Winter isn’t letting go of Whatcom County just yet, and this time commuters could bear the brunt of the impact.
Forecasters at the National Weather Service are calling for the dreaded “wintry mix” of snow and freezing rain, which should start falling in Bellingham around 10 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, weather service meteorologist Jacob DeFlitch said.
A winter storm warning from 10 p.m. Tuesday through 10 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17 calls for 2 to 8 inches of snow in Whatcom County over that period.
“Away from the water, we’re expecting the higher end of those amounts,” DeFlitch said, mentioning Lynden, Nooksack and Maple Falls as areas that could see somewhere around a half-foot of snow in the next 24 hours.
The weather service’s Bellingham forecast webpage at 5 p.m. Tuesday predicted an inch of snow for the city Tuesday night, and another 1 to 2 inches Wednesday.
With temperatures hovering around freezing during the storm, Whatcom County could see a mix of snow and rain, with the rain freezing on roads, power lines and other cold surfaces upon impact.
The weather service’s winter storm advisory offered a terse warning: “Plan on very difficult travel.”
County road crews will begin clearing roads around-the-clock starting at 10 p.m. Tuesday, a county news release said. The county website provides a map showing which roads get the highest priority for snow removal.
Mt. Baker Ski Area officials are advising would-be skiers to carry their chains if they plan to visit the slopes Wednesday. The ski area’s snow report for Tuesday, Jan. 16 mentioned a forecast of 1 to 2 feet of snow at the mountain through Wednesday, “as the brunt of the storm will be passing through our region during the morning hours.”
The base at Heather Meadows was 61 inches Tuesday.
