Wind, rain expected as storms line up to hit Whatcom County for Thanksgiving
Heavy rain and gusty winds from an atmospheric river aimed at the Pacific Northwest could make driving difficult for Washington residents who plan to hit the road for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Current forecasts show rain starting Tuesday afternoon in the lowlands, with snow above the 1,500-foot level. Storms will be coming in a succession of squalls that meteorologists call an atmospheric river because it looks like a stream of moisture in satellite photos.
Heaviest rain is forecast along the Olympic Peninsula and the Interstate 5 corridor from Olympia south into Oregon, according to an online briefing Monday from the National Weather Service in Seattle.
“The heavy rain from the atmospheric river will likely slow travel on Interstate 5 leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday,” said meteorologist Dan Pydynowski of AccuWeather, a private forecasting service.
Forecasters at the National Weather Service in Seattle said 1 to 2 inches of rain is possible through Thursday in the Western Washington lowlands, and 6 to 8 inches of snow in the North Cascades.
“Breezy winds will occur at times Tuesday through Thursday, especially for the coast and areas of Admiralty Inlet northward,” the National Weather Service said.
Winds are expected to peak Thursday, with gusts of 40-50 mph around Bellingham.
Despite the persistent rain, the Nooksack River will remain well below flood stage at all measuring sites, according to the Northwest River Forecast Center.
Snow levels will rise to 4,000-6,000 feet by Wednesday night.
Precipitation eases on Friday, and snow levels will drop to 3,500 feet.
“Unsettled weather continues for the holiday and the rest of the week as more systems move through the Pacific Northwest, bringing more precipitation and cooler conditions,” the National Weather Service said online. “Periodic moderate to heavy rain may lead to roadway ponding and minor nuisance flooding of poor drainage areas.”
Snow-covered roads and minor travel delays are possible across the Cascade passes, especially Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning.
This story was originally published November 25, 2025 at 5:20 AM.
