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2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan <br />Kittitas County, Washington <br /> <br /> <br />Chapter 4: Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment 104 <br />Additionally, drought conditions can also increase the incidence of illness and disease (e.g., mosquito- <br />borne diseases, anxiety, depression, and other adverse mental health outcomes).121F <br />121 <br /> <br />Effects of Climate Change in Severity of Impacts: Climate change has led to more frequent and <br />intense drought periods in central Washington, including Kittitas County. As average temperatures in the <br />Pacific Northwest continue to increase, high elevation areas are expected to warm faster than lower <br />elevations. This results in increased evaporation rates and reduced snowpack, which is imperative in <br />order to maintain the water supply during the dry summer months. Additionally, it is expected that more <br />precipitation will occur as rain instead of snow. The reduced snowpack leads to lower stream flows and <br />diminished water availability for agriculture, ecosystems, and human consumption. Higher temperatures <br />and longer periods between precipitation events are expected to lead to more frequent and severe <br />droughts.122F <br />122 Table 4-45 indicates the 25-year heat and precipitation projections for Kittitas County.123F <br />123 <br />Table 4-46 outlines the drought associated climate indicators for Kittitas County projected through the <br />end of the century.124F <br />124 <br />Table 4-45. 25-Year Climate Projections for Kittitas County <br />Higher Emissions (RCP8.5) <br />Kittitas County is expected to experience an 88% increase in extremely hot days and a 12% increase in days <br />with heavy precipitation within 25 years. <br />By 2049, Kittitas County is expected to experience five (5) more days that reach above 95°F (from six (6) days <br />to 11 days per year). <br />By 2049, Kittitas County is expected to have a 2°F increase (from 45°F to 47°F) in average annual <br />temperatures. <br />By 2049, Kittitas County is expected to experience 0.8 more days of heavy precipitation per year (from 6.9 days <br />to 7.8 days per year). <br />By 2049, Kittitas County is expected to have a two (2) inch increase (from 39″ to 41″) in average annual <br />precipitation. <br />Lower Emissions (RCP4.5) <br />Kittitas County is expected to experience a 65% increase in extremely hot days and a 5% increase in days with <br />heavy precipitation within 25 years. <br />By 2049, Kittitas County is expected to experience three (3) more days that reach above 95°F (from five (5) <br />days to nine (9) days per year). <br />By 2049, Kittitas County is expected to have a 2°F increase (from 44°F to 46°F) in average annual <br />temperatures. <br />By 2049, Kittitas County is expected to experience 0.3 more days of heavy precipitation per year (from 7.2 days <br />to 7.5 days per year). <br />By 2049, Kittitas County is expected to have a 0.3 inch increase (from 40″ to 40.2″) in average annual <br />precipitation. <br /> <br /> <br />121 National Integrated Drought Information System. (n.d.). Drought.gov, By Sector: Public Health. Retrieved from <br />https://www.drought.gov/sectors/public-health. <br />122 United States Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Climate Change Impacts in the Northwest. Retrieved from <br />https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/northwest/topic/climate-change-impacts-northwest. <br />123 Northeast Regional Climate Center. (n.d.). Neighborhoods at Risk: Climate Projections. Retrieved from <br />https://nar.headwaterseconomics.org/. <br />124 Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation. (n.d.). Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation <br />Assessment Tool. Retrieved from https://livingatlas.arcgis.com/assessment-tool/explore/details.