|first1=John J.|last2=Barendregt|first2=Rene|last3=Enkin|first3=Randolph J.|last4=Foit| first4=Franklin F. Jr. |title=Paleomagnetic and tephra evidence for tens of Missoula floods in southern Washington|journal=Geology|volume=31|issue=3|pages=247–250|publisher=The Geological Society of America|date=March 2003|doi=10.1130/0091-7613(2003)031<0247:PATEFT>2.0.CO;2|bibcode=2003Geo....31..247C}}</ref> The flood's movement was impeded by the Horse Heaven Hills, creating a temporary lake known as [[Lake Lewis]]. This abrupt halt in flow allowed the floodwater to drop a significant amount of sediment before passing through [[Wallula Gap]] toward [[Hermiston, Oregon|Hermiston]]. During the largest floods, the water's surface reached {{convert|1250|ft|m}} above sea level. This completely covered all of the land within Kennewick's city limits.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bjornstad|first=Bruce|year=2006|title=On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods: A Geological Guide to the Mid-Columbia Basin|publisher=Keokee Books|location=San Point, Idaho|isbn=978-1-87962-827-4}}</ref>

[[Earthquake]]s are a hazard in Kennewick, though not to the same extent or frequency as areas west of the [[Cascade Range]] like the [[Puget Sound Region]]. The entire [[Pacific Northwest]] is threatened with [[subduction zone]] earthquakes that can exceed magnitudes of 9 on the [[moment magnitude scale]]. The last of these earthquakes, which could be compared to the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami|2011 Tōhoku earthquake]] in [[Japan]], [[1700 Cascadia earthquake|occurred in 1700]].<ref>{{citation|title=Significant Earthquake Information|url=https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazel/view/hazards/earthquake/event-more-info/9954|author=National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS)|publisher=[[National Geophysical Data Center]], [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]|doi=10.7289/V5TD9V7K|year=1972|type=Data Set|access-date=January 29, 2024|archive-date=March 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307082134/https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazel/view/hazards/earthquake/event-more-info/9954|url-status=live}}</ref> Should the next earthquake occur, damage is expected to be minimal in and around Kennewick, but destruction west of the Cascades could have a major impact of the economy of inland areas. These subduction zone earthquakes will be centered on the boundary between the [[North American Plate]] and the [[Juan de Fuca Plate]], which is located offshore.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://file.dnr.wa.gov/publications/ger_ic116_csz_scenario_update.pdf|year=2013|title=Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquakes|publisher=Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup|page=17|access-date=December 31, 2019|archive-date=September 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902000705/https://file.dnr.wa.gov/publications/ger_ic116_csz_scenario_update.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Fault lines closer to Kennewick also produce earthquakes. While these are weaker, they can still cause damage. One such earthquake, named the [[1936 State Line earthquake]], occurred near [[Walla Walla, Washington|Walla Walla]] with damage extending as far away as Prosser.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://assets.pnsn.org/HIST_CAT/1936.html |title=WA/OR - United States earthquakes, 1936 |publisher=Pacific Northwest Seismic Network |location=[[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] |access-date=February 26, 2018 |archive-date=February 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219195918/http://assets.pnsn.org/HIST_CAT/1936.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Climate ===
[[File:Large dust storm in parts of eastern Washington on October 4, 2009.jpg|thumb|upright|Satellite view of a [[dust storm]] in 2009 obscuring parts of Kennewick.]]

Kennewick has a [[semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BSk''), that closely borders on a [[desert climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BWk'') due to its position east of the Cascade Mountains.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=451454&cityname=Kennewick%2C+Washington%2C+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Kennewick, Washington Köppen Climate Classification|publisher=Weatherbase|access-date=December 31, 2019|archive-date=March 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316152922/https://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=451454&cityname=Kennewick%2C+Washington%2C+United+States+of+America&units=|url-status=live}}</ref> The Cascades create an effective [[rain shadow]], causing Kennewick to receive a fraction of the precipitation that cities west of the mountains like [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]] and [[Seattle]] get annually, with values being more similar to that of [[Phoenix, Arizona]]. The mountains also insulate Kennewick from the moderating effects of the Pacific Ocean, allowing the city to experience more extreme temperatures.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theweatherprediction.com/weatherpapers/118/index.html|first=Corey|last=Christiansen|title=Wet vs. Dry - Shedding Some Light on the Pacific Northwest Rain Shadow|publisher=The Weather Prediction|access-date=December 31, 2019|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112005814/https://www.theweatherprediction.com/weatherpapers/118/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Mass|first=Cliff|author-link=Cliff Mass|year=2008|title=The Weather of the Pacific Northwest|publisher=[[University of Washington]]|pages=13–18|isbn=978-0-295-98847-4}}</ref>

Before McNary Dam was built on the Columbia River downstream of Kennewick, the river would periodically flood. The worst of these floods [[1948 Columbia River flood|happened in 1948]] and caused one death and $50 million ($533.6 million in 2019) worth of damage.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/ |title=US Inflation Calculator |access-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-date=July 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723111922/https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The government responded by building the [[McNary Levee System]] to protect lower parts of town.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/5675 |title=Flood inundates Kennewick and Richland on May 31, 1948 |first=Elizabeth |last=Gibson |publisher=HistoryLink |date=March 31, 2008 |access-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231230641/https://www.historylink.org/File/5675 |url-status=live }}</ref> Floods like this were the result of melting snow, and were most extreme when a heavy snowpack developed in the mountains over winter followed by a strong regional heatwave. The flood threat from the Columbia has significantly decreased since dams were built.<ref>{{harvp|Mass|2008|pp=30–32}}</ref> [[Zintel Canyon Dam]] located near the [[Southridge Sports and Events Complex]] was built to protect parts of the city from a [[100-year flood]]. While the creek that flows through Zintel Canyon typically runs dry, summer thunderstorms in the Horse Heaven Hills can generate destructive [[flash flood]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://washingtonlandscape.blogspot.com/2012/11/zintel-canyon-dam.html |last=McShane |first=Dan |work=Reading the Washington Landscape |title=Zintel Canyon Dam |date=November 28, 2012 |access-date=February 2, 2018 |archive-date=March 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304142419/https://washingtonlandscape.blogspot.com/2012/11/zintel-canyon-dam.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Lying at the bottom of a basin, [[temperature inversion]]s can develop, creating dense [[fog]] and low clouds in Kennewick. This is particularly common in the winter and can last for several days. Inversions form during periods of high pressure. High pressure combining with the low angle of the sun in winter brings stability in the atmosphere, allowing denser cold air to sink to the floor of the Columbia Basin. Pollutants will also become trapped, lowering the air quality. When fog develops during an inversion, it will often limit diurnal temperature changes to just a few degrees. Temperatures in areas above the inversion will often be warmer despite being at a higher elevation.<ref>{{harvp|Mass|2008|pp=223–229}}</ref> These inversions cause a major decrease in the amount of sunshine Kennewick receives annually.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ingalls.weathertogether.net/2018/04/25/does-the-tri-cities-really-get-300-days-of-sunshine-a-year/ |first=Mark |last=Ingalls |title=Does the Tri-Cities really get 300 days of sunshine a year? |publisher=WeatherTogether |date=April 25, 2018 |access-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231230646/http://ingalls.weathertogether.net/2018/04/25/does-the-tri-cities-really-get-300-days-of-sunshine-a-year/ |url-status=live }}</ref> If a weather system drops precipitation but isn't strong enough to clear the inversion, [[freezing rain]] or [[ice pellets|sleet]] can fall in Kennewick.<ref>{{harvp|Mass|2008|p=74}}</ref>

The average annual wind speed in Kennewick is {{convert|8|mph|kph}}, but strong winds are a common occurrence in Kennewick and can sometimes cause damage.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://keprtv.com/news/local/wind-gusts-hit-70-mph-in-tri-cities |title=Wind gusts hit 70 mph in Tri-Cities |publisher=[[KEPR-TV]] |date=December 17, 2012 |access-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231230645/https://keprtv.com/news/local/wind-gusts-hit-70-mph-in-tri-cities |url-status=live }}</ref> Wind and the arid nature of the region can cause [[dust storm]]s. These events can happen any time of the year but is most common in the spring and fall months when farms in the region have high amounts of exposed soil.<ref>{{harvp|Mass|2008|pp=180–184}}</ref> [[Chinook winds]] can also be experienced during the winter. These are formed when moisture gets removed from air moving across the Cascade Mountains, allowing the air to warm significantly as it descends into the [[Yakima River|Yakima Valley]] and Columbia Basin. Many of the high temperature records set during the winter months result from Chinook events.<ref>{{cite book |last=Burt |first=Christopher |year=2004 |title=Extreme Weather |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |page=[https://archive.org/details/extremeweathergu00burt_0/page/251 251] |isbn=0-393-32658-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/extremeweathergu00burt_0/page/251 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.joelane.com/climate-weather-tri-cities-wa.php |title=Climate and Weather of Tri-Cities, Washington |access-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-date=October 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024154744/https://www.joelane.com/climate-weather-tri-cities-wa.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

Summer brings extreme heat and low humidity, which are ideal conditions for [[wildfires]] in undeveloped areas adjacent to town. One such fire in 2018 started along [[Interstate 82]] south of Kennewick and burned {{convert|5000|acres|ha}}, destroying five homes on the edge of Kennewick.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article216542955.html |title=Devastating Tri-City wildfire destroys 5 homes, damages 3 more |last=Probert |first=Cameron |date=August 12, 2018 |work=Tri-City Herald |access-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-date=January 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104151335/https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article216542955.html |url-status=live }}</ref> While rare, [[severe thunderstorm]]s can also cause damage in Kennewick. Severe storms can produce damaging wind, hail, lightning, and weak [[tornado]]es. No tornadoes were recorded in Kennewick between 1962 and 2011, but one did touch down in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/envbrowser/ |title=Tornado Environment Browser |publisher=[[Storm Prediction Center]] |access-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-date=October 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031040726/https://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/envbrowser/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcrightnow.com/weather/storm-causes-floods-and-produced-a-small-tornado-in-tri/article_107c8810-61a8-5d1e-a572-28d8dbb00ad1.html |title=Storm causes floods and produced a small tornado in Tri-Cities |publisher=[[KNDU-TV]] |date=May 23, 2016 |access-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-date=September 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908105520/https://www.nbcrightnow.com/weather/storm-causes-floods-and-produced-a-small-tornado-in-tri/article_107c8810-61a8-5d1e-a572-28d8dbb00ad1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[hardiness zone]] is 7b bordering 8a.

<div class="center">
{{Weather box
|location = Kennewick, Washington, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1894–present
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = y
|Jan record high F = 74
|Feb record high F = 74
|Mar record high F = 87
|Apr record high F = 95
|May record high F = 104
|Jun record high F = 114
|Jul record high F = 115
|Aug record high F = 115
|Sep record high F = 100
|Oct record high F = 89
|Nov record high F = 79
|Dec record high F = 72
|year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 59.5
|Feb avg record high F = 61.8
|Mar avg record high F = 70.8
|Apr avg record high F = 81.5
|May avg record high F = 91.4
|Jun avg record high F = 97.9
|Jul avg record high F = 103.4
|Aug avg record high F = 102.1
|Sep avg record high F = 92.9
|Oct avg record high F = 80.1
|Nov avg record high F = 68.1
|Dec avg record high F = 59.8
|year avg record high F = 104.4

|Jan high F = 41.7
|Feb high F = 48.1
|Mar high F = 58.1
|Apr high F = 66.3
|May high F = 75.3
|Jun high F = 82.0
|Jul high F = 91.3
|Aug high F = 90.3
|Sep high F = 80.5
|Oct high F = 65.9
|Nov high F = 50.9
|Dec high F = 41.5

|Jan mean F = 35.5
|Feb mean F = 39.5
|Mar mean F = 47.0
|Apr mean F = 54.3
|May mean F = 62.7
|Jun mean F = 69.2
|Jul mean F = 76.8
|Aug mean F = 75.8
|Sep mean F = 66.8
|Oct mean F = 54.5
|Nov mean F = 42.9
|Dec mean F = 35.6
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 29.6
|Feb low F = 31.0
|Mar low F = 36.2
|Apr low F = 42.5
|May low F = 50.4
|Jun low F = 56.7
|Jul low F = 62.7
|Aug low F = 61.6
|Sep low F = 53.5
|Oct low F = 43.4
|Nov low F = 35.2
|Dec low F = 30.0

|Jan avg record low F = 15.3
|Feb avg record low F = 18.8
|Mar avg record low F = 26.1
|Apr avg record low F = 33.5
|May avg record low F = 40.1
|Jun avg record low F = 48.4
|Jul avg record low F = 54.5
|Aug avg record low F = 53.3
|Sep avg record low F = 43.8
|Oct avg record low F = 30.7
|Nov avg record low F = 22.5
|Dec avg record low F = 16.8
|year avg record low F = 10.0

|Jan record low F = -27
|Feb record low F = -23
|Mar record low F = 8
|Apr record low F = 18
|May record low F = 26
|Jun record low F = 35
|Jul record low F = 38
|Aug record low F = 37
|Sep record low F = 21
|Oct record low F = 14
|Nov record low F = -8
|Dec record low F = -29
|year record low F =

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.13
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.79
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.66
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.61
|May precipitation inch = 0.81
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.59
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.20
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.17
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.26
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.66
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.86
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.13

|Jan snow inch = 1.3
|Feb snow inch = 0.1
|Mar snow inch = 0.0
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.4
|Dec snow inch = 0.4

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 11.1
|Feb precipitation days = 8.1
|Mar precipitation days = 7.8
|Apr precipitation days = 6.9
|May precipitation days = 6.3
|Jun precipitation days = 4.7
|Jul precipitation days = 2.1
|Aug precipitation days = 1.9
|Sep precipitation days = 2.6
|Oct precipitation days = 6.3
|Nov precipitation days = 8.9
|Dec precipitation days = 10.5

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 0.8
|Feb snow days = 0.1
|Mar snow days = 0.0
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.3
|Dec snow days = 0.6

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name=NOAA>{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00454154&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access
|access-date = August 4, 2022
|archive-date = August 12, 2022
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220812141400/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00454154&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|url-status = live
}}</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=pdt
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data
|access-date = July 25, 2022
|archive-date = May 30, 2022
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220530020341/https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=pdt
|url-status = live
}}</ref>
}}</div>