Nooksack River is forecast to cause minor flooding this week

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Seattle has issued a Flood Watch from Tuesday afternoon through Thursday afternoon for portions of northwest Washington and west central Washington including Whatcom County.

According to NWS forecasters, a couple of storm systems will produce a lot of rain, heavy at times, over the Olympic and Cascade Mountains Tuesday through Wednesday. The first system, coming through Tuesday and Tuesday night, will produce 3 to 5 inches of rain over the mountains. The next system, arriving Wednesday and lasting through Wednesday night, will produce 2 to 4 and a half inches of rain.

As a result of the rains in the mountains and an increase in the snow level to above 8,000 feet, river levels are expected to climb, some to flood stage.

The current forecast for the Nooksack River level at Ferndale indicates the river level will reach levels known to create challenges for drivers and nearby property owners.

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The river is expected to crest Wednesday around noon near the 17-foot mark. At this level, according to the NWS, “the Nooksack River will overtop levees along Bertrand Creek and near Marine Drive, causing shallow flooding of low pasture lands along the river and additional roadways within the floodplain including Slater Road.”

The river is then expected to crest early Friday morning around the 19-foot mark, a foot above the official minor flood stage. At this level, according to the NWS, “The river begins overtopping its banks within the City of Ferndale flooding low-lying areas within the City and low pasture lands along the river from near Ferndale downstream to the mouth.”

River level forecasts are prone to changes so monitoring the forecast is advised.

Updates will be posted as more information becomes available.