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 

A “Small Craft Advisory” is in effect until 1:00pm today for east winds 15-25 knots.

Weather Around Whatcom County

Whatcom County Inland Weather

Showers have moved into the area and we can expect them to stick around through tomorrow with a little break Thursday night and then back to more rain on Friday. Sumas could see a wet snow/shower mixture.  Temperatures today will hover around 40s degrees, drop down to the freezing level tonight and then warm up tomorrow to the mid 40s.  Wind today will start from the north/northeast and swing to the south/southeast with gusts to 20 mph. Wind in the Blaine area will remain from the east/northeast for the next couple of days with velocities of 10-15mph. Sumas may see gusts to 20 mph on Thursday. Maple Falls may see a rain/snow mixture with snow levels rising and lowering between 600 and 1300 feet. Aside from being about ten degrees colder in Newhalem, light snow will fall today and tomorrow with accumulation s of one inch or slightly more.    

Rivers and Streams

The rain and showers will have little to no effect on the Nooksack River level over the next five days. 

Whatcom County Coastal Weather

For the Strait and Inland Coastal Waters off Whatcom County 15-25 knot east winds will die down to 5-15 knots this evening and then 10-20 knots after midnight. Tomorrow, east winds will pickup to 15-25 knots through the morning and then drop to 10-20 knots in the afternoon.  Expect a “Small Craft Advisory” to be issued later today for the period of 15-25 knots tomorrow..

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.