Total precipitation during the 1995 water year was about 107 percent of normal in western Washington and about 133 percent of normal in eastern Washington. The total monthly precipitation for the water year ranged between about 70 percent and 177 percent of normal throughout the State. Precipitation during May was the farthest below normal for a month when the monthly total was about 55 percent of normal in western Washington and about 85 percent of normal in eastern Washington. Monthly precipitation was the farthest above normal during August in western Washington and during October in eastern Washington, when monthly totals were about 174 and 215 percent of normal, respectively. The driest months were May in western Washington and August in eastern Washington when the monthly totals were about 55 and 75 percent below normal respectively.

Rainfall in western Washington was less than normal during the months of January, May, June, and September. It was near normal during February, March, and April, and was above normal during the months of October, November, December, July, and August.

Rainfall in eastern Washington was less than normal during the months of May and August. It was near normal during December and February, and was substantially above normal during the months of October, November, January, March, April, June, July, and September.

Although runoff during the winter months was significantly above normal, the annual mean runoff was near normal throughout Washington during the 1995 water year.

Several significant flood events occurred during the 1995 water year. In western Washington some minor flooding occurred in coastal river basins on December 20. Peak flows during this event had recurrence intervals of 10 years or less, except for the Naselle River which had a 25 year event. (A peak flow that has a recurrence interval of five years can be expected to be exceeded once in five years on the average.) In eastern Washington minor flooding occurred during February and March. Peak flows during these events had recurrence intervals of 10 years or less, except for the Colville River which had a 25 year event.

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