North Coast and Cascades Network Climate Monitoring Report

Climate and weather events define the ecological characteristics found in national parks and are key to understanding and interpreting changes in natural resources. Everyday park operations including fire management, natural resource activities, maintenance of park infrastructure, and visitor use are influenced by weather. Monitoring weather and maintaining climate records provides essential information to support park operations and monitor park resources This report summarizes climate data collected within and adjacent to Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve and San Juan Island National Historical Park from the 2010 water year. It is part of a set of climate summary reports from seven national and Historical parks in the North Coast and Cascades Network. Published in the National Park Service's Natural Resource Data Series, annual climate summary reports are intended to provide basic data sets and data summaries in a timely manner, with minimal interpretation and analyses. We envision National Park staff, especially planners, scientists, interpreters, partners, and interested public as the primary audience for these reports. Temperature and precipitation data are presented from four weather stations located on three islands in the northwest corner of Washington State. Data from San Juan Island were recorded using automated instruments operated by the National Park Service and the Federal Aviation Administration. Data from Orcas and Whidbey Island are provided by the National Weather Service. For two stations with long term records, the Olga Cooperative Observer Station (COOP) Station on Orcas Island and the Coupeville COOP Station on Whidbey Island, monthly average temperatures and monthly total precipitation are reported and compared to the 30-year normal. For all stations, daily and monthly air temperature and precipitation data are displayed, including comparisons to period of record and highlights of important weather events from each site. Weather data collected in water year 2010 indicated that this year was generally warmer and wetter than normal. Of particular interest is the major departure from normal in temperature during the months of January and February and an unusually dry month of July.