Snow-related closures continue amid a new winter weather advisory issued Thursday for the Bellingham area, adding to challenging road conditions following record snowfall.
The National Weather Service in Seattle issued an advisory, including western Whatcom and Skagit counties, until 10 p.m. Thursday for additional mixed precipitation. Additional snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches are forecast with ice accumulations of a light glaze.
Caution is advised with slippery road conditions and reduced visibility.
Whatcom Transit Authority resumed service at normal times Thursday morning. Buses are chained. Changed routes are as follows:
- Route 1 will travel on Boulevard (will not travel on South Hill)
- Route 512 will travel both directions on Lake Whatcom Boulevard
- Route 72X will travel only as far as the Kendall Fire Station, to be met by a smaller bus that will serve the neighborhoods
Check the WTA website for more details.
Many City of Bellingham services will remain closed Thursday, including Arne Hanna Aquatic Center, all Bellingham Public Library locations, all Whatcom Museum locations and Civic Field. Whatcom County Library System locations are also closed.
Garbage, recycling and FoodPlus! trucks by Sanitary Service Company (SSC) are not running Thursday, due to unsafe road conditions. The company said it will take additional garbage, recycling or FoodPlus! on customer’s the next service day at no charge.
The daytime warming center at 1013 W. Holly St. will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Anyone who needs shelter from the cold and cannot make it to a warming shelter should call 911 for help.
Whatcom County Public Works announced it plowed roads overnight Wednesday.
“Help everyone out by staying off the roads as much as possible,” public works said in a Wednesday night Facebook post. “If you go out, please be extra cautious and give plows plenty of room.”
Interstate 5 had some slush Thursday morning, but is mostly bare and wet moving south, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation North. Roads in Skagit County (state Routes 20, 9, and 530) and East Whatcom County have compact snow and ice, and some drifting snow.
Chains are required on Mount Baker Highway east of Glacier. “Be prepared & take it slow,” WSDOT said in a Thursday morning post to X, formerly Twitter.
Bellingham International Airport is open after extra crews worked Wednesday night and Thursday morning. All arrivals and most departures were on time as of 7:20 a.m. Thursday.
Village Books emailed customers to say stores in Fairhaven and Lynden will be closed Thursday.
Preschool Open Gym and Travelogue are canceled, and all volleyball and basketball games are postponed, according to city Parks and Recreation.
Whatcom Council on Aging is closed today due to the weather conditions.
Bellingham City Hall will remain open, including the finance department and permit center, but residents are encouraged to go online for services such as utility billing. Bellingham Municipal Court services may be limited or postponed.
School district closures for Thursday include Bellingham, Blaine, Ferndale, Lynden, Lynden Christian, Lummi, Mount Baker and Nooksack Valley. Athletic and after-school events are also canceled.
Western Washington University is closed, the university announced early Thursday morning.
Whatcom Community College’s campus will be closed, but online classes will run as scheduled.
Northwest Indian College‘s on-campus classes are canceled, but remote classes will run as scheduled.
Bellingham Technical College‘s on-campus classes are canceled, and students are asked to check Canvas for updates from their instructors.
PeaceHealth Grabow Therapy and Wellness Center will be closed all day Thursday. PeaceHealth Cordata Primary Care Clinic is open until 5 p.m. PeaceHealth clinics normally open for after-hours care will close at 5 p.m.
With wet roads Thursday possibly refreezing early Friday morning, driving conditions may remain treacherous through the remainder of the workweek, weather service meteorologist Dev McMillian said Wednesday afternoon.
Know of any additional closures or delays? Email us at newstips@cascadiadaily.com.
