Whatcom residents urged to get ready for heavy rain, high winds this weekend
A powerful Pineapple Express storm is drenching Whatcom County this weekend, with the potential to knock out power and cause flooding on a scale not seen in 15 years.
National Weather Service officials in Seattle have issued a flood watch, a high wind warning and cautioned about the increased danger of landslides across the Puget Sound region.
Hardest-hit areas could be Marietta, Everson, Nooksack and Sumas, as water is expected to close roads, limiting travel and possibly cutting residents off or trapping them in their homes, officials said Friday.
“This is a storm that people need to pay attention to,” said John Gargett, deputy director of the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management.
“It’s going to be county-wide in the context of small streams, tributaries and low-lying areas,” he told The Bellingham Herald. “It is time for people to start preparing for flooding.”
Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu issued an emergency proclamation Friday afternoon, a move designed to allow public works, emergency officials and others to react quickly in a crisis.
“I would like to stress the importance of citizens listening to local information, to follow instructions from emergency officials and field crews,” Sidhu said in a statement. “Safety is most important and we want all citizens to be safe as well as all of our emergency responders, who will be out over the next several days monitoring the ongoing weather effects.”
Road closures
Slater Road will close at 8 p.m. Friday and stay closed through at least Monday, Gargett said in a statement.
Closures of Hannegan Road south of Lynden and Highway 9 near Acme and Van Zandt — locations near Nooksack River bridges — were likely by midnight Friday, he said.
Residents living in flood-prone areas including Everson, Nooksack, Sumas, and Marietta are encouraged to begin preparations for flooding, and be ready to leave on short notice, Gargett said.
Hovander Homestead and Tenant Lake parks were closed.
“Residents are also reminded that these impacts affect emergency responders and to only call 911 for emergencies,” Gargett said. “There may be response delays due to road conditions, downed trees and call volumes.”
Get sandbags, report damage
▪ Whatcom County Public Works Department has a number to request sandbags, 360-778-6400 ext. 2.
▪ A non-emergency reporting line for residents and businesses to report effects of flooding is 360-788-5311.
“Agencies will have latitude and budget authority to spend necessary funds,” Gargett said.
Heavy rain
Some 2 to 3 inches of rain was expected in the Whatcom County lowlands, with 6 to 8 inches of rain near Mount Baker.
Mt. Baker Ski Area was open Friday even though it was raining as snow levels rose to 7,500 feet. Snow was forecast for the mountains Saturday as a cold front approaches.
All the rainfall has increased concerns for flooding on the Nooksack River across Whatcom County, on all the river’s forks and tributaries.
Flooding
NOAA’s Northwest River Forecast Center shows the Nooksack River rising sharply on its south, middle and north forks:
▪ At the Saxon Bridge east of Highway 9 south of Acme, the south fork of the Nooksack is expected to crest late Saturday above moderate flood stage of 8.5 feet.
▪ On the Nooksack River near Nugents Corner, the river is expected to crest just below moderate flood stage of 148 feet. Record crest is 149.6 feet reached on Nov. 10, 2006.
Flooding at that time closed Mount Baker Highway and Valley Highway, several landslides were reported, and shelters were opened for displaced residents, according to Bellingham Herald archives.
▪ Near downtown Ferndale, the Nooksack is expected to crest Sunday night near moderate flood stage of 20.5 feet but far below the record flooding of November 1990.
Areas along the river in downtown Ferndale could see flooding, along with low-lying areas of the Nooksack Delta in Marietta and the Lummi Reservation.
High wind
A high-wind warning was issued through Saturday morning in Bellingham.
Sustained south winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 65 mph were forecast.
Power outages were possible because trees could be blown over in the sodden ground, Gargett said.
“With the previous storms, most of the branches have fallen off, but with the wind we could have a new series of power outages,” he said.
Garrett said the wind also could cause coastal flooding with high tide Saturday morning in Birch Bay.
Landslides
All the recent rain has meant landslides in the foothills around Western Washington and more slides were possible, according to meteorologists in Seattle.
“This amount of rain will put extra pressure on soil instability, leading to an increased threat of landslides being triggered (Friday) and Saturday,” the weather service said online.
This story was originally published January 31, 2020 at 9:49 AM.
