Remote Surveillance Trailer in Bellingham, WA

All lanes remained closed on northbound Interstate 5 south of Bellingham on Saturday due to major rockslides, according to the state Department of Transportation.

It was unclear when the freeway would reopen.

I-5 closed Thursday night after slides left rocks, trees and debris blocking all lanes, between Lake Padden and Lake Samish. An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 cubic yards of debris slid down the slope to the freeway. An Olympic-sized swimming pool is typically just over 3,000 cubic yards.

At least one of the rocks was larger than a bus.

The Department of Transportation signed an emergency contract with Interwest Construction and expected emergency work to start Saturday. The company planned to start hauling away trees and debris Sunday.

Crews will work seven days a week, the agency said.

An update on the repair plan and timeline should be ready by Wednesday. An engineering report is expected early next week. An initial geotechnical report had found concern for “more potential movement” in the debris pile and on the slope, according to the Department of Transportation.

Sources: Esri, WSDOT (Mark Nowlin / The Seattle Times)

Traffic on northbound I-5 was being diverted at Exit 246, at the north end of Lake Samish. The agency recommended drivers detour to Highway 9 or Highway 11, also known as Chuckanut Drive, a route also prone to slides.

Highway 11 is not suitable for freight traffic, the agency said.

The agency warned against going to the I-5 slide or flying drones over it. The slope remains unstable and crews will use heavy machinery there once work starts.

“We understand this is frustrating,” the Department of Transportation said on X. “We are focusing on doing this precise, methodical work as safely and quickly as we can.”

Denisa R. Superville: 206-464-8216 or dsuperville@seattletimes.com. Denisa R. Superville is an Education Lab reporter at The Seattle Times, where she writes about school districts as they emerge from the pandemic years.

When disaster hits in Washington state, it pays to be prepared.

“After an emergency, you may need to survive on your own for several days,” the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said.

That means having enough food, water and other supplies to last you and your family for several days, the federal agency said.

What should be in your emergency or disaster survival kit?

Here’s what to know:

What should go into my emergency kit?

Although “government agencies will respond to community disasters,” you may be on your own for a while after disaster strikes, according to the Washington State Department of Health.

“You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for at least two weeks” — or even months in some cases, the state agency said.

According to Puget Sound Energy, the state Health Department and the Department of Homeland Security, these are some items you should consider adding to your emergency kit:

Do I need tools? Tape? Blankets or sleeping bags?

Depending on the kind of emergency is most common in your area, the American Red Cross and the Homeland Security Department recommends considering adding these items:

Where should I store my emergency kit?

Once you’ve made your emergency kit, where should it go?

The Department of Homeland Security recommends picking a couple of different spots.

“Since you do not know where you will be when an emergency occurs, prepare supplies for home, work and cars,” the federal agency said.

The state Health Department recommends storing “a kit at home, at work and at each child’s school or daycare facility.”

It’s tulip season in Skagit County — and flower fans are flocking to Mount Vernon in hopes of getting a glimpse at the beautiful blooms.

“This year’s Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is shaping up to be another beautiful and unique season,” Nicole Roozen, Skagit Valley Tulip Festival executive director, wrote in an email to The Bellingham Herald. “Each garden offers its own experience, with millions of tulips blooming across the valley in a wide range of colors — from classic reds and yellows to soft pastels and striking specialty varieties.”

Roozen said visitors can explore locations including Roozengaarde, Tulip Town, Garden Rosalyn and the Tulip Valley Farm “each with its own design and atmosphere.”

Here’s what you need to know before heading out:

When is Skagit Valley Tulip Festival? Where?

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival takes place in April and May in the Mount Vernon area in Western Washington.

Visitors can “discover one-of-a-kind pieces that capture the beauty of Skagit Valley’s most beloved bloom” at the Tulip Festival Art Exhibit, organizers said.

The art exhibit runs Friday, April 3, and Saturday, April 4, at the Depot Arts Center in Anacortes.

The Tulip Festival Parade travels along Front Street in downtown La Conner on Saturday, April 11.

Nearly 200 artisan vendors gather at South First Street in downtown Mount Vernon for the Tulip Festival Street Fair, which also features food trucks, live music and children’s activities. The event runs Friday, April 17, through Sunday, April 19.

However, the main attraction is the local farms where visitors can see, smell snap photos and pick bouquets of gorgeous flowers.

Tickets to visit participating farms can be purchased the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival website.

See tulips, daffodils at RoozenGaarde

Where: 15867 Beaver Marsh Road in Mount Vernon

When: Extended hours start Saturday, March 21

Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

What’s there: The public face of the Washington Bulb Company, RoozenGaarde features an 8-acre display garden with more than 1 million bulbs and more than 50 acres of tulips and daffodils, its website says, delivering “a premium experience for flower lovers worldwide.” Visitors can stop by the gift shop, purchase handpicked bouquets and enjoy offerings from on-site food vendors.

How much: $19 to $23; walk-up tickets cost an extra $2. Children under 2 are free.

Can I bring my pet: No

Contact: 360-424-8531

When does Tulip Valley Farms u-pick open?

Where: 15245 Bradshaw Road in Mount Vernon

When: Saturday, March 21, to Thursday, April 30

Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; Night Bloom is 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday in April.

What’s there: Visitors can check out an interactive “half-acre showcase of every tulip variety” grown at this u-pick farm before heading into the fields, Tulip Valley Farms said on its website. Flower fans can explore the farm after sunset during Night Bloom events featuring black lights, lasers, live music and a Glow in the Dark Garden. Other attractions include miniature Highland cows and in-person “tulip talks.”

How much: $16 to $18, $10 to $12 children ages 3 to 15

Can I bring my pet? For $5, you can bring well-behaved dogs on leashes into the flower fields.

Contact:

Can I bring my dog to Garden Rosalyn?

Where: 16648 Jungquist Road in Mount Vernon

When: Friday, March 20, to Thursday, April 30

Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily

What’s there: Garden Rosalyn features seven acres of hand-planted tulips plus a tranquil pond that’s home to ducks and geese. With the Cascade Mountains framing views, you’ll find “photo-ready focal points throughout the grounds,” the farm website reads.

How much: $17 to $18

Can I bring my pet? Yes, for no additional fee

Contact: 360-202-7982

What’s in store at Tulip Town?

Where: 15002 Bradshaw Road in Mount Vernon

When: Saturday, March 28, through Thursday, April 30

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday

What’s there: You can explore this 30-acre farm on foot or climb aboard a vintage trolley for a “scenic, front-row view of the blooms,” Tulip Town said on its website. In addition to more than six acres of flowers, Tulip Town has a café and Beer & Wine Garden offering Dutch pastries, snacks, coffee, specialty drinks and local beer and wine.

How much: $12.20 to $20.48

Can I bring my pet? Yes, for free

Contact:

Where can I park at Mount Vernon tulip farms?

All farms participating in the festival offer free parking.

“Parking areas are clearly designated near the gardens and fields to help make visiting as smooth as possible,” Roozen said.

When are best days and times to see tulips?

Hot weather, cold conditions, heavy rains and high winds can affect when tulips flower, Skagit Valley Tulip Festival organizers said, with blooms appearing as early as March and as late as May.

“Mid-April tends to be the safest bet to experience vibrant blooms,” organizers said.

Your experience may vary depending on which day you visit.

“Weekdays are often quieter, while weekends offer a more festive atmosphere,” organizers said.

“We always encourage guests to check bloom updates and parking information on tulipfestival.org before they arrive,” Roozen told The Herald.

A new flight is about to land at Bellingham International Airport.

Travelers will soon be able to fly nonstop from Bellingham to Portland, Oregon.

The new flight means added convenience for travelers headed to and from the popular Pacific Northwest city, offering a quick turnaround and opportune departure times, Matt Rodriguez, the Bellingham airport’s director of aviation, told The Bellingham Herald in December.

It’s “the beginning of our route expansion to get more direct flights out of Bellingham,” Rodriguez said at the time.

“Portland International Airport is a major regional gateway and consistently ranks as one of the best airports in the nation for its ease of navigation, amenities and overall experience,” Rodriquez told The Herald on Wednesday March 11. “We are thrilled to now be able to offer easy daily flights from Bellingham to two major regional hubs in Portland and Seattle.”

Here’s what to know:

Where can I fly from Bellingham?

Bellingham International Airport, 4255 Mitchell Way in Bellingham, currently offers direct flights to a dozen destinations, including Seattle, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix and the San Juan Islands.

Three airlines serve the Whatcom County airport: Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air and San Juan Airlines.

When do direct flights to Portland start?

Alaska Airlines will begin offering daily, direct flights to and from Portland beginning on Thursday, March 19.

“This is huge news for travelers interested in Portland or connecting flights to Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Diego, Arizona and much more,” the Bellingham airport said in a Dec. 19 Facebook post. “We’re thrilled to offer more access and more routes through our local and convenient airport.”

When are nonstop flights available?

The nonstop flights, which will be available all year long, will depart daily from Bellingham at 8 a.m., according to Alaska Airlines website.

Returning flights returning arrive at the Bellingham airport as early at 3 p.m. and as late as 10:45 p.m.

Passengers will spend about an hour in the air, according to Alaska Airlines.

In contrast, it now takes more than three hours to fly Bellingham to Portland via Alaska Airlines with a layover at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, according to the airline’s website.

“Great news: Traveling to Bellingham from the PDX area is about to get a whole lot faster!” Visit Bellingham Whatcom County said on its website.

What are one-way ticket prices?

One-way flights from Bellingham to Portland start at $59, according to the Alaska Airlines website.

Ticket prices vary depending on when you want to fly, with the cost of a one-way flight in late March soaring to $249.

You can book a flight online via alaskaair.com.

When is the most affordable time to fly?

If you’re hoping to get to Portland for cheap, you may want to wait a little longer.

According to the Alaska Airlines website, the most affordable times to buy plane tickets to and from Portland were late April and early May.

As of Thursday, March 12, Alaska Airlines was accepting reservations through the end of the year.

Flooding is now possible along the Nooksack River in Whatcom County as a Pineapple Express brings heavy rain to both the mountains and the lowlands over several days in Western Washington.

Current forecasts have caught the attention of Whatcom County officials, who told The Bellingham Herald that they are watching the Nooksack River and have action plans in place.

Earlier forecasts indicated that the warm atmospheric river’s most intense rain would fall in southern British Columbia, but Wednesday estimates from the Northwest River Forecast Center show the Nooksack River rising to just above flood stage on Friday and Saturday in Ferndale. Wednesday estimates for Deming show the river cresting at “action stage” upstream.

Flooding is expected on the Skagit River in Mount Vernon and Concrete as melting snow from the North Cascades inundates that river.

Elsewhere, excessive runoff may result in urban and small-stream flooding and pooling of water in low-lying locations, meteorologist Dana Felton said.

“Just a steady stream of moisture moving into the area the next three days,” Felton said in the online forecast discussion. “In addition to the rain it will be breezy at times over the northwest interior with the frontal boundary stalled just to the north.”

Since the storm is coming from the South Pacific, its warm air will increase snow levels to about 7,000-8,000 feet, and melting snow will cause rivers to rise quickly.

Consequently, the National Weather in Seattle issued flood watches for several counties, including Whatcom and Skagit.

Forecasts have been fluctuating, as the storm’s track becomes more certain. Last week, flooding concerns were minimal, but they have been increasing daily.

Rain was falling early Tuesday at Mt. Baker Ski Area with temperatures in the mid- to upper 30s. The ski area is closed through Thursday.

At the Whatcom County Public Works Department, spokeswoman Mandy Feutz said its River & Flood Division is tracking river levels along with the weather forecast.

“We’re prepared to respond if conditions change. We already have crews in the field placing signs in areas where water is impacting roadways, and they’re ready to take additional action, including road closures, if needed to keep the public safe,” Feutz said in an email. “We’re also coordinating with our partner agencies as conditions develop. We’ll continue to adjust our response based on what we’re seeing and will share updates if impacts become more significant. Residents can stay informed by checking current river conditions and reviewing flood preparedness resources on the county’s website.

Officials with the Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management are taking similar steps, spokeswoman Amy Cloud said.

“We’ve been tracking hydrologic and weather forecasts constantly, monitoring for rain impacts and road closures, checking river gauge levels, and securing “worst case” scenarios for the Nooksack River,” Cloud told The Herald in an email. “Our deputy director is in contact with our law enforcement, fire, public works and Emergency Management Council partners to share the information we’ve gathered and to receive field reports, questions or concerns.”