Daytime temperatures are forecasted to remain below freezing, and snow events are likely to continue to hit Whatcom County this week but dissipate just before creating a white Christmas.
The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a winter storm watch for the county, from 7 p.m. Monday to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Although, poor weather has already begun, with snow flurries on Sunday and Monday.
County residents could see up to 6 inches of snow during the winter storm, NWS Seattle meteorologist Kayla Mazurkiewicz said Monday.
“We’re looking at several accumulations of snow up there,” Mazurkiewicz said. “There are also cooler temperatures, so snow could reach up to 6 inches in that area. This evening into Tuesday evening they’ll notice snow accumulate. I would guess 3–6 inches.”
Western Whatcom County is expected to be windy today, with highs from 18 to 25 degrees and winds of 15–30 mph, according to NWS Seattle. Forecasts of sunny weather and a slight chance of snow after midnight were proved wrong as gray skies dumped snow consistently through the morning and afternoon. The Washington State Department of Transportation tweeted Monday afternoon that crews were treating the icy roads in Whatcom County.
Bellingham was 16 degrees at 4 a.m. Monday morning, NWS Seattle tweeted, and afternoon temperatures have stayed around 20 degrees. The record low in Bellingham on Dec. 19 was 12 degrees in 1990. Temperatures are expected to fall to 11–18 degrees overnight.
Tuesday is expected to be cloudy with snow likely in the morning, then mostly cloudy with a chance of snow in the afternoon, according to NWS Seattle. Snow accumulation is expected to reach 3–6 inches, with temperatures in the 20s and winds of 15–25 mph.
No snow is expected for a partly sunny Wednesday, even though temperatures are expected to remain below freezing (19–26 degrees). The chance of snow increases Thursday and snow is likely to hit after midnight, then continue through Friday morning and afternoon.
Rain is anticipated to arrive Friday night and continue through Saturday and Christmas on Sunday as temperatures rise into the upper 30s and 40s.
Mazurkiewicz said it’s typical December weather for Whatcom County.
“It’s not uncommon but you need the right ingredients,” Mazurkiewicz said. “It’s a hard forecast to nail down because there are a lot of variables. But Monday and Tuesday are when we’re expecting the bulk of the precipitation to happen.”
