High wind warning issued for region
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – The National Weather Service at Pendleton has issued a high wind warning from 8 p.m. tonight (Wednesday) through 11 a.m. Thursday. The warning includes the lower Columbia Basin and the foothills of the Blue Mountains in both Oregon and Washington.
The impacted cities include Pendleton, Hermiston, Walla Walla, Ione, Heppner, Condon, Fossil, Waitsburg, Athena, Boardman, and the Tri-Cities. Southwest winds from 20 to 30 miles per hour with gusts up to 60 miles per hour are predicted.
Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Travel could be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles. Patchy blowing dust may also reduce visibility. The primary window for the strongest winds is forecasts to be from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. The highest winds are expected in the Hanford area.
The National Weather Service advises people to secure loose objects that could be either blown around or damaged by winds. Watch for falling debris and tree limbs. Use caution while driving.
