Another mostly sunny day with highs around 50 degrees and light wind. Partly cloudy skies tonight with lows in the mid-30s (frost concerns at higher elevations). Tomorrow, highs in the mid-50s with light wind. Higher elevations 5-10 degrees cooler
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.
Active Incidents
The U.S. and Canada have extended an order closing their shared border to nonessential traffic until at least March 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.
On March 11th, Governor Inslee announced all of Washington will advance to Phase 3 of the Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery Plan beginning March 22nd. See the WA State Coronavirus Response website for impacts or any caveats.
Advisories, Watches and Warnings
Weather Around Whatcom County
Whatcom County Inland Weather
Weather around the county today will be mostly sunny skies with a high around 50 degrees and light winds. Tonight will be partly cloudy with light winds and a low in the mid-30s. Tomorrow will see temperatures reaching the mid-50s with light and variable winds. Pt Roberts and Blaine will be a few degrees cooler and an east/southeast wind around 10 mph or less will make it feel a little cooler, but there are no strong winds forecast. Sumas will have a little breeze out of the east/northeast. Clouds roll in tomorrow night for all areas which will help keep the temperature a little higher, perhaps around 40s degrees or so. And then look for rain to start Thursday and continue through Saturday. Highs will be around 50 with the low around 40 degrees. Higher elevations will be 5-10 degrees colder so frost will be a concern. With light winds, it can easily form on bridges and overpasses, and sheltered areas. Likewise, any thawing at the higher elevations may cause some water to freeze on the road and cause ”clear ice” to form which you may even know exists until you vehicle starts to lose traction. The best corrective action is to slow down when these conditions are possible.
Rivers and Streams
The Nooksack River level is still dropping ever so slowly but it will turn upward Friday and Saturday due to the rain. No flooding expected but it will be up by a foot or so at the Saxon Bridge and Cedarville gauges and maybe a couple of feet at the Ferndale gauge. All readings are well below a level that would cause concern.
Whatcom County Coastal Weather
For the Strait and Inland Coastal Waters off Whatcom County, the national weather service is predicting the winds will be at or below 15 knots for the next few days. Wind waves will be two feet or less and the wind direction is out of the southeast today, the west tonight switching to the east and then the southeast tomorrow.
Tides
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|
|
|
|---|
Date |
|
|
|
| March 16, 2021 | 1425 |
| 1.84 |
| March 16, 2021 | 2048 | 7.39 |
|
| March 17, 2021 | 0212 |
| 3.98 |
| March 17, 2021 | 0808 | 8.35 |
|
| March 17, 2021 | 1458 |
| 1.32 |
| March 1, 2021 | 2145 | 7.38 |
|
| March 18, 2021 | 0250 |
| 4.90 |
Emergency Management Tips and Reminders
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.