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.

The U.S. and Canada have extended an order closing their shared border to nonessential traffic until at least April 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.

All Washington counties advanced to Phase 3 of the Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery Plan on March 22nd.  See the WA State Coronavirus Response website for impacts or any caveats.

Advisories, Watches and Warnings 

The only weather warning today is one put out by Environment Canada for the Strait of Georgia-South of Nanaimo due to northwest 15-25 knots winds for today which will die down to 15 knots tonight.

Weather Around Whatcom County

Whatcom County Inland Weather

The next three days will see some clouds during the day but the sun will shine from time to time; tonight will be mostly clear and tomorrow night there will be more clouds. Winds will be around 10 mph or less for most of the county and temperatures will hover around 50 degrees for the high and then drop down to around 40 degrees for the lows. The next weather system is expected to move into the area sometime later Saturday and we will see rain Saturday night thru Sunday night as things appear now.  Point Robert will see much of the same except you’re going to be stuck with some pesky northwest winds that gust into the 20-25 mph range through tomorrow.  Newhalem will continue to see temperatures anywhere from 5-7 degrees colder than other parts of other county to nighttime lows will drop to near the freezing mark and since this is based on a forecast the safe play is to assume there will be freezing in the area with possible ice on the roads.  The ski area is high enough, the temperatures will be below freezing at night with the hazards of frost or ice highly likely.

Rivers and Streams

Not much has changed with regards to the Nooksack River level.  The runoff from the rain will continue to feed the river today pushing the level up a foot or so, but that remains well below any concern level. It will drop tomorrow and then over the weekend rise a foot or so once again from the next weather system.

Whatcom County Coastal Weather

For the Strait and Inland Coastal Waters off Whatcom County we will see NW wind 5-15 knots this afternoon switching to the SW tonight at 5-15 knots and then increasing to 10-20 knots after midnight. Tomorrow the wind will switch to the NW and then back to the SW still at 5-15 knots.  Friday night we could see SW wind push into Small Craft Advisory levels of 15-25 knots so watch for an advisory to be issued. Wind waves will be three feet or less except for the 15-25 knot winds when they will increase to two to four feet.

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.