Residents who rely on the Whatcom Chief ferry to reach Lummi Island should prepare for possible midday service disruptions next Monday and Tuesday, as extreme low tides are forecast to create unsafe ramp conditions on June 15 and 16.
The Whatcom County Public Works Ferry Division issued an advisory this week warning that several midday sailings may be canceled on short notice. The Whatcom Chief, which runs continuously between Gooseberry Point near Ferndale and Lummi Island, requires adequate water depth at the ferry ramp for safe loading and docking. When tides drop to extreme lows, conditions at the ramp can temporarily fall below safe operating thresholds.
On Monday, June 15, the 11:20 a.m., 11:40 a.m., and 12:00 p.m. sailings are at risk. On Tuesday, June 16, the noon and 1:00 p.m. sailings may be affected. No cancellations have been confirmed as of this writing, but the county has warned that suspensions could happen on short notice depending on observed conditions that day.
Riders are urged to follow the Ferry Division's X account (@WhatcomFerry) for real-time updates. Building extra time into travel plans is strongly advised for both days. The safest approach is to plan crossings either before 11:00 a.m. or after 2:00 p.m. on both days.
Lummi Island is home to roughly 900 permanent residents and lies about two miles west of Gooseberry Point in northern Puget Sound. Unlike the islands served by Washington State Ferries, Lummi Island depends entirely on the county-run Whatcom Chief for vehicle access to the mainland. The crossing itself takes only a few minutes, but the ferry is the only connection for residents and visitors with cars.
Extreme low tides are a recurring seasonal challenge for Puget Sound ferry operations. Summer months bring the lowest tidal readings of the year, and when astronomical tides align with warm, high-pressure conditions, minus tides can drop ramp conditions below the threshold needed for safe operations. The county monitors forecasts closely and typically gives advance warning when specific sailings are at risk, as they have done this week.
The full ferry schedule and any alerts are posted on Whatcom County's Lummi Island Ferry page. The county has not announced any plans for additional sailings to offset the midday gaps.
If you are planning a trip to or from Lummi Island this coming weekend or early next week, the smart move is to book a morning or mid-afternoon crossing and watch for updates from the ferry division over the weekend as the forecast firms up. Missed crossings during a window of cancellations cannot be made up with makeup sailings, so scheduling around the risk window is the only reliable option.
