Editing Tri-Cities, Washington (section)

==Climate and geography==
[[Image:RichlandWaRattlesnakeYakima.jpg|thumb|upright|The view of [[Rattlesnake Mountain, Benton County, Washington|Rattlesnake Mountain]], a windswept and treeless ridge 1,060 meters high, from the Horn Rapids Golf Course in Richland.]]The Tri-Cities are in a [[semi-arid climate]],<ref name="Washington Biodiversity Project">{{cite web |title=Columbia Plateau Ecoregion: Biodiversity |publisher=Washington Biodiversity Project |url=http://www.biodiversity.wa.gov/ecoregions/columbia_plateau/columbia_plateau.html |access-date=July 10, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624222924/http://www.biodiversity.wa.gov/ecoregions/columbia_plateau/columbia_plateau.html |archive-date=June 24, 2008}}</ref> receiving an average of {{convert|5|to|7|in|mm}} of precipitation every year. Winds periodically exceed {{convert|30|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} when [[Chinook wind]] conditions exist. While there are an average 225 clear days every year, these are mainly between April 1 and November 1.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.co.benton.wa.us/pView.aspx?id=1606&catid=45 |title=Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria |publisher=Benton County [Washington] |access-date=February 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818095458/http://www.co.benton.wa.us/pView.aspx?id=1606&catid=45|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 18, 2010}}</ref> Temperatures range from as low as {{convert|-10|°F|°C|abbr=on}} in the winter (record low {{convert|-29|°F|°C|abbr=on}} in December 1919) to as high as {{convert|110|°F|°C|abbr=on}} in the summer, and Richland reached {{convert|118|°F|°C|abbr=on}} during the [[2021 Western North America heat wave]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cary |first=Annette |date=5 September 2021 |title=Summer 2021 was one for the record books for the Tri-Cities |work=[[Wenatchee World]] |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/summer-2021-was-one-for-the-record-books-for-the-tri-cities/article_2b0db5dc-0f10-11ec-8fff-8b738d42869a.html |access-date=15 April 2023}}</ref> The region receives a yearly average of seven inches of [[snow]] but has received as much as 50&nbsp;inches.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.go2kennewick.com/go2kennewick/default.aspx?option=com_flexicontent&view=items&cid=304&id=330&Itemid=362 |title=Snow & Ice - The Winter Challenge |author=COK |access-date=December 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222060346/http://www.go2kennewick.com/go2kennewick/default.aspx?option=com_flexicontent&view=items&cid=304&id=330&Itemid=362 |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Due to the semi-arid climate and subsequent large amounts of sand, a perpetual annoyance to residents is the amount of dust blown about by the frequent winds. Thanks to the aforementioned rivers, a large amount of cheap [[irrigation]] is available.

Washington is the most northwest of the [[lower 48]] [[U.S. state|state]]s—consequently, the area is in the [[Pacific Standard Time Zone]]. The Tri-Cities makes up the largest metropolitan area in the southeastern quadrant of Washington. The large [[Cascade Range|Cascade Mountain Range]] to the west contributes to the semi-arid climate, which is far drier than the famously wet [[Western Washington|western side]] of the state. See [[rain shadow]] for more information on this phenomenon. The region's climate results in a [[shrub-steppe]] ecosystem<ref>
{{cite web |title=Shrub Steppe Ecology |publisher=Washington State University Tri-Cities |url=http://www.tricity.wsu.edu/shrub_steppe/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040327142631/http://www.tricity.wsu.edu/shrub_steppe/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 27, 2004 |access-date=July 10, 2008}}</ref> which has 18 endemic plant species.<ref name="Washington Biodiversity Project"/> Just west of Richland, the [[Arid Lands Ecology Reserve|Fitzner/Eberhardt Arid Lands Ecology Reserve]] was established to study the unique plants and animals found in the local shrub steppe ecosystem. It is the largest tract of shrub-steppe ecosystem remaining in the U.S. state of Washington.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fws.gov/hanfordreach/documents/alefactsheet.pdf |title=Fitzner/Eberhardt Arid Lands Ecology Reserve Fact Sheet |publisher=U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Hanford Reach National Monument |date=August 2002 |access-date=July 10, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030044139/http://www.fws.gov/hanfordreach/documents/alefactsheet.pdf |archive-date=October 30, 2008}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Tri-Cities, Washington ([[Tri-Cities Airport (Washington)|Tri-Cities Airport]]), 1991&ndash;2020 normals, extremes 1894&ndash;present
|single line = 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 = 115
|Jul record high F = 115
|Aug record high F = 115
|Sep record high F = 102
|Oct record high F = 90
|Nov record high F = 78
|Dec record high F = 71

|Jan avg record high F = 58.9
|Feb avg record high F = 61.9
|Mar avg record high F = 71.8
|Apr avg record high F = 82.6
|May avg record high F = 92.4
|Jun avg record high F = 98.9
|Jul avg record high F = 104.7
|Aug avg record high F = 102.5
|Sep avg record high F = 93.5
|Oct avg record high F = 80.8
|Nov avg record high F = 67.8
|Dec avg record high F = 59.3
|year avg record high F = 105.7

|Jan high F = 41.4
|Feb high F = 48.6
|Mar high F = 58.6
|Apr high F = 67.0
|May high F = 76.5
|Jun high F = 83.1
|Jul high F = 92.5
|Aug high F = 90.7
|Sep high F = 80.9
|Oct high F = 65.8
|Nov high F = 49.9
|Dec high F = 41.0
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 34.6
|Feb mean F = 38.4
|Mar mean F = 45.8
|Apr mean F = 52.7
|May mean F = 61.4
|Jun mean F = 67.8
|Jul mean F = 74.7
|Aug mean F = 73.2
|Sep mean F = 64.2
|Oct mean F = 52.1
|Nov mean F = 40.9
|Dec mean F = 34.1
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 27.8
|Feb low F = 28.2
|Mar low F = 33.1
|Apr low F = 38.4
|May low F = 46.3
|Jun low F = 52.6
|Jul low F = 56.9
|Aug low F = 55.7
|Sep low F = 47.6
|Oct low F = 38.4
|Nov low F = 31.9
|Dec low F = 27.3
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 11.7
|Feb avg record low F = 14.6
|Mar avg record low F = 21.4
|Apr avg record low F = 27.8
|May avg record low F = 34.1
|Jun avg record low F = 43.0
|Jul avg record low F = 48.4
|Aug avg record low F = 47.0
|Sep avg record low F = 37.1
|Oct avg record low F = 24.7
|Nov avg record low F = 17.8
|Dec avg record low F = 12.0
|year avg record low F = 4.1

|Jan record low F = -27
|Feb record low F = -23
|Mar record low F = -1
|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 = 9
|Nov record low F = -8
|Dec record low F = -29

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.03
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.63
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.69
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.66
|May precipitation inch = 0.71
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.61
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.15
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.27
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.31
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.66
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.87
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.03
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 10.0
|Feb precipitation days = 7.8
|Mar precipitation days = 7.6
|Apr precipitation days = 6.7
|May precipitation days = 7.2
|Jun precipitation days = 5.0
|Jul precipitation days = 1.8
|Aug precipitation days = 2.1
|Sep precipitation days = 3.0
|Oct precipitation days = 6.3
|Nov precipitation days = 9.0
|Dec precipitation days = 10.3

|Jan snow inch = 4.0
|Feb snow inch = 1.9
|Mar snow inch = 0.1
|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 = 0.9
|Dec snow inch = 2.5
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 2.5
|Feb snow days = 1.1
|Mar snow days = 0.1
|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 = 0.5
|Dec snow days = 1.6

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00024163&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 – Station: Pasco Tri Cities AP, WA
|access-date = April 15, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service (snow/snow days 1894&ndash;2019)<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=pdt
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Pendleton
|access-date = April 15, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
|location = Kennewick, Washington, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1894–present
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes

|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>
{{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 = April 15, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=pdt
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data
|access-date = April 15, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
|location = Richland, Washington, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1944–present
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes

|Jan record high F = 71
|Feb record high F = 73
|Mar record high F = 82
|Apr record high F = 92
|May record high F = 105
|Jun record high F = 112
|Jul record high F = 113
|Aug record high F = 113
|Sep record high F = 106
|Oct record high F = 93
|Nov record high F = 78
|Dec record high F = 69

|Jan avg record high F = 57.6
|Feb avg record high F = 60.4
|Mar avg record high F = 70.0
|Apr avg record high F = 79.9
|May avg record high F = 89.3
|Jun avg record high F = 95.2
|Jul avg record high F = 101.5
|Aug avg record high F = 99.9
|Sep avg record high F = 91.5
|Oct avg record high F = 78.6
|Nov avg record high F = 66.0
|Dec avg record high F = 58.2
|year avg record high F = 102.4

|Jan high F = 40.6
|Feb high F = 47.5
|Mar high F = 57.1
|Apr high F = 65.1
|May high F = 73.9
|Jun high F = 80.2
|Jul high F = 89.3
|Aug high F = 88.1
|Sep high F = 78.9
|Oct high F = 64.3
|Nov high F = 49.0
|Dec high F = 39.9
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 34.7
|Feb mean F = 38.8
|Mar mean F = 46.1
|Apr mean F = 53.0
|May mean F = 61.1
|Jun mean F = 67.3
|Jul mean F = 74.7
|Aug mean F = 73.6
|Sep mean F = 65.2
|Oct mean F = 53.0
|Nov mean F = 41.3
|Dec mean F = 34.1
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 28.8
|Feb low F = 30.1
|Mar low F = 35.1
|Apr low F = 41.0
|May low F = 48.3
|Jun low F = 54.4
|Jul low F = 60.0
|Aug low F = 59.0
|Sep low F = 51.4
|Oct low F = 41.7
|Nov low F = 33.6
|Dec low F = 28.4
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 13.0
|Feb avg record low F = 16.8
|Mar avg record low F = 24.3
|Apr avg record low F = 30.7
|May avg record low F = 37.5
|Jun avg record low F = 46.1
|Jul avg record low F = 52.0
|Aug avg record low F = 50.7
|Sep avg record low F = 40.9
|Oct avg record low F = 28.3
|Nov avg record low F = 19.9
|Dec avg record low F = 14.6
|year avg record low F = 7.9

|Jan record low F = -21
|Feb record low F = -22
|Mar record low F = 7
|Apr record low F = 23
|May record low F = 30
|Jun record low F = 38
|Jul record low F = 41
|Aug record low F = 39
|Sep record low F = 31
|Oct record low F = 13
|Nov record low F = -6
|Dec record low F = -10

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.04
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.67
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.64
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.62
|May precipitation inch = 0.63
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.56
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.23
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.13
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.29
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.54
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.87
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.07
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 11.8
|Feb precipitation days = 8.7
|Mar precipitation days = 8.1
|Apr precipitation days = 7.1
|May precipitation days = 7.1
|Jun precipitation days = 4.7
|Jul precipitation days = 2.2
|Aug precipitation days = 2.1
|Sep precipitation days = 3.1
|Oct precipitation days = 6.7
|Nov precipitation days = 10.3
|Dec precipitation days = 11.9

|Jan snow inch = 1.9
|Feb snow inch = 1.9
|Mar snow inch = 0.2
|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 = trace
|Nov snow inch = 0.1
|Dec snow inch = 2.3
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 1.5
|Feb snow days = 0.9
|Mar snow days = 0.3
|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 = 0.4
|Dec snow days = 1.9
|year snow days = 5.0

|source 1 = NOAA (snow/snow days 1981&ndash;2010)<ref>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00457015&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 – Station: Richland, WA (1991&ndash;2020)
|access-date = April 15, 2023
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USC00457015&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 – Station: Richland, WA (1981&ndash;2010)
|access-date = April 15, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name="NOWData"/>
}}

[[File:ColumbiaBasin NorthernLights 2013.jpg|thumb|Aurora Borealis as seen approximately 25 miles north of Pasco, WA in May 2013]]

Limited city lights and an absence of photopollution in the Tri-Cities area allow for naked-eye and telescopic astronomy. The Tri-City Astronomy Club partners holds star gazing events at the Hanford Observatory.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.tricityastronomyclub.org/ | title=Mysite}}</ref> Hiking locations, such as [[Badger Mountain (Tri-Cities)|Badger Mountain]], [[Candy Mountain (Washington)|Candy Mountain]] and [[Jump Off Joe (Washington)|Jump Off Joe]] Butte, provide views of sunrises and sunsets, studies of celestial bodies and stellar astronomy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/badger-mountain-1|title=Badger Mountain- Skyline Loop|date=January 28, 2019|website=Washington Trails Association}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} The [[Aurora (astronomy)|aurora borealis]] (or northern lights) is sometimes visible near Tri-Cities at specific times of the year.<ref name="Northern Lights 2013">{{cite news |last=Tuthill |first=Samantha-Rae |title=Dazzling Northern Lights Anticipated Tonight |url=http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/dazzling-northern-lights-antic-1/10107004 |access-date=June 2, 2013 |newspaper=AccuWeather |date=April 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612010916/http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/dazzling-northern-lights-antic-1/10107004 |archive-date=June 12, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Northern Lights 2011">{{cite web |work=Tri-City Herald |title=Northern Lights may be visible today in Tri-Cities |url=http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/08/06/1595138/northern-lights-may-be-visible.html |access-date=June 2, 2013 |date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619211233/http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/08/06/1595138/northern-lights-may-be-visible.html |archive-date=June 19, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>