Stormy weather, ‘king tides’ may bring coastal flooding to western Whatcom County
A combination of strong wind and high tides could cause flooding and damage near the water in Birch Bay and other areas of coastal Whatcom County this weekend, meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Seattle said.
A coastal flood advisory is in effect through 11 a.m. Sunday. A 13.9-foot high tide is forecast for 7:38 a.m. Saturday.
A gale warning is in effect for the Northern inland waters, including Bellingham Bay, for southwest to west winds of 39-54 mph.
“Minor coastal flooding expected. Inundation of around 2 feet above ground level is possible along shorelines and low-lying coastal areas,” the weather service said online. *This may lead to flooding of parking lots, parks and roads, with only isolated road closures expected.”
Unusually high “king” tides are a “dramatic feature of Washington winters,” Washington Sea Grant said in a Facebook post on Tuesday. Super low tides happen in summer, exposing rarely seen parts of the intertidal zone.
They happen in late fall and winter, when the moon is at perigee, the closest to the Earth in its orbit.
Such tides damage low-lying areas like Birch Bay when they coincide with storms and strong winds from the south and west.
Whatcom County’s Public Works Department is ready to respond, spokeswoman Mandy Feutz told The Bellingham Herald.
“Because current forecasts do not indicate a specific threat of damage, we are monitoring conditions closely and keeping crews ready to respond rather than pre-staging equipment. With limited resources, our advanced efforts focus on staying prepared and responding quickly if impacts occur,” Feutz said in an email.
A recent shoreline restoration effort was designed to limit the effects of strong waves on coastal infrastructure.
“The Birch Bay berm has been very effective at reducing wave impacts and protecting Birch Bay Drive where it was constructed, though areas outside the project limits may still be vulnerable during strong surge events,” Feutz said.
This story was originally published December 5, 2025 at 10:26 AM.
