Amid flood and blizzard concerns, here’s when the storm will hit
Meteorologists are warning that the storm system headed toward Western Washington brings the risk of flooding and landslides, as well as heavy rain, wind and snow in the mountains.
National Weather Service forecasts said rainy, windy weather was expected to start Wednesday, Dec. 18, afternoon and continue through Saturday, Dec. 21, in a series of storms that could drench the Whatcom County lowlands with 3 inches or more of rain and cover the Mount Baker wilderness with 5 to 6 feet of snow.
A flood watch was issued for Thursday, Dec. 19, night through Sunday, Dec. 22, on the Nooksack River and a winter storm warning was issued for the North Cascades.
Areas for concern were the Mount Baker foothills, where landslides were a possible, and areas of the South Fork Valley and Ferndale, where flooding was possible along the Nooksack River.
Avalanche danger will be high in the Mount Baker wilderness backcountry, the Northwest Avalanche Service said Wednesday on a Facebook Live event.
The worst weather and heaviest rain and snow was expected Thursday night through Friday, Dec. 20, the weather service said in its Wednesday afternoon forecast.
Current predictions show the Nooksack cresting early Saturday, just above minor flood stage of 17 feet.
Near Nugents Corner, the Nooksack was expected to crest just below flood stage on Friday afternoon.
This story was originally published December 18, 2019 at 1:25 PM.
