Whatcom will see more snow this weekend. Here’s when to expect it
Whatcom County should see more lowland snow this weekend, but the cold, dry winds blowing from British Columbia mean we’ll get less of it than other parts of the Puget Sound region.
Harsh winds from the Fraser River Valley that have been battering northwest Whatcom County have eased, said Jeff Michalski, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle.
“But it’s still very dry up there,” Michalski told The Bellingham Herald. “It’s definitely a much drier air mass over western Whatcom County than the rest of the area.”
Nevertheless, “we are still expecting some snowfall up there,” he said.
Public Works officials in Bellingham and Whatcom County have been applying anti-icing compounds to roads in anticipation.
Flakes should begin falling in the early hours of Saturday, Feb. 13, and Whatcom County should see 1 to 2 inches of snow through the morning, Michalski said.
Temperatures will remain below normal, but gradually warm through the holiday weekend.
Expect daytime highs in the upper 30s to around 40 degrees, with overnight lows in the upper 20s and low 30s.
Another round of snow is possible Sunday night and early Monday, he said.
“We get a punch of warm air coming up Sunday, but the northeast winds stay,” Michalski said. “As we move further through the week, temperatures begin to moderate.”
COVID-19 test site closing
The COVID-19 test site at the Northwest Fairgrounds in Lynden will close Saturday, Feb. 13, “due to the inclement weather forecasted this weekend,” according to a news release from the Whatcom County Health Department.
“The roads are going to be icy,” said Whatcom Unified Command’s Incident Commander John Wolpers in the release. “The safest place to be this weekend is at home and off the roads. We made this decision to protect the safety of individuals seeking testing as well as our staff and volunteers.”
People with appointments for 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday will be notified and given the opportunity to register for a new appointment at a later date.
“If you have COVID-19 symptoms over the weekend, please continue self-quarantine until you’re able to get tested and receive your results,” said Whatcom County Health Department’s COVID-19 Response Manager Mark Raaka in the release.
Warming shelter open
The city of Bellingham has opened a temporary warming site downtown for people who are homeless at Depot Market Square at 1100 Railroad Ave.
The site, which has the capacity to hold 35 people, will be open until noon Tuesday, Feb. 16, and is open 24 hours a day. No drugs or alcohol are allowed on the premises and a maximum of one cart of belongings is allowed, the city said.
COVID-19 precautions, such as social distancing and mask use, is required. The city said 21 people used the warming site Thursday night.
Food truck visit postponed
With all of the snow that is expected to arrive Friday night and Saturday, the Dick’s Drive-In food truck is postponing its trip to Bellingham.
The company made the announcement on social media on Friday afternoon, Feb. 12.
“We’re working hard to find a new date to visit and we’ll keep you updated. Hang tight!” according to the company’s Facebook post.
The truck was scheduled to stop at Waypoint Park on the waterfront. In a visit there last month, the truck drew hundreds of people and it quickly sold out of burgers.
This story was originally published February 12, 2021 at 12:01 PM.
