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 4:00am February 9th for northeast wind 20-30 knots.

Weather Around Whatcom County

Whatcom County Inland Weather

The weather this week will take a little bit of a turn from where we’ve been the last several weeks.  We’re going to see some sun today and tomorrow, but we will see temperatures dropping over the week from mid to upper 30 today and tomorrow to around 30 for the high by Friday. Likewise, lows will drop from around 30 tonight to the lower 20s and even some teens by Friday.  Expect east/northeast winds gusting near 40 mph across the northern part of the county with gusts to 20mph in Bellingham, and light easts/northeast winds in Maple Falls and Newhalem. Wind chills will also be a factor with it feeling like 10 degrees or even colder by Wednesday night depending on where you’re at in the county.  For precipitation, there is a chance for some light snow just about every day this week in Whatcom County as a whole.  The best chance for an accumulation appears to be Tuesday night when Bellingham could see and inch or so with the foothills seeing one to three inches..

Rivers and Streams

All forks of the Nooksack River are steadily dropping and the colder temperatures will keep the snow from melting in the higher elevations, so we can expect them to drop a little more and then level off. Currently, there are no weather systems on the horizon that would change that.  

Whatcom County Coastal Weather

For the Strait and Inland Coastal Waters off Whatcom County look for 20-30 knot northeast winds today and three to five foot wind waves. Tonight 15-25 knot northeast wind will continue. Tomorrow also looks like 15-25 knot winds from the northeast will push into tomorrow night with two to four foot wind waves.  The likelihood of the Small Craft Advisory being extended is high with those winds in the forecast.

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.

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