Another brief round of snow or flurries is on tap for lowland Whatcom County this week, as the first in a series of atmospheric river storms hit Western Washington.
No accumulations are expected around Bellingham, but heavy snow is expected in the mountains and foothills, where a blizzard warning is in effect for Wednesday. Strong winds and blinding conditions with between 2 and 4 feet of snow is forecast for the Mount Baker wilderness.
That storm is expected to raise the avalanche danger in the backcountry, National Weather Service meteorologist Jeff Michalsky told The Bellingham Herald.
“With the low snowpack this season, people are excited. But this is not the right time to go up to the mountains,” Michalsky said in a phone interview.
Snow covers the Mount Baker backcountry along Bagley Creek on February 17, 2025, in Whatcom County, Wash. Rachel Showalter The Bellingham Herald
Up to 2 inches of rain is possible in the Whatcom County lowlands through Thursday, Michalsky said.
Breezy conditions are also expected across Western Washington. Wind gusts of around 50 mph are possible near the coast in Whatcom County, strong enough to cause a few power outages.
“We’ll get pretty strong winds Wednesday afternoon and evening, definitely a solid gale through the strait,” Michalsky said.
Meteorologists issued a wind advisory for Wednesday afternoon, warning of southwest winds at 25 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph. Winds will switch to northwesterly at 25 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph from 8-11 p.m. Wednesday.
Another storm slated to hit early next week could cause snow levels to rise above 6,000 feet, setting up a possible flooding scenario for the Nooksack River and surrounding communities.
Snow-covered trees line the North Fork of the Nooksack River on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021, in Whatcom County, Wash. Warren Sterling The Bellingham Herald
Early indications show that most of that storm’s rainfall is expected to hit in southern British Columbia, rather than Whatcom County, Michalsky said. But the storm is passing close enough to warrant concern.
“The bulk of the precipitation is hitting southern B.C. We’re keeping an eye on it. There’s a pretty strong ridge pushing things north in terms of additional runoff and snowmelt,” Michalsky said.
Current estimates at the Northwest River Forecast Center show the Nooksack remaining below flood stage across Whatcom County.
This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
Robert Mittendorf
The Bellingham Herald
Robert Mittendorf covers civic issues, weather, traffic and how people are coping with the high cost of housing for The Bellingham Herald. A journalist since 1984, he also served 22 years as a volunteer firefighter for South Whatcom Fire Authority before retiring in 2025.
