Windchill back in the teens as snow closes Whatcom schools, makes roads treacherous
Several inches of snow fell overnight across lowland Whatcom County, closing schools and causing headaches for the morning commute Thursday, Jan. 6.
Some 6 inches was reported by an observer in Everson, 5 to 6 inches in Sudden Valley, and 1 to 3 inches of drifting snow in Bellingham.
Public works officials in Bellingham and Whatcom County urged residents to stay off the roads if possible.
Temperatures were hovering in the mid-20s around Whatcom County at 5 a.m., with 26 degrees at Bellingham International Airport and a north wind blowing at 13 mph, gusting to 22 mph.
But it should be the last of the arctic chill from the Fraser River Valley of British Columbia that’s gripped the region since Christmas because forecasts show a warming trend with rain and more seasonable temperatures for the Western Washington lowlands into next week.
“A warm front will stall over the area today and (Thursday) night, bringing rain, heavy at times, and milder temperatures,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Justin Pullin in the online forecast discussion for the Seattle area.
No power outages were reported because of the Fraser outflow winds, which were creating wind chills in the teens Thursday morning,
No serious crashes or traffic incidents were reported, according to the WSDOT North and Washington State Patrol accounts on Twitter and the emergency services app Pulse Point, which tracks 911 dispatches.
“Lots of drifting with vehicles stuck,” Randy Small of Lynden said on his Whatcom County Weather page on Facebook.
Fraser outflow winds were expected to increase Thursday and a warm front approached, according to forecasts from the National Weather Service in Seattle and Environment Canada.
There was a slight chance of freezing rain as temperatures rose and snow changes to rain Thursday, both the U.S. and Canadian weather agencies said.
“As of this morning, the snowfall had switched to freezing rain on campus, so extra care should be taken and travel to or from campus should be avoided if at all possible,” Western Washington University said on its website.
Roads
Interstates 5 was mostly snow-covered and cleared in only a few places through Bellingham early Thursday morning, according to Washington State Department of Transportation cameras.
Lanes of I-5 were clear in both directions by 8 a.m., WSDOT cameras showed.
Cameras showed snowy streets along Guide Meridian at Badger Road and Front Street in Lynden.
Public works crews in Bellingham and Whatcom County were working around the clock in 12-hour shifts, according to those agencies.
“Our crews are out plowing (major) roads, said Marie Duckworth at the Whatcom County Public Works Department. “We have seen some drifting in north county areas, particularly those affected by the Fraser outflow.”
In Bellingham, Public Works crews were spraying deicer on streets in advance of the snow, spokeswoman Amy Cloud said in a message on the city’s website.
“However, due to the expected change from snow to rain, the normal process of deploying salt and sand will not occur. Crews will focus on plowing, as well as working to keep storm drains clear in preparation for heavy rain,” Cloud said.
Dangerous driving conditions were likely Thursday, said Mike Olinger, assistant director of Bellingham Public Works Operations Division.
“Unnecessary travel should be limited,” Olinger said. “There is potential for Thursday morning’s commute to be treacherous.
Brandon Brubaker, the city’s Street Division supervisor, told The Herald that “the hilly areas of town and those above 500 feet are where crews were seeing the most snow, and there is ice everywhere.”
Crews were prioritizing Whatcom Transportation Authority bus routes, Cloud said.
Bus service was affected mostly in eastern Whatcom County near Kendall, WTA tweeted Thursday.
Route 1 in Bellingham was bypassing State Street hill because of slippery conditions.
Schools, business closures
Trash collection was canceled because of snow and icy conditions, said Ted Carlson, general manager of Sanitary Service Co.
Normal service would resume Friday, Carlson told The Bellingham Herald in an email. Garbage will be collected next week for all customers. Recycling and compost pickups will be on the customer’s next regularly scheduled day.
Because of safety concerns with snow and freezing temperatures, the PeaceHealth Medical Group said Wednesday, Jan. 5, that it will adjust hours Thursday at some of its Whatcom County clinics. Patients with scheduled appointments will be contacted directly, according to a statement.
Local school districts took varying steps because of the weather:
▪ Blaine, Meridian and Nooksack Valley High schools switched to online classes through Friday, Jan. 7.
▪ Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden and Mount Baker schools were closed.
▪ Bellingham Technical College closed its campus, with some online services available and employees working remotely, the school said on its website and in an email.
▪ Whatcom Community College’s campus was closed and the school delayed the start of its winter quarter until Monday, Jan. 10, WCC said on its website and in a text message.
▪ WWU’s campus in Bellingham was closed Thursday, the university said on its website.
“The university’s suspended operations policy is in place for employees, and there will be no on-campus activities; all classes taught via remote learning will be held as scheduled,” WWU said.
“On-campus walkways are icy, and extreme care should be taken when walking on campus. Due to the danger of falling branches, pedestrians should also avoid the Sehome Arboretum,” WWU said.
Whatcom forecast
Snow will change to freezing rain near Bellingham and along the U.S.-Canada border, according to forecasts from the National Weather Service in Seattle and Environment Canada.
Fraser outflow winds could produce gusts of 30-35 mph Thursday night, according to forecasts from the National Weather Service in Seattle and Environment Canada.
Winds will shift to the west by Friday, Jan. 7, and remain gusty. Power outages and damage to temporary structures such as tents are possible, the National Weather Service said in its morning media briefing.
Forecast high temperatures Thursday and Friday were in the mid-40s for areas around Bellingham.
But some areas along the U.S.-Canada border could see temperatures near freezing into early Friday, with the possibility of freezing rain, Environment Canada said in its forecast for Abbotsford, B.C.
Heavy rain is expected elsewhere in the Whatcom County lowlands Thursday night into Friday, with an inch to 1.5 inches possible.
Snow was forecast in the Mount Baker wilderness, with an avalanche warning in effect until Friday.
Levels on the Nooksack River will rise through Saturday, Jan. 8, but remain below flood stage, according to data from the Northwest River Forecast Center.
Mount Baker
Mt. Baker Ski Area was open for normal weekday operations with 3 inches of snow in the past 24 hours and more than 1 foot of snow over the past two days, the ski area said at its website.
A deep snow and tree well hazard warning was posted.
Mount Baker Highway was open with chains required for all cars and trucks and compact snow and ice, WSDOT said.
Avalanche conditions in the Mount Baker wilderness were “considerable” on the west slopes of the North Cascades, the Northwest Avalanche Center reported online.
But conditions were “high” elsewhere in Washington state.
“Very dangerous avalanche conditions will develop Wednesday night and continue on Thursday as a major storm impacts the Olympics,” the avalanche center said. “Large avalanches will occur at all elevations including open slopes in the forests. Avoid all areas where an avalanche may start, run or stop.”
This story was originally published January 6, 2022 at 5:18 AM.
