A Stage 2 burn ban across unincorporated Whatcom County remains in effect as of Friday, July 24, 2026, with no end date announced, prohibiting all open burning countywide. The Whatcom County Division of Emergency Management released its daily briefing Friday noting that while the immediate heat has eased, fire danger across both lowlands and mountain terrain stays elevated heading into the weekend.
The ban took effect at 8 a.m. on July 17 and applies to all outdoor burning in unincorporated areas of the county. That means no burn barrels, no recreational campfires on private property, and no agricultural burning of any kind until the ban is lifted. The Washington Department of Ecology separately declared a statewide drought on April 8, 2026, that includes Whatcom County, adding legal weight to fire restrictions already in place through the county's own emergency management authority.
Fire Danger Levels and Air Quality
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources has rated lowland fire danger in Whatcom County at High, with Cascade-area terrain rated Moderate to High. Those ratings reflect the combination of dry vegetation, warm temperatures in the days prior, and the ongoing drought conditions that have drawn down soil moisture across the region since spring.
Air quality as of Friday morning was in the moderate to unhealthy range for sensitive individuals, with a formal air quality alert issued by the National Weather Service. The Whatcom County Health and Community Services wildfire smoke page provides up-to-date air quality index readings and health guidance for residents with asthma, heart disease, or other conditions that make them more vulnerable to smoke exposure.
Emergency Management noted awareness of active fires in the far eastern part of the county, near Ross Lake in the North Cascades, but confirmed that the county's Emergency Operations Center is not activated and Whatcom County agencies are not directly involved in suppression activities at those locations. Up-to-date fire information for the Ross Lake area is available through the North Cascades National Park Service.
Weekend Weather Outlook
Friday afternoon brought clear skies and temperatures warming into the low 80s, offering a brief respite after days of smoke and heat. That break is short-lived. Cloud cover is expected to increase through Friday night and into Saturday morning, with light rain showers developing mid-to-late morning Saturday and lingering into the afternoon. Overall rainfall accumulation is expected to remain light, but temperatures will drop roughly 10 degrees from Friday's peak.
Sunday brings a more significant weather shift. More widespread unsettled conditions are forecast, with rain showers developing as early as Sunday morning and lasting at times through the late afternoon or early evening. A period of relative stability is expected Sunday night into Monday before conditions turn unsettled again Tuesday, when forecasters are watching for showers and the potential for afternoon thunderstorms as a front moves through. Strong southerly winds gusting up to 30 mph could accompany Tuesday's frontal passage.
After Tuesday, a prolonged dry stretch is forecast to carry through the remainder of the work week and into the following weekend, which could again build fire danger if high temperatures return.
Coastal and Marine Conditions
Boaters and kayakers on Bellingham Bay and the Strait of Juan de Fuca should be aware of increasing southerly winds through the weekend. Friday's conditions are relatively calm, with south winds around 5 knots and wave heights of 2 feet or less. By Friday night, winds are expected to climb to 10 to 15 knots after midnight. Saturday brings south winds at 10 to 15 knots, easing in the afternoon, and another front is expected to stall offshore Saturday before moving inland Sunday night. Real-time tidal and current data for Cherry Point is available through the NOAA Tide Station.
Community Preparedness Resources
The Whatcom County Division of Emergency Management is encouraging residents to sign up for emergency alerts through WhatcomReady if they have not already done so. The alert system sends notifications for evacuation orders, road closures, and public health warnings directly to registered phones and email addresses.
The division is also currently accepting enrollment for its East Whatcom CERT Basic Training course, which runs Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m., beginning August 5 and continuing through September 23, 2026. Classes are held at Kendall Fire Station 92. Interested residents can email the division at dem@whatcomcounty.us to enroll. Community Emergency Response Team training equips residents with basic disaster preparedness and response skills so neighborhoods can support themselves during the critical hours before professional responders arrive.
The county's Hazard Mitigation Plan survey remains open indefinitely, though comments made after July 1 will not be included in the current plan update cycle. Residents who want to weigh in on the county's long-term approach to natural disaster risk can still submit feedback for consideration in future updates.
