Depending on where you live, your region might be rainier or drier than other parts of the country. You might also see rain evenly throughout all four seasons, or perhaps a bit more during spring and summer storms. On top of this, the occasional tropical system can increase rainfall totals for the year.
While differences from climate change are bringing wetter weather to certain parts of the country, some cities in the U.S. have a long-standing reputation for getting the most rain overall. For that matter, while Seattle has a reputation for having many rainy days per year, it falls behind other major cities in terms of average annual rainfall with its 39 inches of precipitation per year.
As you read through the rainiest cities in the United States, keep in mind that these are based on total average rainfall totals. This doesn’t account for the number of wet days in a given year, although some of these cities have lots of rain and wetter weather more generally. Also, based on changing climate patterns and tropical systems, some of these cities may be wetter or drier some years than others. The bottom line though: The following cities tend to see some of the largest annual rainfall totals. (Also, if you want to learn about opposing climates, check out the driest places on Earth with the least rain.)
Hilo, Hawaii, is an extremely rainy city
Hawaii has a reputation of being paradise, and rightly so. From its beautiful beaches to lush rainforests, this island chain is home to several diverse climates. While you certainly have the opportunity to catch some sunshine, there’s also a fair amount of rain to dodge depending on which island you’re on, and which side. The windward (east) sides of the islands are affected by trade winds that blow off the Pacific Ocean and create more rainfall along the way. If you’ve ever been to Hilo, you know that this side of the Big Island of Hawaii is much wetter than its leeward (west) side…