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2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan <br />Kittitas Gounty, Washington <br />Figure 3-3. Kittitas Gounty Topographical Map <br />3.3. CLIMATE <br />Eastern Washington climate is a function of maritime and continental influences. The Yakima River <br />basin's location is just east of the Cascade crest places it in a rain shadow, with hotter summers, colder <br />winters, a shorter growing season, and less precipitation than areas of similar latitude west of the <br />Cascades. Temperatures generally increase and precipitation generally decreases from northwest to <br />southeast and from high to low elevation."la <br />Because of the variation in elevation, temperatures greatly vary in the Yakima River basin. ln the Kittitas <br />Valley, summers tend to be hot, with wide divergent fluctuations, and mild to severe winters. Data is <br />scarce for higher elevations; however, those areas are generally characterized by cool summers and <br />cold winters. For example, in the Subalpine Fir forest zone, which extends from approximately 2,000 feet <br />to the timberline, average July temperatures in the range of 55oF to 65oF can be expected. <br />As is typical of areas in the lee of large coastal mountain ranges, the Yakima River basin is generally <br />arid. Precipitation varies with elevation and distance from the Cascades, from 150 inches annually at the <br />Cascade crest to 10 inches at the Columbia River. Runoff rates are affected by disparities in precipitation <br />14 lbid. <br />GountyWA: <br />.- Major Road <br />Lo€l R@d <br />-' -. Minor Road <br />OtlEr Road <br />Rsmp <br />---- Fery <br />Pedeslrian YVay <br />L/1:l MuniciPallie' <br />i i t-sk"s <br />l-l Kitites cornw <br />-- <br />Riwr <br />: Limiled Ace6s <br />Elun <br />! <br />p9? <br />li <br />norytil//1, '.'r,. Roervn <br />and <br />FAO.P CoD., GE9CO, <br />Gamin HERE, <br />** <br />\'S. <br />,_ .# <br />F, <br />t_ <br />Kittitas <br />t-3 <br />€6r1. <br />EEO HERE, <br />, _419 <br />130 3.25 6.5 <br />Sou@: <br />Sourc€: <br />and rhe Gls <br />Chapter 3: Community Profile 22