WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — The further north, the more snow and colder conditions were found in Whatcom County on Monday. Sunday night into Monday morning, the low-pressure system that brought moisture to Western Washington met frigid air from Canada to drop up to nine inches of snow across the county.
In Lyden, the snow that fell was blown by the wind creating ground blizzard-like conditions that hindered visibility.
“The biggest issue is the wind,” Roland Middleton, the special programs manager for Whatcom County Public Works said. “The snow has stopped falling, but the snow has not stopped falling as it were.”
Middleton is referring to snow drifts that have been created on several roads in the county, some several feet tall.
KIRO 7 crews saw some cars stuck in the drifts south and west of Lynden on Monday.
Wind gusts of more than 30 mph are carrying snow across open farmland until it meets something it sticks to.
“It’s ground zero,” said Randy Small, “It nailed us.”
Small is the weather chaser behind Whatcom County Weather. He says these kinds of storms usually happen a couple of times a winter, but Sunday night into Monday was significant, with times of heavy snow.
“It was as heavy as I’ve ever seen it here and I’ve lived here all my life,” Small said.
Middleton says the county’s more than a dozen plows have been making passes on main routes during drivers’ 12-hour shifts, with a full call out over the weekend.
The county and Lighthouse Mission Ministries have opened emergency shelters in the city.
“Our crews will be applying salt brine solution overnight to help prevent ice formation, as long as temperatures remain above 20 degrees. This will be a key part of our ongoing effort to address conditions on those main streets,” a spokesperson for the City of Bellingham said Monday night.
A cold weather advisory is in effect for the county through Wednesday Morning.