Despite dry stretch, wet spring makes for above-average precipitation during 2022 water year
Kitsap County accumulated higher-than-average precipitation during the 2022 "water year" despite having a dry and hot summer, with record-breaking highs and days with no recorded precipitation extending into October.
The Kitsap Public Utility District tracks precipitation — to include rain as well as snow and ice after it melts — with tipping bucket rain gauges at stations around the county. It tracks precipitation in each "water year," which runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30.
According to KPUD's rain gauges, stationed in 15 locations across the county, rainfall in Kitsap for the past water year was higher than the average, said Joel Purdy, water sources manager for KPUD.
The gauge at KPUD's headquarters in Poulsbo recorded 44.92 inches of precipitation in the 2022 water year. The wettest year recorded in history at the location accumulated 62.16 inches in 1999, while the driest year was 2009, with just 27.81 inches, according to KPUD. KPUD has recorded precipitation from its current location going back to 1991.
Rainfall varies in different areas of Kitsap. Holly was wetter, with 83.07 inches during the last water year, while Hansville saw 33.67 inches for the duration.
Record-breaking rain in spring, dryness in summer
Reviewing KPUD's data for each month, some stations set records for having the highest rainfall in the month of June, and some stations set records for getting the lowest rainfall in the month of September, Purdy said.
The rain in May and June increased the stream flows in the county for several weeks, Purdy said, which helped lessen the impact of summer's dry streak running well into October.
Such dry summer — when looking at rainfall totals in July, August and September together — is not unusual in Kitsap County, Purdy said.
"We've had several summers like this, where we've had low rainfall during the summer," Purdy said.
Following several days of record-breaking heat in July and August, Bremerton saw one day in September and five days in October that broke previous record highs: 83 degrees on Sept. 27 and Oct. 1, 80 degrees on Oct. 8, 77 degrees on Oct. 9 and Oct. 14, and 88 degrees on Oct. 17, according to National Weather Service. Temperatures were measured at Bremerton Fire Station 2, located on Kitsap Way.
This week welcomed back the typical weather Pacific Northwesterners are used to seeing in late October, with rain and cooler temperatures.
"It's going to be sharply cooler than what has been seen for the last several weeks and even months and certainly much wetter," NWS meteorologist Dustin Guy said.
More: Kitsap County rain totals above average in wet spring — but not record-breaking yet
Reach breaking news reporter Peiyu Lin at pei-yu.lin@kitsapsun.com or on Twitter @peiyulintw.
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This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Despite dry stretch, wet spring makes for above-average precipitation during 2022 water year
