Whatcom County residents are going to want to bundle up, as snow, bitterly cold temperatures and chilly winds are in the forecast starting early Thursday morning, Jan. 10, according to the National Weather Service.

The first blast of snow is expected to strike after midnight as the snow level dips to sea level and the temperature reaches the high 20s and low 30s across much of the county.

A convergence zone over western Whatcom County is expected bring snow showers and as much as 2 inches of snow, said NWS meteorologist Johnny Burg. A chance of flurries continues Thursday, while Friday is expected to be dry and sunny. But don’t be fooled by the sunshine; it’s going to be cold out there.

Temperatures could plummet into the upper teens Thursday night, freezing any moisture on the road. During the day Friday, the highs will be in the low 30s, with lows in the low teens at night. Burg warned that areas of black ice are possible with temperatures that cold.

Winds of 13 to 25 mph from the Fraser Valley will make it feel even frostier Thursday and Friday.

"With lows in the teens and 20s, that can make it feel awfully cold out there," Burg said.

Saturday brings another chance for snow, as the snow level drops to around 200 feet. While most of Saturday’s precipitation is expected to come on the coast and in the Olympics, Whatcom County may get less than an inch of snow.

The below-freezing temperatures are expected to last until next Tuesday.

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Reach Zoe Fraley at zoe.fraley@bellinghamherald.com or call 756-2803.