Update: Wind advisory extended for Whatcom County; avalanches reported in Mt. Baker Ski Area backcountry
A new storm is approaching Western Washington with strong winds and rain through the weekend, even as the southern Puget Sound region and parts of Whatcom County continue to recover from Tuesday’s bomb cyclone.
A wind advisory was expended until 4 a.m. Saturday for southeast winds at 20-30 mph with gusts to 50 mph.
Snow was forecast for the North Cascades, where avalanches and three partial burials were reported this week.
Most power has been restored in Whatcom County after Tuesday night’s windstorm, except for a handful of Puget Sound Energy customers in Sudden Valley and along Mosquito Lake Road.
Lake Whatcom Boulevard remained closed because fallen trees that could take several days to clear, the Whatcom County Public Works Department said online. Two sections of Mosquito Lake Road were closed, between Highway 9 and the Mount Baker Highway.
Widespread wind and rain will arrive overnight Thursday into Friday, National Weather Service meteorologist Dev McMillian said online.
“A beast of a surface low that’s responsible for greatly inconveniencing Western Washington on Tuesday evening continues to swirl and fill over the northeast Pacific. Although it’s far away, we’ll continue to feel its influence today,” McMillian said Thursday.
“Winds aren’t expected to be as strong as Tuesday evening’s but conditions could make cleanup efforts more complicated for already wind-beaten areas,” he said.
Another round of gusty winds is expected across Western Washington, according to a weather service online briefing.
Winds are expected from the east late Thursday night into early Friday morning, changing to northeast by Friday morning. That means that the Sudden Valley area will feel stronger winds initially, and Bellingham and northern Whatcom County will get stronger winds Friday morning.
Winds from the southeast with gusts to 50 mph were forecast overnight Friday.
“Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result,” the weather service said.
About a quarter-inch to half-inch of rain is forecast in the lowlands. Snowfall is expected in the Cascades, with snow levels around 3,000 to 4,000 feet.
Officials at the Northwest Avalanche Center urged wilderness sports enthusiasts to use caution this early in the season.
“Earlier in the week, skiers and riders reported triggering avalanches in the new snow near Crystal Mountain backcountry. Over four days, there were three partial burials in avalanches in the Baker backcountry,” NWAC said online.
Mt. Baker Ski Area opened Thursday with a deep snow and tree-well advisory in effect. Ski area employees conduct avalanche monitoring and controls within the ski area boundaries.
This story was originally published November 21, 2024 at 1:22 PM.
