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UPDATES:  

-Washington State Department of Transportation   North Central Region – 2830 Euclid Ave. Wenatchee, WA 98801– 509-667-3000

TRAVEL ADVISORY 
 Nov. 8, 2022

North Cascades Highway to remain closed for winter:  WINTHROP – With nearly 30 inches of snowfall over the weekend, SR 20 North Cascades Highway will remain closed for the winter between Ross Lake Dam trailhead (milepost 134) and Early Winters gate (milepost 178).  The route was closed between milepost 134 and 171 for potential avalanche danger on Thursday, Nov. 3. Throughout the weekend, the North Cascades and the area surrounding the eastern slopes were repeatedly hit with snow and rain.  Though the immediate avalanche danger is now low, conditions are likely to change. Maintaining the closure now will allow crews to focus time and resources on the communities east of the mountain passes that have received up to 2 feet of snow in places.

ADVISORIES, WATCHES AND WARNINGS:

- SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING for northeast winds 15 to 25 kt. This is for the Northern Inland Waters Including The San Juan Islands.

- Environment Canada has issued a "Strong Wind Warning" for the Strait of Georgia-South of Nanaimo. Wind northwest 10-15 knots except northeast 20 knots near the mouth of Howe Sound.  Wind diminishing to light late this morning then increasing to southeasterly 5-15 knots this evening.  Wind becoming southeasterly 10-20 knots Thursday afternoon.

Inland Whatcom County Weather

Cool weather continues today under partly sunny skies. High temperatures will range from the low 30s in Newhalem to almost 50 in Pt Roberts. Bellingham will top out in the mid-50s. Pt Roberts will also see some wind with gusts from the east/southeast in the 23-25 mph range. Other areas will see lighter winds with Newhalem not seeing much of a breeze at all. Tonight will see increased clouds with a slight chance of some rain in Pt Roberts with possible rain/snow mixtures in Maple Falls and Newhalem. Temperatures will drop into the 20s in the higher elevations but remain just above freezing in the lower areas.  That will continue tomorrow with a chance for rain in Bellingham and the lowlands and the rain/snow mixture in the higher elevations. Don't look for any accumulation though. Tomorrow night's lows will be about the same as tonight and the clouds will start to breakup in places leaving us with mostly sunny skies on Saturday. Temperatures are still going to remain in the 40s with lows near the freezing mark or below. Chance for frost to develop along the roadways is a distinct possibility so drive careful. 

Nooksack River, Creeks and Small Streams

The Pacific looks very quiet at the moment and that is allowing our rives and streams to continue to slowly drop in elevation.  Sop, all forks of the Nooksack River have dropped to normal levels and there is nothing at the present time that shows any change.  For a look at the future river levels, use the Public Works website to check the river levels - https://www.whatcomcounty.us/666/Forecasts-Current-River-Conditions; it is tied into the NOAAs Northwest River Forecast Center.  

Even though there is no high water concern at the moment, it is good to point out all of the cautions and warnings about not driving through water flowing over roads. Six inches of flowing water can move SUVs.  Research alternate routes to get to and from your destination should you need to use them.  Remember, river levels can change quickly, so don't put yourself in a position where you become stranded.   

The sub-freezing temperatures over the past couple of days have accelerated the leaves falling from trees.  This means a greater chance for collecting in the ditches and being carried to culverts or drains.  Plugged or clogged drains and culverts can cause local urban flooding, especially in low areas.  Clean leaves away from grates so water can flow freely. This will help prevent such localized water backups. Also, in rural areas, if you have a culvert that is plugged on your property, take the time to remove branches or other debris so water can flow freely. All of this helps in moving the water out of the areas as quickly as possible which in turn, helps avoid or reduce flooding. Thank you.

Whatcom County Coastal 

Southerly winds will increase over the Coastal  Waters today with a warm front. Offshore flow will prevail on  Friday as low pressure spins offshore. Expect light offshore flow  through the weekend. West swells near 10 feet will reach the  Coastal Waters early next week.  WINDS: TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less.  TONIGHT E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. A slight  chance of rain after midnight.  FRI E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. A chance of  rain in the morning then a slight chance of rain in the  afternoon.  FRI NIGHT N wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less.  SAT Light wind. Wind waves less than 1 ft.  SAT NIGHT Light wind. Wind waves less than 1 ft.  SUN N wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less.  MON Light wind. Wind waves less than 1 ft.

(Cherry Point)

Emergency Management Tips and Reminders

Fall Cleanup and Maintenance for Your Car

Fall weather is here along with the changes that come with it.  Here are a few things to accomplish as we transition to the unsettled weather:

-Inspect your car battery.  Check the connections to make sure they are snug and tight.  If there is a lot of corrosion around the post, have them cleaned so connections remain solid. Cold cranking amps are important as the days get colder.  Check with your service provider to make sure your battery is up to the task; there's nothing worse than the fading cranking power of our battery on a cold day.

-Check your headlights to make sure they are not glazed or clouded over.  With time, oxidation creates a film that results in a dimmer and more restricted illumination field.  Having someone clean them or cleaning them yourself will make a dramatic improvement.

-Tires are extremely important for several reasons. Remaining tread provides traction as well as channeling water away from the place where the tire contacts the road.  Reduction in tread enables water to build under the tire leading to hydroplaning and loss of control.  Tread helps ensure better traction in snow.

-Streaks on your windshield or the inability of the wipers to make solid contact with the windshield is a sure indicator your visibility is probably being limited as well.  If you're experiencing this, it's time to get new wipers.  You can install them yourself, or in some cases depending on where you purchase them, attendants will install them for you.

-Car repair in general.  if your vehicle is demonstrating abnormal issues (e.g. difficult starting, unknown noises, blower fans not working or squeaking/rattling, etc.), have them looked at as soon as you can as you will soon need the defrost function in your car and other issues are unlikely to get better on their own.

Flood Preparedness.  

Several inquiries have been made to this office regarding sand and sandbags.   Whatcom County does not provide either prior to a proclamation of emergency which is issued when flood conditions are clearly defined.  In addition, the number of bags the county has is limited and obtaining sand or additional sandbags in the midst of a flood fight may be impossible or delayed, at the very least. The number of locations where these items are placed is also limited.  If you are concerned about the need for sand or sandbags, now is the time for you to purchase these items through local vendors or order the sandbags online.  Sand can be obtained through local landscaping or sand and gravel companies.   In addition to sand and sandbags, some responders use plastic layered with sandbags to provide a protective barrier.   There are a number of short you tube videos explaining a variety of sandbag protective methods.  Whattcom County Public Works also has developed a list of vendors who have sand and sandbags for sale.  See:  https://whatcomcounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/70454/UPDATED-Public-Sand-Sandbag-Availability-2022-2023

Wildfire Preparedness

While we have been extremely fortunate concerning the risk for wildfire to date, things could change rapidly with dry, hot weather. Now is the time to inventory your home environment to see what wildfire risks you can mitigate against.  To that extent, the following information was taken from the National Fire Protection Agency on wildfire preparedness. Additional information about the wildfires and the Firewise program can be found at the NFPA website:   https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/Preparing-homes-for-wildfire

1. HOME IGNITION ZONES:  To increase your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire, choose fire-resistant building materials and limit the amount of flammable vegetation in the three home ignition zones. The zones include the Immediate Zone: (0 to 5 feet around the house), the Intermediate Zone (5 to 30 feet), and the Extended Zone (30 to 100 feet).

2. LANDSCAPING AND MAINTENANCE:  To reduce ember ignitions and fire spread, trim branches that overhang the home, porch, and deck and prune branches of large trees up to 6 to 10 feet (depending on their height) from the ground. Remove plants containing resins, oils, and waxes. Use crushed stone or gravel instead of flammable mulches in the Immediate Zone (0 to 5 feet around the house). Keep your landscape in good condition.

3. ROOFING AND VENTS:  Class A fire-rated roofing products, such as composite shingles, metal, concrete, and clay tiles, offer the best protection. Inspect shingles or roof tiles and replace or repair those that are loose or missing to prevent ember penetration. Box in eaves, but provide ventilation to prevent condensation and mildew. Roof and attic vents should be screened to prevent ember entry.

4. DECKS AND PORCHES:  Never store flammable materials underneath decks or porches. Remove dead vegetation and debris from under decks and porches and between deck board joints.

5. SIDING AND WINDOWS:  Embers can collect in small nooks and crannies and ignite combustible materials; radiant heat from flames can crack windows. Use fire-resistant siding such as brick, fibercement, plaster, or stucco, and use dual-pane tempered glass windows.

6. EMERGENCY RESPONDER ACCESS:  Ensure your home and neighborhood have legible and clearly marked street names and numbers. Driveways should be at least 12 feet wide with a vertical clearance of 15 feet for emergency vehicle access.

7. FINAL THOUGHTS:  

• Develop, discuss, and practice an emergency action plan with everyone in your home. Include details for handling pets, large animals, and livestock.
• Know two ways out of your neighborhood and have a predesignated meeting place.
• Always evacuate if you feel it’s unsafe to stay—don’t wait to receive an emergency notification if you feel threatened from the fire.
• Conduct an annual insurance policy checkup to adjust for local building costs, codes, and new renovations. n Create or update a home inventory to help settle claims faster.

COVID-19

Information concerning face coverings and other protective actions can be found on the Whatcom County Health Department Website.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.