“The Fraser Outflow is causing significant drifting in the northern half of the county. Blaine, Lynden, Sumas, and the central (Meridian) area are especially bad,” Mandy Feutz of the Whatcom County Public Works Department told The Herald in an email.

Bellingham Technical College and Whatcom Community College are closed Monday, and Western Washington University delayed classes until 10 a.m. because of snow, according to campus alerts. Bellingham officials expected that city offices and services would be open.

Public schools are closed in Bellingham, Lynden and around Whatcom County, where chilly air from Canada dipped temperatures to the teens early Monday. Whatcom Community College closed its campus, but online classes are still happening. Western Washington University’s campus was closed until 10 a.m.

Snow began falling a little before 7 a.m. Saturday in areas south and east of Bellingham, the first substantial snowfall of the winter season. More snow is forecast through Monday afternoon, the National Weather Service said in an online briefing. A winter weather advisory is in effect for the Whatcom County lowlands.

Although there was no snow in downtown Bellingham Sunday afternoon, just a couple miles south near Lake Samish there was plenty, as the small community embraced the weekend’s winter blast. "I'm really excited,

The National Weather Service has placed western Whatcom County and western Skagit County under a winter weather advisory through 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 3. Up to 4 inches of snow could accumulate during the two-day period,