Whatcom’s stormy weather could worsen through the weekend. Here’s what to expect
Expect blustery weather to continue across Whatcom County through New Year’s weekend — with breezy periods, occasionally heavy rain in the lowlands, buckets of snow in the mountains, storm surges on the coast and possibly a damaging windstorm.
That’s good news for winter sports enthusiasts but it could mean power outages and minor flooding elsewhere, according to the National Weather Service in Seattle.
The worst of the storms was expected Friday night, Jan. 1, through Saturday night, Jan. 2, with heavy rain and strong wind, the weather service said in a statement.
“A series of systems will bring lowland rain, impactful mountain snow, and gusty winds to Western Washington today and again over the weekend,” meteorologist Reid Wolcott said in the online forecast discussion Wednesday, Dec. 30.
“Wet and unsettled weather looks to persist into the first week of 2021,” Wolcott said.
By Thursday, Dec. 31, meteorologists were warning that fierce winds could develop with Saturday’s storm.
“Winds look to peak across the area Saturday afternoon into Saturday night, before gradually easing by Sunday morning. Winds 25 to 35 mph will be possible and gusts 40 to 50 mph cannot be ruled out,” the online forecast said.
Up to 2 inches of rain was possible through Sunday in the Bellingham area.
A total of 6.42 inches of rain fell through Wednesday in December.
That’s more than 2 inches above normal monthly rainfall as measured at Bellingham International Airport.
Landslides were a possibility because of saturated soil.
Daytime temperatures were expected through Sunday, Dec. 3, in the mid-40s, with lows in the 30s and 40s.
Daily outlook
▪ Friday: Rain, with a high near 52 and a low near 45. South winds 17-25 mph, gusting to 33 mph. In the mountains, expect snow with a high of 35 and winds gusting to 25 mph.
▪ Saturday: Rain, with a high near 51 and a low near 42. South-southeast winds 18-25 mph, gusting to 33 mph. In the mountains, expect snow with a high of 33 and winds gusting to 25 mph.
▪ Sunday: Rain, with a high near 48 and a low around 40. In the mountains, expect snow with a high of 31.
Mountains
A winter weather advisory was in effect for the North Cascades through Thursday, Dec. 31.
“It is currently snowing hard up here,” said Amy Trowbridge at the Mt. Baker Ski Area.
Up to 18 inches of snow was forecast for the Mount Baker wilderness through Thursday morning, with snow levels dropping to 2,500 feet, and up to 8 inches was possible Friday and Saturday.
Some 14 inches of snow fell in the 24 hours through Thursday morning, the ski area reported at its website.
And snow was expected daily through Tuesday, Jan. 5, in the North Cascades, the weather service said.
Avalanche danger was “considerable” and could worsen through the weekend, according to the Northwest Avalanche Center.
The danger was “high” on the west slopes of the Cascades from Skagit County south.
Marine forecast
Conditions could be treacherous on Bellingham Bay, the Georgia Strait and adjacent waters, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management warned in an email.
“As the next weather system arrives winds will again pick up and small craft advisories and gale watches and warnings should be expected,” emergency managers advised.
Saturday and Sunday bring the potential for minor coastal flooding from Bellingham to Blaine as storm surges combine with seasonal “king tides” Saturday and Sunday.
“Minor beach erosion will be possible for coastal areas and large waves could carry debris farther up beaches,” the weather service said online.
River conditions
Because of all the rain, the Nooksack River was running high but was not expected to reach flood stage, according to the Northwest River Forecast Center.
“We are going to be wet through the weekend as more weather systems pass through our area,” Whatcom Division of Emergency Management said. “The Nooksack River level and its forks are beginning to rise but will stay well below flood stage.”
Local rivers and streams will rise again rise starting Saturday as the storms bring more rain.
“Flooding is not predicted at this time; however, river channels will be quite full; actual rainfall will affect the level so stay tuned to local weather stations for updates,” the Division of Emergency Management said. “And small streams will likely have fast-moving water in them as well. Be careful.”
This story was originally published December 31, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
