Climate Projections 2050 (Annual Extreme Heat Days)

This feature layer, also referred to as an overlay on the Environmental Health Disparities (EHD) Map, shows four climate projections for Washington state. This layer is made of four different projections: 1. Change in Annual Precipitation, 2. Annual Extreme Heat Days, 3. Annual Change in Cooling and 4. Annual Change in Heating Degree Days. These project heat and precipitation data to the period around 2050 (2036-2065). This feature layer was created to support the EHD Map and the Washington Tracking Network (WTN). These projections do not factor into the EHD ranking or the designation of highly impacted communities. It is available for planning local implications of climate change. These climate projections only project heat and precipitation. They do not include important factors such as inland and coastal flooding, or wildfire risk. Annual Change in Precipitation: This projection shows the change in precipitation from the historical baseline. Climate change impacts mean heavier rainfall, and more precipitation falling as rain instead of snow. As a result, areas of Washington will see more flooding, flash floods, and landslides. Adaptations to prepare for these events might include additional planning for flooding, landslides, and drought Annual Extreme Heat Days: These data show the relative increase in hot days that will affect an area compared to the historical (1976-2005) threshold. This is different from cooling and heating degree days, which are absolute measures of the increase in temperature. This projection captures the percentage increase in extreme heat days from the historical threshold. Areas that have historically experienced fewer extreme heat days may feel greater impacts from extra extreme heat days than areas that historically experience them. Climate adaptations might include increased air conditioning installation in areas that previously haven’t needed them. Change in Cooling Degree Days and Heating Degree Days: Cooling and heating degree days measure how much the weather varies from 65 degrees Fahrenheit. This indicates how much energy is needed to heat or cool buildings. Both an increase (positive number) in cooling degree days and a decrease (negative number) in heating degree days indicate warming temperatures. Adaptations to deal with warmer climates can include such things as cooling centers and increased urban tree canopies. Citation Washington Tracking Network, Washington State Department of Health. Web. "Climate Projections 2050 (Extreme Heat Days)". Data for this layer was obtained from Phase 5 of the Coupled Model Inter-comparison Project (CMIP5). Published June 2026.本要素图层亦作为环境健康差异（Environmental Health Disparities, EHD）地图的叠加图层，展示了华盛顿州的四项气候预估结果。本图层包含四项不同的预估指标：1. 年降水量变化；2. 年度极端高温日数；3. 制冷度日数年度变化；4. 采暖度日数年度变化。上述预估均以2050年前后（2036-2065年）的时段为基准，针对气温与降水数据展开推演。本要素图层旨在为环境健康差异地图及华盛顿追踪网络（Washington Tracking Network, WTN）提供支撑。上述气候预估结果未纳入EHD排名或高影响社区的认定流程，可用于规划气候变化对本地的影响。本数据集的气候预估仅覆盖气温与降水维度，未纳入内陆与沿海洪涝、野火风险等关键影响因素。 年降水量变化：本预估展示了相较于历史基准期的降水量变化。气候变化将导致降雨强度提升，且更多降水以降雨而非降雪的形式出现。据此，华盛顿州部分区域将面临更为频繁的洪涝、山洪及滑坡风险。针对此类事件的适应措施可包括强化洪涝、滑坡与干旱灾害的应对规划。 年度极端高温日数：本数据展示了相较于历史基准期（1976-2005年）阈值，某一区域将面临的高温日数相对增幅。该指标与制冷、采暖度日数不同，后者为气温变化的绝对衡量标准。本预估通过极端高温日数相较于历史阈值的增幅百分比进行呈现。历史上极端高温日数较少的区域，相较于常年经历极端高温的区域，可能会受到新增极端高温日数更为显著的影响。气候适应措施可包括在此前无需空调的区域推广空调安装。 制冷与采暖度日数变化：制冷与采暖度日数用于衡量天气相较于65华氏度的偏差程度，可反映建筑采暖或制冷所需的能源量。制冷度日数增加（正值）与采暖度日数减少（负值）均表征气温升高。针对气候变暖的适应措施可包括增设制冷服务站点、提升城市树冠覆盖率等。 引用信息：华盛顿追踪网络、华盛顿州卫生部. 网络资源. "2050年气候预估（极端高温日数）". 本图层数据源自耦合模式比较计划第五阶段（Coupled Model Inter-comparison Project Phase 5, CMIP5），发布于2026年6月。