This storm has the potential to cause Nooksack River flooding in Whatcom County
A warm, wet storm headed toward Western Washington has forecasters concerned about the possibility of flooding later this week.
An atmospheric river is aimed toward Bellingham and Whatcom County with heavy rain and warmer temperatures that could cause rapid mountain snowmelt — a scenario that can produce flooding on the Nooksack River.
Similar storms caused devastation in communities along the Nooksack River in January-February 2020 and November 2021.
Several factors could affect how much rain that Whatcom County receives, said meteorologist Carly Kovacik at the National Weather Service in Seattle.
“Regardless, this system will likely cause area rivers to begin to rise,” Kovacik said in the online forecast discussion Monday, Jan. 9.
Snow levels will rise to between 6,000 feet and 7,000 feet, above the elevation of Artist Point, according to the forecast.
“If the local area receives another round of heavy rain on Friday, (Jan. 13), river flooding could become an issue,” Kovacik said.
Current data from the Northwest River Forecast Center shows the Nooksack River cresting below flood stage later this week.
But that could change if conditions worsen.
Snow levels should drop to around 4,000 feet by Sunday, Jan. 15, Kovacik said.
Rain will remain in the forecast into next week as a series of more seasonal storms arrive.
