‘Moisture conveyor belt’ developing as third storm lines up to hit Whatcom County this week

Oct 15, 2024

A third storm is lining up to strike Whatcom County and the rest of Western Washington later this week, part of a string of drenching weather systems called atmospheric rivers.

Such storms can bring persistent rain, said meteorologist Harrison Rademacher at the National Weather Service in Seattle.

“There’s a moisture conveyor belt setting up,” Rademacher told The Bellingham Herald.

A storm out of the Gulf of Alaska is hitting Western Washington on Monday and Tuesday with wind and rain. About a half-inch of rain is possible from the first round through Tuesday.

After a brief break, stronger storms are on track to hit the region Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday and Sunday.

The second storm, hitting later Tuesday, will be stronger than the first, with cold air from the Gulf of Alaska. Snow levels will drop Wednesday to about 4,000 feet.

A third storm is expected to hit Saturday and Sunday and appears to be carrying heavy amounts of rain, Rademacher said.

“This one looks like it will have more potential impact. (But) It’s pretty far out so we’re not exactly sure where it will hit,” he said.

That storm is a classic “Pineapple Express” sweeping in from the South Pacific, he said. Snow levels will rise to around 8,000 feet with the third storm.

Localized urban and small stream flooding is always possible with heavy rain, but widespread flooding seems unlikely at this point, meteorologists said.

“Expect significant rises on area rivers next week. While river flooding is not currently forecast, these systems will at the very least, prime the region for flooding as we move deeper into fall. The pattern will remain active with additional chances of heavy precipitation into next weekend,” the National Weather Service said in an online briefing Sunday afternoon.

Current predictions for the Northwest River Forecast Center show the Nooksack River rising sharply this week, but cresting below flood stage in Nugents Corner, Everson and Ferndale.