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Minor flooding is now expected in Ferndale and possibly other parts of Whatcom County as an atmospheric river drops heavy rain over Northwest Washington. A flood watch was issued and the threat of landslides has increased because of soil saturated with melting snow. A warm, wet storm will drop up to 2 inches of rain in Bellingham and lowland Whatcom County during the worst of the storm on Tuesday-Wednesday, Jan. 11-12, according to the National Weather Service in Seattle.

Heavier rain is expected in the North Cascades, causing snowmelt that will engorge the Nooksack River. Latest predictions from the Northwest River Forecast Center show the Nooksack reaching minor flood stage early Wednesday and receding quickly as rain subsides.