WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — A National Weather Service (NWS) flood watch remains in place until late Wednesday, December 6th, for Whatcom County and much of western Washington. A flood warning was recently issued today, Tuesday, December 5th, for the South Fork Nooksack River since minor flooding is forecast in the area of the Saxon bridge river level gauge. The warning is in place until about 6pm today.
At 8.0 feet, the Nooksack River floodwaters will inundate much of the low farm lands along the river…with water over some roadways…including potentially Highway 9 north of Acme. National Weather Service flood warning statement (December 5, 2023)
Updated 11:15am: A flood warning has been issued for the North Cedarville gauge location until after midnight tonight.
At 146.5 feet, the Nooksack River will cause shallow flooding of low pasture lands along the river downstream through Lynden.
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Click for more informationNational Weather Service flood warning statement (December 5, 2023)Advertisement
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River level gauges at Saxon bridge and Cedarville indicate the river has crested or is cresting around 9am today. The forecast is for the level to decrease significantly over the next 3 days.
The river level gauge and accompanying forecast at Ferndale expect the river level to crest at about the 19-foot mark in the middle of the minor flood stage. This is forecast to occur this evening. around 9pm.
Updated 11:45am: A flood warning has been issued for the Ferndale gauge location until after midnight tonight.
At 18.0 feet, 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. National Weather Service flood warning statement (December 5, 2023)
Some road impacts, including closures, can be expected after the river reaches the 15-foot mark in Ferndale.
Possible impacts at the current forecast levels at Ferndale include:
- After the river level reaches the 15-foot mark, water and debris begins spreading across some low-lying roads such as the corner of Barrett/Paradise Roads, W Smith Road west of LaBounty Drive, Marine Drive west of Ferndale Road and Ferndale Road on both sides of Slater Road.
- By the time the river reaches the 16-foot mark road closures are likely for Barrett/Paradise Roads, Marine Drive west of Rural Avenue and Ferndale Road south of Slater.
- After the river level reaches the 17-foot mark, the river usually has begun spreading into VanderYacht Park. Depending on the saturation level of nearby pasture land, flood waters may begin covering Slater Road east of the river bridge enough to require closing the road
- By the time the river reaches the 18-foot mark, Hovander Homestead Park and the adjacent Tennant Lake area may be closed due to flooding concerns. Slater Road has been closed in the past by the time the river level has reached this point.
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