Unseasonably cold weather could mean lowland snow for Whatcom. Here’s when
A blustery Presidents Day holiday weekend is in store for Whatcom County, and next week will start with cold temperatures and possible overnight snow flurries or a rain-snow mix, triggering an overnight warming shelter in Bellingham.
Rain and breezy conditions are expected in the lowlands Saturday, Feb. 19, and continuing into Sunday, Feb. 20.
A winter storm watch was in effect for the North Cascades, with winds gusting 25-35 mph and a foot to 20 inches of snow possible — the first substantial snowfall in several weeks, according to the Mt. Baker Ski Area.
Avalanche conditions were moderate in the Mount Baker wilderness, according to the Northwest Avalanche Center.
Rain will taper off in the lowlands Sunday night as a blast of cold air arrives, pushing overnight temperatures at or below freezing for several nights.
“The colder air will filter into the area on Monday, (Feb. 21), so a slight chance for a rain/snow mix cannot be ruled out, but chances are limited, primarily to the morning,” said meteorologist Dana Felton at the National Weather Service in Seattle.
Sunny skies are expected Tuesday, Feb. 22, with a daytime high around 40, 10 degrees below seasonal norms.
“A weak system may move through Wednesday/Thursday, with colder air in places, some light snow is possible,” Felton said in the online forecast discussion.
Morning low temperatures will be in the 20s across Whatcom County, with daytime highs in the upper 30s to low 40s from Tuesday through Thursday, Feb. 24.
Because of the extreme cold, the Whatcom County Health Department will be operating an overnight shelter in the locker rooms at Civic Stadium, from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday.
That overnight shelter will continue if the weather forecast indicates that extreme overnight cold will continue, the Health Department said in a statement.
This story was originally published February 18, 2022 at 12:41 PM.
