Residents in low-lying areas of Whatcom County were bracing for a repeat of devastation from 2020 and 2021 as the rain-swollen Nooksack River appeared ready to overflow its banks early Wednesday and the National Weather Service issued flood warnings for residents from Acme to Lummi Nation.
Whatcom County Executive Satal Sidhu signed an emergency proclamation Tuesday afternoon, a step that allows agencies such as Public Works and Emergency Management to spend funds for storm response and to provide victim assistance. The proclamation allows county officials to bypass a normal bidding process in some cases.
Flooding was imminent from the Everson area north to British Columbia, the National Weather Service said in an alert at 10:26 a.m. Wednesday.
“Stream gauge and river forecasts for the Nooksack River at North Cedarville (Nugents Corner) and at Everson indicate that flooding is expected to begin later this afternoon in Everson, at a sufficient level to spill into an abandoned Nooksack River side channel, including Johnson Creek; the split flow will send floodwaters flowing from Everson north toward Sumas,” the weather service said. “How far the flooding extends northward, and whether it reaches Sumas, depends on how high the Nooksack River goes overbank at Everson and for how long.”
Flooding was also expected in the South Fork Valley at the Saxon Bridge in Acme, where Highway 9 could become blocked by floodwater.
The Nooksack was expected to top the levees at Ferndale on Thursday.
“At 20.5 feet, the Nooksack River will overflow levees and banks along the east bank of the river from Hovander Park downstream to Marietta, causing widespread flooding from near Ferndale downstream to the mouth, with swift waters in residential areas and over farm lands and roads. Erosion may damage some river banks,’ the weather service said.
Emergency response
Officials at the Whatcom County Public Works Department were deploying staff to monitor river levels across the county and working with Emergency Management to notify Marietta residents of potential evacuations.
“Conditions may change quickly, and residents are urged to stay alert and follow official updates. Whatcom County Public Works is closely monitoring river forecasts and coordinating with partner agencies. Crews are in the field today observing water levels and supporting flood response efforts as needed,” Public Works spokeswoman Mandy Feutz told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
More rain ahead
Widespread heavy rain will continue Wednesday as the second round of a strong atmospheric river is aimed straight at Western Washington, causing widespread flooding, including the Skagit River south of Bellingham, where evacuations were possible.
“This will continue to cause flooding concerns to area rivers, urban areas and areas with poor drainage. Forecast models have increased rainfall totals, with an additional 1 to 3 inches of rain across the lowlands and another 4 to 8 inches over the Olympics and Cascades through Thursday morning,” the National Weather Service said Wednesday morning.
A chart from the Northwest River Forecast Center shows water depth and flow on the Nooksack River near Nugents Corner. Northwest River Forecast Center Courtesy to The Bellingham Herald
Bellingham saw 0.70 inches of rain Tuesday at the airport, where weather data is recorded, for a monthly total of 2.55 inches. Normal December rainfall is 4.33 inches.
Sandbags offered
Whatcom County Public works, Sumas and Everson were offering sandbags Wednesday morning and warning residents to be ready for road closures. Sandbags were available at:
- Northwest Annex, 5280 Northwest Drive. Enter from Northwest Drive.
- Everson City Shop, 605 Robinson St., for Everson and Nooksack residents.
- A sandbagging machine is on Kneuman Road. for Sumas residents until 3 p.m. Wednesday.
“If this forecast holds, we could see flooding similar to the February 2020 flood. Prepare for road closures throughout the area. Everson, Nooksack, and Sumas public works crews are currently installing sandbags along Emerson Road to hold back some of the overflow,” the city of Everson said on its Facebook page.
A city of Everson map shows an estimate of flooding when the Nooksack River is flowing at 60,000 cubic feet per second, similar to the flood of January-February 2020. City of Everson Courtesy to The Bellingham Herald
Flooding was forecast in Acme, Nugents Corner and the Everson-Nooksack area.
“Phase 2 of this storm event has begun with moderate to heavy rain expected. This will drive up the Nooksack higher than (Tuesday), up to moderate flood category. This amount of flow in the mainstem Nooksack could lead to an Everson overflow flood event that would also impact Nooksack, Sumas, into Abbotsford, B.C.,” the National Weather Service said.
Flooding locations include:
- The south fork of the Nooksack River at Saxon Bridge.
- Where the north and south forks meet near North Cedarville (Nugents Corner).
Bellingham roads affected
On its social media, Bellingham Police listed several roads with standing water.
“There are several areas in the city where there is water over the roadway and our partners at Public Works are working hard to alleviate the issue or closing the roadway,” police said.
- Meador Avenue under Interstate 5.
- Iowa and Moore streets.
- Iowa and Lincoln streets.
This story was originally published December 10, 2025 at 8:42 AM.
Robert Mittendorf
The Bellingham Herald
Robert Mittendorf covers civic issues, weather, traffic and how people are coping with the high cost of housing for The Bellingham Herald. A journalist since 1984, he’s also a volunteer firefighter for South Whatcom Fire Authority.
