Update: Nooksack River flooding in Whatcom County after heavy mountain rain
Warnings were issued as gauges show the Nooksack River at flood stage in Deming and Everson and levels were rising toward flood stage in Ferndale, even as four days of rain began to ease by midday Friday.
Friday afternoon estimates from the Northwest River Forecast Center show the Nooksack River cresting just at flood stage of 146.5 feet early Saturday in Nugents Corner and at 18 feet, one foot above flood stage on Saturday in Ferndale.
“Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. At 146.5 feet, the Nooksack River will cause shallow flooding of low pasturelands along the river downstream through Lynden,” the National Weather Service said about 4:15 p.m. Friday.
Flooding was also expected in Everson and Nooksack, as overflow was forecast for an abandoned river side channel, including Johnson Creek, the weather service said in an alert issued at 4:54 p.m.
“The spilt flow will send flood waters flowing from Everson northward but remaining south of Sumas,” the alert said.
Everson Mayor John Perry told The Herald that flooding was minor in an email at 6:22 p.m. Friday.
“The river in Everson is cresting right now. We have closed Emerson road and expect it to be closed through the evening. No other road closures are anticipated. Things should be back to normal for us by (Saturday) morning,” Perry said.
In Ferndale, spokeswoman Megan Juenemann told The Bellongham Herald that flooding is expected to “remain limited and consistent with typical flooding patterns” at locations such as Slater Road, Barrett Road and Smith Road. Minor flooding in is possible in low-lying areas, including VanderYacht Park, Juenemannsaid in an email.
“Residents should be aware of potential traffic impacts. Please use caution when traveling and avoid driving through flooded roadways,” Juenemann said.
The Nooksack River crested around midmorning in Ferndale at 20.5 feet, just below moderate flood stage, according to the Northwest River Forecast Center. Guage heights were dropping sharply upstream Saturday.
More than 2.5 inches of rain fell in the 24-hour period by 3 p.m. Friday at the Mt. Baker Ski Area, according to online data at the Northwest Avalanche Center.
Randy Small of Lynden, who operates the Whatcom County Weather page on Facebook, showed a live video of the Nooksack River from the Everson Bridge at 2:15 p.m. Friday.
“The river is just flowing like crazy, but still within its banks. One good thing is that Mt. Baker Ski Area is slowing down rain. Not much in the past hour so that’s a really good sign, along with blue sky and sunshine,” Small said.
A flood watch remains in effect for Whatcom County after an atmospheric river brought a classic Pineapple Express of warm temperatures and rain from the Western Washington lowlands to the North Cascades, filling the rivers with melting snow and runoff.
More than 3 inches of rain has fallen since Sunday at Bellingham International Airport. That four-day total is greater than the average rainfall for all of March, according to records going back to 1949.
A flood warning was issued for the Skagit River in Concrete and Mount Vernon, and several other Washington rivers were at flood stage.
Forecasters at the National Weather Service in Seattle said rain will dissipate through Friday night as the atmospheric river moves out.
“River flooding will continue for portions of the area into the weekend, especially rivers from King County northwards. West winds will increase through the Strait of Juan de Fuca this afternoon, with gusts ranging 30 to 40 mph along Whidbey Island this evening. Winds will dissipate (Friday) night,” the weather service said in an online briefing.
Landslides remain a concern across Western Washington with all the recent rain. A slide has blocked both lanes of northbound Interstate 5 south of Bellingham for an undetermined amount of time, the Washington State Department of Transportation said.
Avalanches were possible in the Mount Baker wilderness.
“A transition to cooler temperatures and light snowfall will maintain heightened avalanche danger into the weekend. Wet snow deep in the snowpack may continue to produce large avalanches,” the weather service said.
Several roads remain closed around Whatcom County because of standing water, Public Works Department spokeswoman Many Feutz told The Herald.
“Whatcom County Public Works continues to track changing river and roadway conditions across the county. Several additional roads have been closed today, particularly in areas prone to flooding,” Feutz said in an email. “Crews are working in shifts to respond to changing conditions and place Water Over Roadway signs as needed. A self-serve sandbag station is available behind the Northwest Annex building (corner of Smith Road and Northwest Avenue) for residents who may experience localized flooding. Drivers are encouraged to use caution and never drive through standing water or around a road closed sign.”
This story was originally published March 20, 2026 at 3:33 PM with the headline "Update: Nooksack River flooding in Whatcom County after heavy mountain rain."
