Cascade Rainshadow
The Cascade Range, running north to south in west-central Washington, is the state's great dividing spine. This volcanic rampart intercepts much of the moisture funneling from the nearby Pacific Ocean. While the west slopes might receive 200 inches or more of precipitation a year, those regions east of the Cascade crest, in its rainshadow, are far drier.
Precipitation
Kennewick is situated on the shrub-steppe of the Columbia Plateau. According to the Western Regional Climate Center, from 1894 to 2009, Kennewick saw an average of 7.46 inches of precipitation. Because of the orientation of the jet stream, most precipitation falls in winter as rain or snow.
Snowfall
Kennewick typically experiences limited snowfall in the winter. The Western Regional Climate Center data for those 115 years produce an average total snowfall of 9.6 inches.
History
Some winters Kennewick has barely a trace of snow. Then there are particularly snowy years. According to records of the Western Regional Climate Center, more than 34 inches of snow fell the winter of 1955-56, the maximum amount for its monitoring period.
Recreation
Whether there's a little snow on the ground or not, outdoor recreationists can brave the cold and wind to hike up nearby Badger Mountain or roam the Ice Age Floods National Geological Trail.
