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2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan <br />Kittitas County, Washington <br /> <br /> <br />Chapter 4: Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment 194 <br />tract, respiratory symptoms (e.g., coughing, phlegm, wheezing, difficulty breathing), respiratory effects <br />(e.g., bronchitis, reduced lung function, increased risk of asthma exacerbation and aggravation of other <br />lung diseases, increased risk of emergency room visits and hospital admissions), cardiovascular effects <br />(e.g., heart failure, heart attack, stroke, increased risk of emergency room visits and hospital admissions), <br />and increased risk of premature death. Cumulative short-term exposure (i.e., over multiple days to a few <br />weeks) can reduce lung function; and studies have not evaluated the health effects attributed to wildfire <br />smoke exposure over multiple wildfire season (i.e., long-term exposure).252F <br />252 <br /> <br />Effects of Climate Change in Severity of Impacts: Changes in climate are creating warmer and drier <br />conditions which are leading to longer and more active wildfire seasons. Studies have shown that the <br />number of large wildfires has more than doubled in the western United States. Furthermore, projections <br />show that a one (1) degree Fahrenheit increase in the average annual temperature could increase the <br />average burned area per year by as much as 600% (in some types of forests) in the western United <br />States.253F <br />253 Additionally, the incidence of illnesses and death during extreme heat events and wildfire <br />smoke days is increasing, and climate change is stressing health systems.254F <br />254 Table 4-144 indicates the <br />25-year heat and precipitation projections for Kittitas County.255F <br />255 Table 4-145 outlines the wildfire <br />associated climate indicators for Kittitas County projected through the end of the century.256F <br />256 <br />Table 4-144. 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 /> <br />252 United States Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Wildfire Smoke and Your Patients' Health. Retrieved <br />from https://www.epa.gov/wildfire-smoke-course/health-effects-attributed-wildfire-smoke. <br />253 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2023). Wildfire Climate Connection. Retrieved from <br />https://www.noaa.gov/noaa-wildfire/wildfire-climate-connection. <br />254 GlobalChange.gov. (n.d.). Fifth National Climate Assessment, Chapter 27: Northwest. Retrieve from <br />https://nca2023.globalchange.gov/chapter/27/. <br />255 Northeast Regional Climate Center. (n.d.). Neighborhoods at Risk: Climate Projections. Retrieved from <br />https://nar.headwaterseconomics.org/. <br />256 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.