Rainiest states in the United States research summary. The data team at HomeSnacks used Saturday Night Science to analyze NOAA data by state from the NCEI.
The NOAA tracks weather and precipitation across the United States from specific measuring stations. We aggregated their data across weather stations to produce an estimated amount of precipitation for each state. These are the key takeaways:
The state with the most rain in the United States is Louisiana with 59.92 inches of rain annually.
The state with the least rain in the United States is Nevada with 9.71 inches of rain annually.
The state with the most number of days of rain in the United States is West Virginia with 92.36 days of rain annually.
The state with the least number of days of rain in the United States is Nevada with 24.55 days of rain annually.
Map: States With The Most Rain The United States
Rain or shine, the United States collects percipitation data from meterolgical stations across the county. We rolled up their sleeves and aggregated this weather data to produce a comprehensive analysis of each state’s annual precipitation.
There’s a very clear pattern in the data that the further west and south you go in the United States, the less rain you should expect.
In this meteorological deep dive, we’re donning our raincoats and wielding umbrellas to explore which states are the rainiest. From the soggy bayous of Louisiana to the arid deserts of Nevada, we’ve got it all covered.
The 10 States With The Most Rain
Here is a breakdown of the ten states with the most amount of rain in the United States. Louisiana has the most amount of rain with 59.92 inches of rain each year. Other states with a lot rainfall annually include Mississippi, Alabama, Hawaii, Florida, Tennessee, Arkansas, Georgia, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
- Louisiana – 59.92 inches
- Mississippi – 57.34 inches
- Alabama – 56.15 inches
- Hawaii – 56.05 inches
- Florida – 54.39 inches
- Tennessee – 52.42 inches
- Arkansas – 50.33 inches
- Georgia – 49.63 inches
- Connecticut – 49.01 inches
- Rhode Island – 48.80 inches
The 10 States With The Least Rain
Here is a breakdown of the ten states with the least amount of rain in the United States. Nevada has the least amount of rain with only 9.71 inches of rain each year. Other states with very little rainfall include South Dakota, North Dakota, Idaho, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Arizona.
- Nevada – 9.71 inches
- Arizona – 11.98 inches
- New Mexico – 13.47 inches
- Wyoming – 13.79 inches
- Utah – 14.83 inches
- Montana – 15.40 inches
- Colorado – 16.47 inches
- Idaho – 18.16 inches
- North Dakota – 19.14 inches
- South Dakota – 22.70 inches
Table: Average Annual Rain By State In The United States
Rank | State | Average Rain (Inches) | Days Of Rain |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Louisiana | 59.92 | 74.23 |
2 | Mississippi | 57.34 | 74.59 |
3 | Alabama | 56.15 | 77.01 |
4 | Hawaii | 56.05 | 89.35 |
5 | Florida | 54.39 | 76.67 |
6 | Tennessee | 52.42 | 82.12 |
7 | Arkansas | 50.33 | 70.91 |
8 | Georgia | 49.63 | 73.16 |
9 | Connecticut | 49.01 | 79.94 |
10 | Rhode Island | 48.80 | 80.57 |
11 | North Carolina | 48.43 | 77.00 |
12 | Massachusetts | 47.78 | 80.29 |
13 | New Jersey | 47.19 | 77.34 |
14 | South Carolina | 47.04 | 72.94 |
15 | Kentucky | 46.62 | 81.14 |
16 | Maine | 46.41 | 82.38 |
17 | New Hampshire | 45.49 | 85.31 |
18 | West Virginia | 44.67 | 92.36 |
19 | Delaware | 44.37 | 75.18 |
20 | New York | 44.25 | 83.60 |
21 | Vermont | 43.92 | 89.57 |
22 | Pennsylvania | 43.24 | 83.88 |
23 | Virginia | 42.99 | 76.18 |
24 | Missouri | 42.86 | 68.59 |
25 | Maryland | 42.75 | 76.67 |
26 | Indiana | 41.95 | 77.24 |
27 | Oregon | 40.43 | 85.24 |
28 | Washington | 39.54 | 85.70 |
29 | Oklahoma | 39.47 | 56.93 |
30 | Ohio | 39.43 | 81.15 |
31 | Illinois | 39.14 | 70.71 |
32 | Iowa | 34.77 | 63.99 |
33 | Texas | 34.37 | 48.89 |
34 | Alaska | 33.84 | 72.37 |
35 | Michigan | 33.71 | 74.59 |
36 | Wisconsin | 33.23 | 67.72 |
37 | Kansas | 32.60 | 53.73 |
38 | Minnesota | 28.98 | 58.02 |
39 | Nebraska | 26.84 | 50.67 |
40 | California | 23.12 | 37.11 |
41 | South Dakota | 22.70 | 47.48 |
42 | North Dakota | 19.14 | 43.06 |
43 | Idaho | 18.16 | 53.19 |
44 | Colorado | 16.47 | 43.21 |
45 | Montana | 15.40 | 43.62 |
46 | Utah | 14.83 | 42.30 |
47 | Wyoming | 13.79 | 36.82 |
48 | New Mexico | 13.47 | 34.05 |
49 | Arizona | 11.98 | 27.63 |
50 | Nevada | 9.71 | 24.55 |
Methodology: Determining The Rainiest States In The US
We used Saturday Night Science to analyze percipetation data from the NOAA. The NOAA data comes from invididual weather stations strategically located across the United States. We averaged the annual rainfall at each station within a state to create state level averages.
We ranked each state from the highest to the lowest average annual inches of rain. The results showed that the state with the most rain for 2023 is Louisiana.
Conclusion: Average Rainfall By States
According to our findings, Louisiana receives the highest annual rainfall, recording 59.92 inches. On the other hand, Nevada is the driest state, with a minimal annual rainfall of 9.71 inches.
In addition to statistical data, our study highlights significant variations in precipitation frequency. For instance, West Virginia experiences 92.36 days of rain annually, while Nevada encounters only 24.55 rainy days.
Our exploration provides a perspective on the precipitation profiles of each state. It is supported by detailed maps, tables, methodology explanations, and references, fostering a deeper understanding of the nation’s meteorological landscape.