Environment

Following a series of “atmospheric rivers” in November that delivered record-breaking rainfall totals in Whatcom County, officials are continuing to assess flood damages and begin work on recovery.

Clallam County Emergency Management is deploying a mobile disaster recovery information center for those impacted by the historic flooding. 

Officials on Tuesday asked residents in northwest Washington to remain vigilant as another atmospheric river brought heavy rain to an area that experienced severe flooding earlier this month and additional flooding earlier this week.

Just as people in Whatcom County were beginning to recover from historic flooding, forecast heavy rains presented a new threat for more high waters.

The Lummi Indian Business Council has passed a resolution last week declaring a disaster as they deal with an invasive grab species in the Lummi Sea Pond, according to the Tacoma News Tribune. 

Minor flooding is possible through Thursday as more rain falls in Whatcom County, which has already weathered severe flooding earlier this month from a series of soaking storms.

Throughout most of November, flooding concerns have been top of mind for emergency managers in Skagit County. Now, the attention shifts to a growing concern: landslides.

Skagit County Public Works has identified several locations that are faced with an increased risk for landslides. 

For the second time this month, communities in the North Sound are battling through rising rivers. Floodwaters spilled into low-lying areas like Sumas and Lynden. While the Nooksack River has crested, dangerous conditions persist.

A stretch of I-5 blocked by landslides just weeks ago was partially blocked by fallen trees on Sunday.

Localized flooding in Washington from another in a series of rainstorms doesn’t appear to be as severe as an extreme weather flooding event earlier in the month.

Western Washington will get a break from widespread rain today as the Skagit and Nooksack rivers crest after reaching moderate flood stage.

A second round of rains this weekend has led to a second round of flooding in some of Whatcom County’s hardest-hit towns.

Happy Sunday. The North Sound took another beating due to a second atmospheric river this week. Widespread rain, snow melt, and record-breaking rain totals for some, have contributed to the flooding today. Flood warnings remain in effect at this hour for the highlighted areas below.

Though flooding that was expected to threaten parts of the Northwest didn’t end up being too bad Sunday, weather officials urged residents to remain alert because more rain was on the way to an area where there’s lingering water from extreme weather earlier this month.

Whatcom County is already bracing for another round of flooding, barely two weeks after a historic atmospheric river swept through the region.

Rain this weekend will push many area rivers to rise rapidly causing yet again, minor to major flooding, especially in Whatcom and Skagit Counties.