Whatcom County escapes worst of windstorm, but ‘very dangerous’ weather hazard remains
Coastal Whatcom County escaped the worst of ferocious winds that forecasters thought could hit the area, but a winter storm is still pounding the North Cascades.
Rain will continue to drench the lowlands around Bellingham, with snow falling above 3,500 feet, as another storm in a string of atmospheric rivers hits Western Washington, the National Weather Service said online.
No major power outages were reported in Whatcom County as the strongest wind remained mostly south of King County, forecasters said online.
A winter storm warning remains in effect until 4 p.m. Thursday in the mountains, and a winter weather advisory will be in effect Friday and Saturday. The Northwest Avalanche Center issued an avalanche warning for the western slopes of the North Cascades, including the Mount Baker wilderness.
“Heavy snow, strong winds, and a low-elevation transition from snow to rain will lead to very dangerous avalanche conditions through Thursday. High avalanche danger creates risk at all elevations. Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist over the next 24 hours. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended,” forecasters said.
More than 2 feet of snow has fallen at the Mt. Baker Ski Area since Christmas Eve, ski area officials said online.
“What a Christmas storm. It felt like we were in a snow globe on top of Pan Dome yesterday,” ski area officials said.
There was heavy snowfall reported Thursday on the Mount Baker Highway, which was “bare and wet with compact snow and ice in places,” the Washington State Department of Transportation said online.
Officials at the Northwest Avalanche Center urged caution in backcountry areas.
Avalanche danger is high, and natural avalanches that can kill you are likely. Thursday is a day to avoid traveling in all avalanche terrain, including lower-angle or flat areas beneath large, steep slopes. You can still travel in mellow terrain in the backcountry — just make sure it’s away from steep overhead slopes,” avalanche center officials said online.
Observations from the Mount Baker area included avalanches seen in recent days at Heliotrope Ridge, Glacier Ridge, Canyon Creek and other locations.
“(Christmas Day) conditions made travel beyond Swift (Creek and) Bagley zones prohibitive, and few other users were out. Perhaps not surprisingly, the riding conditions in the (ski area) were superior to the backcountry,” Alex Lombardo wrote at the avalanche center website.
Lombardo noticed no instability, but said it was snowing so fast that his ski tracks were covered in about 30 minutes.
This story was originally published December 26, 2024 at 12:03 PM.
