BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- Gusts in the 40 to 60 mile-per-hour range hammered Whatcom County again Wednesday night, knocking out power in places, as another Pacific storm came ashore.
A gust of 64 mph was registered at Cherry Point near Ferndale.
A high wind warning issued by the National Weather Service remains in effect through midnight Thursday.
The storm also continues to dump rain on Whatcom County.
On Wednesday, Amtrak was forced to cancel all of its Bellingham trains because of landslides.
The Lummi Island Ferry dock on Lummi Island was incapacitated by the storm Wednesday night .
Whatcom County Public Works Director Frank Abart said about 30 percent of the dock's pilings are damaged, so the ferry will have an emergency 5-ton weight limit in place until further notice.
Puget Sound Energy reported many customers on Lummi Island were without power Wednesday night, and power crews were unable to reach the island until about 6 a.m. this morning.
The Ferndale School District has reported that Beach Elementary School on Lummi Island will be closed today due to a power outage.
The Lummi Island Ferry will switch to passenger-only service at 6 p.m. today. Abart said the ferry will resume normal service Friday at 5:40 a.m., then switch back to passenger-only service at 7:40 p.m.
The National Weather Service also has an avalanche warning in effect for the North Cascades and Olympics.
Meanwhile, emergency officials have some tips to help Whatcom County residents stay prepared.
Property owners can make trees more wind resistant by removing diseased and damaged limbs.
Bellingham Fire Chief Bill Boyd said residents should stay away from downed wires.
“Stay away from any utility line that has been downed," said Boyd. "We have no idea whether they’re live with electricity or not."
Chief Boyd also recommends turning off electrical equipment when the power goes out.
“[People should] make sure they’ve got a flashlight. No candles. We hate candles in houses – they tend to start house fires – and a battery operated radio, so they can keep information flowing,” he said.
To listen to the full interview with Boyd on KGMI's Bellingham Morning News, click here.
For a photo gallery of Tuesday's storm damage, click here.
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