Storm bringing several hazards to Whatcom County into the weekend
An atmospheric river is bringing a day or two of heavy rainfall to Western Washington, and with it comes a higher risk of flooding, landslides and avalanches.
Bellingham and the Whatcom County lowlands should expect a half-inch or more of rain on Thursday, Jan. 12, with heavier rain in the mountains below 7,000 feet, said meteorologist Carly Kovacik of the National Weather Service in Seattle.
“Thursday will be a soggy day across Western Washington with steady rain expected through the morning and afternoon hours. Rain will still be widespread into Thursday evening and Thursday night,” Kovacik said in the online forecast discussion.
This storm will bring gusty east winds of 20-25 mph that could cause a few scattered power outages, according to the online forecast.
Landslides will become a threat because of soggy ground and the rain in the mountains will create dangerous avalanche conditions in the Mount Baker wilderness.
Rain will continue into Friday, Jan. 13, and through the weekend, but it will be less intense.
Heavy rain and mountain snowmelt will cause the Nooksack River to rise quickly.
But the river will crest below flood stage upstream near Everson on Saturday, Jan. 14, according to projections from the Northwest River Forecast Center.
Downstream in Ferndale, forecasts call for the river to crest Saturday about 1 foot below flood stage of 18 feet.
