Gale warning issued for Whatcom County

The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management sent out the following weather warning around noon Thursday, November 9:

Summary: This is the first fall storm that may have impacts on the coast of Whatcom County.  Residents with boats in marinas should take preemptive actions to secure their vessels. People living on the coast should be prepared for high winds. There are two periods of potential concern, over Thursday night, then again over Friday night. Peak wind gusts each night may reach 40-50 kts from the southeast. 

The National Weather Service has issued a Gale Warning from 1800 Thursday afternoon through 0100 Friday. The winds will be southeast winds 25 to 35 kts.  Wind waves 3-5 ft. The winds should ease up overnight, then shift to the southwest Friday. Because the winds are predicted to be from the southwest the effects on most of coastal Whatcom County could be impactful.  The coastal areas of Whatcom County that should have the strongest winds include Point Roberts, the Lummi Peninsula, Sandy Point, Birch Point and Point Whitehorn. 

Environment Canada has issued Gale Warnings for the Strait of Georgia South of Nanaimo for today into Saturday Wind southeast 15 to 25 knots veering to southwest 15 to 25 late this evening then diminishing to southwest 5 to 15 after midnight. Wind increasing to southeast 15 to 25 Friday morning and to southeast 25 to 35 Friday evening. 

Tidal Impact Coastal communities in Whatcom County may see minor impacts from tidal effects as the expected storm surge tide is about ½ foot.

Whatcom County Weather

Our Contracted Weather Service is in line with these wind predictions.

COMMENTS:

1. Boaters should use extra caution in these conditions and vessels in Marinas in Whatcom County should be checked to ensure lines are secure.
2. Loose objects such as lawn furniture and garbage cans should be secured.
3. Drivers and persons on the beaches should always be cautious along low lying coastal roads and beaches particularly in Birch Bay, Blaine, Sandy Point, and Lummi Island.
4. Whatcom County uses the NOAA tide gauge at Cherry Point for the official Whatcom County tide levels, but local tidal levels do vary both in height and timing (Bellingham, Sandy Point, Birch Bay, Blaine and Point Roberts are all slightly different).