Rain deficit increases as drought grows

August started with 100% of Skagit County in drought, the federal government reported. Severe drought hangs over the bulk of the county, 86%, while the borders – a slice of southern Fidalgo Island and southwestern Skagit Bay and the Cascade Mountains on the eastern side – 14%, is in moderate drought.

Rainfall measured at Washington State University’s Memorial Highway Mount Vernon station is 9.9 inches for the year, 7.2 inches or 42% below the January-July century average of 17.1 inches.

Monthly precipitation has been from 16% to 70% below normal until July, when it was only 8.1% below the century average.

In this continuing dry year, July’s 0.57 inch of rain, all of it falling on the 24th, was slightly below the average monthly total of 0.62 inches for this century. It was the 10th driest July and one of 17 with less than an inch of rain. In 2022 it rained 0.3 inches on July 3 for that month’s total.

The average daily temperature of 62.6 degrees was about normal for the century, with the average daily low of 50.4 degrees 1.9 below this century’s average and the average daily high of73.5 degrees also 1.9 degrees above the century average.

The two record lows for their dates were 45.2 on July 13 followed by 48.8 the next morning, July 14.

Similarly, the two record highs for their dates were 84 degrees July 5 and 83.5 degree the next afternoon, July 6.

The Aug. 1 U.S. Drought Monitor shows most of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish and King counties in severe drought, as are the counties in the state’s north- and southeast corners. Fifty-two-point-seven percent of Washington is in moderate or sever drought. Another 35.2% is abnormally dry. Only a section of the Cascade Mountains are exempt.

Data measured at the WSU Memorial Highway weather station.

Rain Report: July 2022

Rain last week, July 30-Aug. 5: 0.0

Rainfall for month: 0.57

Average rainfall 2000-2021: 0.62 *

No rain: 0.0: 2003, 2013, 2021

Most rain: 1.4, 2011

Rainfall last month, June: 0.74

* No data 2004

Measurements in inches

Data from WSU on Memorial Highway