Snow is in Bellingham’s forecast this week, but how much should Whatcom lowlands expect?
Hills around Bellingham got a dusting of snow overnight, and more flurries are possible every night this week in the Whatcom County lowlands.
Overnight temperatures will hover around freezing this week, according to the forecast from the National Weather Service in Seattle.
Daytime temperatures will remain unseasonably low, with highs in the low 40s.
“Again expect that most will see some brief snow or rain/snow mix, but any noteworthy accumulating snow will remain on the highest hills and more certainly into the Cascades,” meteorologist Matthew Cullen said online.
Light snow accumulations are possible on grassy or elevated surfaces, including bridges, overpasses, and secondary roadways, the weather service said in its online briefing.
“Little impactful snow accumulation is expected on primary roadways,” the weather service said. “This will be possible with each round of showers early Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, but the potential is highest early Wednesday morning (Dec. 15).”
It’s another story in the North Cascades and the Mount Baker backcountry, however, where snow is in the forecast daily this week.
More than two feet of snow fell over the past two days at the Mt. Baker Ski Area, which opens to season pass holders on Tuesday, Dec. 14, and to everyone on Wednesday, Dec. 15.
Avalanche danger ‘considerable’
Avalanche danger is considerable on the western slopes of the North Cascades, according to the Northwest Avalanche Center.
“We saw several feet of snow fall over pretty much the entire range,” Dennis D’Amico, the center’s forecast director told the Associated Press.
Six skiers traveling in a closed area at Crystal Mountain ski resort Saturday triggered an avalanche and were trapped, resort officials said. Five of the skiers climbed out but a 66-year-old man was not breathing when pulled from the snow. He died at the scene.
“This is a known area where avalanches occur and it’s also an area where folks can travel safely at other times of the year,” D’Amico told KOMO-TV.
Officials with Alterra Mountain Company, the ownership group for Crystal Mountain, said it was the first time in the four years since they have owned the resort that a person was killed during an avalanche.
The incident has sparked concerns about the rest of the Cascades, considering the mountain range is essentially all under “considerable avalanche danger,” officials said.
“Considerable literally means dangerous avalanche conditions exist,” D’Amico said. Forecasters plan to survey the site and interview the survivors to understand what happened. “We’re going to figure out whether it’s a human triggered or natural avalanche.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
