Thursday started with a boom — should Whatcom expect even more thunderstorms?
Whatcom County could see potentially damaging winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms Friday morning, Sept. 25, the National Weather Service in Seattle said in online forecasts Thursday, Sept. 24.
“The next storm system will impact the region Friday,’ meteorologist Reid Wolcott said in an emailed statement. “Winds will begin to ramp up area-wide around midnight, peak between 4-9 a.m., then ramp down mid-day.”
An advisory was issued for south winds at 30-35 mph with gusts in the 45-50 mph range.
A small craft advisory was in effect for Bellingham Bay and adjacent waters.
Strongest winds are expected along the coast, lowland and island areas north of Everett and on the northern slopes of the Olympics.
“Wind gusts as high as 50-60 mph cannot be ruled out in these areas. Conversely, the low-end estimates still range from 30-40 mph,” Wolcott said.
Wolcott said that because most trees still have their leaves, they may be more susceptible to damage — especially when combined with rainfall.
Another inch of rain was possible from Friday’s storm, the forecast said.
Environment Canada issued a heavy rain warning for Abbotsford, just north of Lynden.
And the National Weather Service in Seattle warned of possible street flooding from clogged gutters.
Stormy through the weekend
“A series of vigorous frontal systems will bring wet and windy weather at times along with cooler temperatures through Saturday,” National Weather Service meteorologist in Seattle Gary Schneider said.
“Showery weather will continue today with isolated thunder possible as a broad upper trough traverses the area. A vigorous frontal system will move through the area later tonight and Friday bringing another shot of rain,” he said in the online forecast discussion for Thursday.
Winds Thursday were expected be 10-15 mph with gusts to 20 mph, the forecast said.
High temperatures in the mid-60s were forecast.
Wednesday’s storm
Heavy rain fell at times Wednesday, Sept. 23, along with strong gusty winds.
Electrical storms rolled through early Thursday, with lightning strikes that knocked out electricity to some PSE customers north and south of Bellingham.
Wednesday’s series of storms packed sustained winds of 20-25 mph, with gusts to 41 recorded at Bellingham International Airport.
A gust of 53 mph was recorded at Sandy Point, according to National Weather Service data.
Fallen trees and limbs caused scattered brief power outages throughout Wednesday, Puget Sound Energy said on its website.
Fewer than 50 PSE customers were without power near Everson early Thursday from lightning strikes, the utility company said.
Another 150 customers were without power Thursday because of fallen trees near Maple Falls.
Wednesday rainfall was .68 inch, well above than the .09 inch of rain that fell during the first 22 days of September.
More than half of Thursday’s total was recorded during an intense squall that struck parts of Whatcom County around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
This story was originally published September 24, 2020 at 7:29 AM.
