First storm brings wind and rain but won’t derail Whatcom’s New Year’s celebration
While wind and heavy rain from the first of two storms expected to blow through the Pacific Northwest this week could jeopardize the annual New Year’s fireworks show from atop the Space Needle, one Whatcom County New Year’s tradition is still a go.
The National Weather Service Seattle predicts unsettled weather, complete with gusty winds, lowland rain, potential thunderstorms and mountain snow Tuesday and early Wednesday, before a second storm arrives later in the week.
A wind advisory has been issued for Western Washington from Whatcom County to Tacoma with gusts expected to top out at 45 mph and be highest along the water through Wednesday morning.
Because of those winds, KOMOnews.com is reporting that Seattle’s annual Space Needle New Year’s fireworks show late Tuesday and early Wednesday could be in jeopardy.
But the winds in Whatcom County, which the National Weather Service tweeted had already reached 40 mph in Bellingham shortly before 7 a.m. Tuesday, won’t deter the New Year’s revelers from welcoming 2020 at the annual Birch Bay Polar Bear Plunge.
“It’s not going to stop us,” Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce Events Coordinator Danielle Gaughen told The Bellingham Herald. “Even if we decided not to have it, people would still be jumping in.”
Though the National Weather Service issued a gale warning and small-craft advisory for Whatcom County waters, it predicts winds will begin to subside early Wednesday. The warning runs through 4 a.m., though conditions are still expected to be breezy.
The National Weather Service predicts there may be a few thunderstorms Tuesday evening and early Wednesday, but it won’t be widespread throughout the region. Snow levels in the mountains also are expected to dip down to 3,800 feet Tuesday night, and river levels are expected to rise.
A second storm is expected to arrive Thursday afternoon and could bring more rain, cause rivers to approach flood stage, include more winds late Friday and drop snow levels as low as 1,500 feet Thursday evening, the National Weather Service said.
This story was originally published December 31, 2019 at 11:57 AM with the headline "First storm brings wind and rain but won’t derail Whatcom’s New Year’s celebration."
