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2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan Kittitas Gounty, Washington Additionally, drought conditions can also increase the incidence of illness and disease (e.9., mosquito- borne diseases, anxiety, depression, and other adverse mental health outcomes).-121 Effects of Glimate Ghange in Severity of lmpacts: Climate change has led to more frequent and intense drought periods in central Washington, including Kittitas County. As average temperatures in the Pacific Northwest continue to increase, high elevation areas are expected to warm faster than lower elevations. This results in increased evaporation rates and reduced snowpack, which is imperative in order to maintain the water supply during the dry summer months. Additionally, it is expected that more precipitation will occur as rain instead of snow. The reduced snowpack leads to lower stream flows and diminished water availability for agriculture, ecosystems, and human consumption. Higher temperatures and longer periods between precipitation events are expected to lead to more frequent and severe droughts.l22Table 4-45 indicates the 2l-year heat and precipitation projections for Kittitas County.-123 Table 4.46 outlines the drought associated climate indicators for Kittitas County projected through the end of the century. 124 Iable 445. 25-Year Glimate Projections for Kittitas County 121 National lntegrated Drought lnformation System. (n.d.). Drought.gov, By Sector: Public Health. Retrieved from https ://www. d ro u q ht. q ov/s ecto rs/p u b I i c- h ea lth . 122 United States Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Climate Change lmpacts in the Northwest. Retrieved from https://www.climatehubs.usda.qov/hubs/northwesVtopic/climate-chanqe-impacts-northwest. 123 Northeast Regional Climate Center. (n.d.). Neighborhoods at Risk: Climate Projections. Retrieved from https ://nar.headwaterseconomics.orq/. 124 Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation. (n.d.). Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation Assessment Tool. Retrieved from https://livingatlas,arcqis.com/assessment-tool/explore/details. Kittitas County is expected to experience an 88% increase in extremely hot days and a 12o/o increase in days with heavy precipitation within 25 years. By 2049, Kittitas County is expected to experience five (5) more days that reach above 95"F (from six (6) days to 1 1 days per year). By 2049, Kittitas County is expected to have a 2'F increase (from 45'F to 47"F)in average annual temperatures. By 2049, Kittitas County is expected to experience 0.8 more days of heavy precipitation per year (from 6.9 days to 7.8 days per year). By 2049, Kittitas County is expected to have a two (2) inch increase (from 39" to 41") in average annual Kittitas County is expected to experience a 650/o increase in extremely hot days and a 5o/o increase in days with heavy precipitation within 25 years. By 2049, Kittitas County is expected to experience three (3) more days that reach above 95'F (from five (5) days to nine (9) days per year). By 2049, Kittitas County is expected to have a 2'F increase (from 44"F lo 46'F) in average annual temperatures. By 2049, Kittitas County is expected to experience 0.3 more days of heavy precipitation per year (from 7.2 days to 7.5 days per year). By 2049, Kittitas County is expected to have a 0.3 inch increase (from 40" lo 40.2") in average annual precipitation. Chapter 4: Hazard ldentification and Risk Assessment 104