Snow and ice storm in the forecast for Whatcom County lowlands
A storm system slated to hit the Whatcom County lowlands could drop several inches of snow, followed by freezing rain Tuesday night, just in time for Wednesday morning commute.
Meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Seattle issued a winter storm warning for the Whatcom County lowlands and the North Cascades for Tuesday night through Wednesday night.
Between 2 and 5 inches of snow is likely in the lowlands as a storm carrying warmer temperatures sweeps into Washington from the south, according to the forecast.
As warmer air arrives, it will struggle to push out the record-breaking chill that’s enveloped Whatcom County since last week, meteorologist Jacob DeFlitch said online.
“Northern areas, particularly Whatcom County, will likely have the cold air entrenched for a longer period, allowing for an increased potential of lowland snow,” DeFlitch said.
Travel will be difficult because of the snow, possibly mixed with freezing rain, along with the potential for rapid melting and slushy conditions as warmer temperatures arrive Wednesday, the weather service said.
“Alright friends, let’s put your winter dancing shoes on because Mother Nature says it’s showtime,” the Washington State Department of Transportation tweeted Tuesday.
Freezing rain, called a “silver thaw,” happens when rainfall hits cold surfaces and immediately freezes. Roads become slick and the weight of ice can topple trees and utility lines, causing power outages.
Officials at Bellingham Public Schools and other districts were watching the forecast closely and making decisions about school closings or other weather-related measures. That information usually is posted at the school district’s website.
“We’ll follow our protocols for weather as usual, so will always try to communicate as early as possible if a decision is made about school, sometimes the day before and sometimes the morning of,” Bellingham Schools spokeswoman Dana Smith told The Bellingham Herald.
Just north of Whatcom County, meteorologists at Environment Canada issued a snowfall warning from metro Vancouver into the Fraser River Valley, including Abbotsford.
About 4 to 8 inches of snow was in the forecast there, and Canadian officials issued highway alerts for the region.
