2024’s five most impactful natural phenomena in Whatcom County

Stories by Bellingham Herald journalists, with AI summarization

In 2024, five major natural phenomena significantly impacted both the environment and society. The Pineapple Express atmospheric rivers repeatedly delivered heavy rainfall and warmer temperatures to the West Coast, while severe winter storms brought significant snow and freezing rain, disrupting daily life and transportation. The term 'bomb cyclone' became familiar as powerful storms with high winds battered coastal regions, causing extensive power outages and travel disruptions.

Meanwhile, a particularly intense coronal mass ejection, referred to as a 'cannibal' solar storm, treated many to rare displays of the northern lights far beyond usual latitudes. Together, these events underscored the increasing unpredictability and intensity of weather patterns linked to broader climatic changes.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

An atmospheric river — also known as the “Pineapple Express” — has been pointed at Puget Sound for over 24 hours, causing heavy rain and localized flooding throughout the region.

NO. 1: THE PINEAPPLE EXPRESS IS HITTING THE WEST COAST ... AGAIN. HERE’S HOW HARD IT’LL HAMMER WA

The last atmospheric river to hit Washington dropped over 6 inches of rain. How much rain will fall over the weekend? | Published January 26, 2024 | Read Full Story by Shaun Goodwin

Waves batter the coastline in Birch Bay during a king tide on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022 in Whatcom County, Wash.

NO. 2: WEATHER SERVICE WARNS WEEKEND STORM MEANS POSSIBLE FLOODING FOR COASTAL WHATCOM COUNTY

Rough weather coincides with Washington’s highest tides of the year. | Published November 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by Robert Mittendorf

Tree debris and vehicle damage were seen in the area of East 32nd and M streets amid Monday morning’s storms in Tacoma.

NO. 3: WHEN WILL THE ‘BOMB CYCLONE’ HIT WASHINGTON? HERE’S THE EXPECTED TIMELINE OF THE STORM

Severe storm will bring strong winds to Washington state and the rest of the West Coast. Here’s when experts say conditions will be worst. | Published November 19, 2024 | Read Full Story by Daniel Schrager

Mark Allison and North Bennett sled down E Pine Street on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, after the season’s first major snowfall of the year in Bellingham, Wash.

NO. 4: SCHOOLS CLOSE AS MORE LOWLAND SNOW, FREEZING RAIN POSSIBLE ACROSS WHATCOM COUNTY

Many services remained limited as temperatures were slowly warming. | Published January 18, 2024 | Read Full Story by Robert Mittendorf

The aurora borealis was visible across Washington skies March 23 and March 24 because of a geomagnetic storm, officials said.

NO. 5: WASHINGTON IS ON NORTHERN LIGHTS WATCH THIS WEEK, AS A ‘CANNIBAL’ SOLAR STORM BLASTS EARTH

Clouds will likely clear out across Washington in time to see the lights on Wednesday. | Published July 30, 2024 | Read Full Story by Daniel Schrager

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.