‘Unusual’ summer storm could bring entire month’s worth of rain to Bellingham
Heavy rain and strong gusty wind could bring localized power outages and urban flooding to the Whatcom County lowlands this weekend.
Bellingham and lowland Whatcom County could get 1-3 inches of rain Thursday night through Sunday morning, according to an online briefing from the National Weather Service in Seattle. That’s above the average monthly rainfall of 1.13 inches.
South winds gusting 20-25 mph will make the storm seem more like a winter squall and could cause a few power outages because trees still have their leaves, meteorologist Kayla Mazurkiewicz told The Herald.
“It’s unusual for this time of year. Especially in August, it’s definitely unusual and strong for this time of year,” Mazurkiewicz said in a phone interview.
Rain and wind could be worse in the North Cascades, and forecasters are warning backcountry hikers and others to be prepared.
“Significantly higher (rainfall) amounts are possible in the mountains and near the coast, with rainfall totals between 2 and 4 inches possible. Those engaged in recreation near rivers should remain aware of the potential for river rises to unusually high levels for this time of year due to heavy rainfall,” the weather service said online.
This story was originally published August 14, 2025 at 11:55 AM.
