These Daily Briefings on Incidents, Advisories, Watches and Warnings, current weather and Emergency Management tips are published Monday through Friday, as well as during times of increased awareness or actual events.

Train Derailment Update.   Incident Number 20-4465 has been assigned to this event.

The U.S. and Canada have extended an order closing their shared border to nonessential traffic until at least February 21, 2021. This includes both vehicular and boating between the countries.

The “Proclamation of Emergency” signed by the Whatcom County Executive concerning COVID-19 remains in effect. Information about Whatcom County’s response to COVID-19 is available at the Joint Information Center’s COVID-19 website.

Advisories, Watches and Warnings 

Weather Around Whatcom County

Whatcom County Inland Weather

We’re going to have a mixed bag of weather around the county today.  Some  areas will be cool enough to see a rain/snow mixture while others will see showers.  Temperatures will be in the low 40s with south/southeast winds around 10 mph. Lows tonight will drop down to the low 30s so there could be some frost or ice forming in spots especially along the sides of road or on bridges and overpasses.  Wind form the south/southeast or east will continue tonight around 10 mph.  Tomorrow, we should see partly sunny skies with temperatures again in the low to mid-40s. The wind will shift to the east northeast.  More clouds will move into the area tomorrow night and the chance for a rain/snow or light snow will increase although there is no predictions for any accumulation. Low temperatures in Maple Falls and Newhalem will be about 5-10 degrees colder due to their higher elevations..    

Rivers and Streams

All forks of the Nooksack have about leveled off and there are no changes in the river level anticipated for the next five days.

Whatcom County Coastal Weather

For the Strait and Inland Coastal Waters off Whatcom County today and tonight we can expect winds from the south in the 5 to 20 knot range.  Tomorrow, it looks like winds will continue from the southeast increasing to 15-25 knots and then 20 -30 knots later.  Wind waves will be three to five feet.  Tomorrow night, the wind will switch direction to the east and then decrease to 5-15 knots and wind waves will drop to two feet or less.  No advisory has been issued at this time, but winds between 15-25 or 20-30 knots will lead to one be issued probably later today.

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Tides

COVID-19

Everyone in Washington State is directed to wear a face covering while at any indoor public space and any outdoor public space where you may be within 6 feet of someone who does not live with you. You can find more info about face coverings and other protective actions here and here.

For those who are tide watchers, these are pretty impressive tides but as happened in the 2018 storm, the tides were pushed nearly two feet higher from the storm pressure (called storm surge) and then the west wind added another 3-4 feet of waves.

This briefing line is not updated on weekends unless an incident occurs.