If asked to picture the rainiest place in the U.S., you might immediately summon images of the Pacific Northwest where the fog seems to hover nearly every day and the rain with it. But the U.S.’ varied weather patterns cause a lot of variation from coast to coast, and in its non-contiguous states, too. We’ve compiled a list of the 20 rainiest cities in the U.S., ranked from least to most. Read on to discover where you may want to vacation or relocate — or where you want to avoid, depending on your preference.
All mean precipitations are compiled from weather data collected from 1981-2010 and reported on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information.
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20. Shreveport, Louisiana
Mean Rainfall: 51.47 inches
Rain falls on this southern city every month. The rainiest month is November. If you’re looking for clear skies, you’re most likely to find them in August (the least rainy month).
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19. Chattanooga, Tennessee
Mean Rainfall: 52.40 inches
Already receiving a steady downpour, Chattanooga is stormier than usual. It received 20% more rain in 2021 than average.
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18. Jacksonville, Florida
Mean Rainfall:52.52 inches
If you love singing in the rain, head to Jacksonville in September. It receives around 8 inches of rain that month alone.
For more fun trivia, please sign up for our free newsletters.17. Jackson, Tennessee
Mean Rainfall: 52.65 inches
Jackson gets precipitation of some kind 112 days a year. Even splashing around with more than 50 inches of rain a year, that still leaves plenty of sunny days in the forecast.16. Montgomery, Alabama
Mean Rainfall: 53.16 inches
Rain, snow, sleet, and hail are all common in Montgomery, where precipitation falls on average 95 days a year.Trending on Cheapism
15. Monroe, Louisiana
Mean Rainfall:53.49 inches
The eighth largest city in Louisiana, Monroe’s northwest location gives it a humid, subtropical climate. Summer often brings severe weather, with heavy rain and hail.
14. Houston, Texas
Mean Rainfall:53.66 inches
Houston’s monsoon season runs from May to October, when the city is most likely to receive rain and encounter flooding.
13. Memphis, Tennessee
Mean Rainfall: 53.76 inches
Memphis is the rainiest city in Tennessee, which has three entries in the top 20 list of rainiest U.S. cities. April (the wettest month) and August (the driest month) bookend Memphis’ summers.
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12. Birmingham, Alabama
Mean Rainfall:53.82 inches
This central Alabama city ticks off rain 112 days a year.
11. Jackson, Mississippi
Mean Rainfall:54.25 inches
If you love rainy days, head to Jackson in February (the wettest month) and skip September (the driest).10. Huntsville, Alabama
Mean Rainfall:54.57 inches
Huntsville sees the most rainy days in July, with an average of 12 days of rain, but the most precipitation in December with an average rainfall of nearly 5 inches.
9. Tupelo, Mississippi
Mean Rainfall:55.05 inches
Kicking off the top 10 rainiest places in the U.S., Tupelo is also the rainiest city in Mississippi. It receives precipitation 114 days a year.8. Fort Myers, Florida
Mean Rainfall:55.32 inches
This city hugging the Gulf Coast receives a lot of rain, but you wouldn’t know it from the drought the city experienced in early 2022. It got back on track by setting a rainfall record on April 29 with 4.1 inches, nearly three times the previous record for that day.7. Wilmington, North Carolina
Mean Rainfall: 56.82 inches
This coastal city sees the most showers in July; it receives, on average, 7.6 inches that month.
6. Miami
Mean Rainfall:61.77 inches
It rains cats and dogs in Miami from May to September, the city’s monsoon season.
5. Juneau, Alaska
Mean Rainfall:62.53 inches
Set on the Gulf of Alaska, Juneau’s rainfall depends largely on the year. The precipitation can vary between 50 and 90 inches.4. West Palm Beach, Florida
Mean Rainfall:62.68 inches
For clear skies, head to West Palm Beach in March. But if you love rainy days — or afternoon thunderstorms — you’ll love May to October.
3. New Orleans
Mean Rainfall: 63 inches
With only 56 rainy days per year, New Orleans knocks out its mean 63 inches in deluges.
2. Mobile, Alabama
Mean Rainfall: 66.77 inches
With a record four cities in the top 20 rainiest places, Alabama is drenched. Mobile is the state’s rainiest city. Its 59 days of rain a year mean the Gulf Coast city tallies its precipitation through thunderstorms.
1. Hilo, Hawaii
Mean Rainfall:127.41 inches
Hawaii may be a tropical paradise, but all that lush greenery needs moisture. It rains in Hilo 275 days a year with a drizzle often falling at night.
