Does it rain a lot in Washington state?
When it comes to climate and geography, Washington State is a study in contrasts. While there is a somewhat common perception that it rains all the time in Washington, Seattle actually ranks 44th among major U.S. cities, getting less rainfall annually than Boston, New York, Houston and Miami.
Northeast Olympic-San Juan
The Olympic Mountains and the extension of the Coastal Range on Vancouver Island shield this area from winter storms moving inland from over the ocean. This belt in the "rain shadow" of the Olympic Mountains is the driest area in western Washington.
Rain falls throughout the year in Washington. The month with the most rain in Washington is August, with an average rainfall of 5.2 inches. The month with the least rain in Washington is November, with an average rainfall of 2.9 inches.
While in fall and winter, the northern coastal states of Washington, Massachusetts and Rhode Island join the list of ten rainiest states. In the wettest months of all, average rainfall amounts to seven inches (178 mm).
Tacoma, WA
Despite the Pacific Northwest's reputation for rain, Tacoma has some of the best weather in the U.S.—it actually receives less rainfall each year on average than other major U.S. cities like Houston and New York!
In the United States in 2021, Mississippi recorded 66.84 inches of precipitation, the highest amount of within the contiguous 48 states that year. Nevada was the driest state, with only 9.56 inches of precipitation recorded.
Nowhere else in the continental United States outside of Washington and Oregon receives more than 100 inches of precipitation on average a year. Below are precipitation totals at some of the dampest locations in other states.
| Rank | Average Precipitation ▼ | City / Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | 110.31 inches | Taholah, WA / 829 |
| 2. | 109.79 inches | Amanda Park, WA / 175 |
| 3. | 109.77 inches | Quinault, WA |
| 4. | 109.75 inches | Neilton, WA / 400 |
Nevada is the driest state in the US, receiving about 10.2 inches (241 mm) of rain every year. According to data collected since 1938, Las Vegas receives slightly less than 4.2 inches of rain per year on average.
average annual precipitation for Portland is 41 inches, Seattle is 38 inches, Miami is 62 inches, NYC is 45 inches, Juneau is about 140 inches, Kauai, HI, gets 460 inches of rain, now have fun and research other world cites and do not worry about Portland or Seattle.
What's the rainiest city in the US?
The wettest city in the U.S. is Hilo, Hawaii, where it rains 211 days a year. Interestingly, Hilo gets between 10 and 40 times as much rain as some other parts of the Big Island. It also rains and snows a lot in Alaska. Sitka gets about 86 inches of precipitation a year over a whopping 173 days.
In western Washington, the driest location is the rainshadow of the Olympics, where some locations, such as Sequim, enjoy 15-17 inches of precipitation per year. But if you are looking for REALLY dry conditions, you must head to southeastern Washington, where less than ten inches a year reaches the rain gauge.
Like all states, Washington has its own set of pros and cons. Generally, Washington state residents enjoy the state's lack of an income tax, the amazing outdoor landscape, and the booming job industry. Conversely, Washington residents complain about the weather and the high cost of living in the cities.
(WMC) - Seattle, Washington, is known by many as the rainiest city in the United States, but it actually does not even come close to the top of the list. While the Olympic Mountains to the west of Seattle act as a rain shadow, the city of Seattle picks up less precipitation each year compared to New York or even Miami.
The largest ocean on the planet brings a huge amount of moisture over to the state of Washington, carrying it over the Olympic Mountain range. The moisture coming from the Pacific is in the form of vapor, but once it reaches the mountains, the cool air turns it into drops of rain.
Forks, Washington averages 119.7 inches (3041mm) per year. However, not far from Forks is Sequim, which gets 16.51 inches (419.35mm) per year.
Based on these criteria, California has the best weather of all 50 states. Coastal cities in south and central California, such as San Diego, Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Santa Barbara, experience only 20 inches of rain per year and temperatures typically between the low 60s and 85 degrees.
Seattle Rain FAQs
A: On average it rains about 150 days a year in Seattle, but the amount of rain isn't much. Q: How much rainfall does Seattle get each year? A: On average, Seattle gets about 37 inches of rain each year.
- Hilo, Hawaii - 211 rainy days/year. An aerial view of Hilo in Hawaii. ...
- Sitka, Alaska - 173 rainy days/year. Aerial view of Sitka, America's second wettest city. ...
- Sequim, Washington - 143 rainy days/year. ...
- West Palm Beach, Florida - 131 rainy days/year.
Nevada takes the lead as the least rainy state in the US, with only 9.5 inches (241 mm) of rain each year. The mountain states, including Wyoming and Montana, dominate the list of America's driest states year round.
What are the Top 5 rainiest States?
- Georgia – 50 inches of rain per year. ...
- Tennessee – 51.6 inches of rain per year. ...
- Florida – 53.7 inches of rain per year. ...
- Alabama – 56 inches of rain per year. ...
- Mississippi – 57 inches of rain per year. ...
- Louisiana – about 60 inches of rain per year. ...
- Hawaii – 63.70 inches of rain per year.
| Ranking | Place Name | Annual Mean Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Furnissdale, WA | 1260 mm |
| 2 | Yunderup, WA | 1260 mm |
| 3 | North Pinjarra, WA | 1260 mm |
| 4 | Pinjarra, WA | 1260 mm |
Seattle has an average of 149 rainy days each year, meaning that there were about 149 days where over 0.01 inches of rain fell over the course of the day. On the other side of the country, Miami gets about 135 rainy days per year, and New Orleans gets about 115.
Sequim, Washington
If you're looking to stay somewhat local, consider a trip to Sequim on the Olympic Peninsula. We know what you're thinking: There's no way to escape the cloud cover for hundreds of miles, but as it turns out, Sequim is the sunniest place in Western Washington.
What state has the lowest humidity? Nevada has the lowest humidity. It's no coincidence the state is known for its desert and arid climate. With average relative humidity sitting at 38.3%, Nevada has the lowest relative humidity (when comparing states) in the country.
With Florida being surrounded by the warm Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean, and with South Florida being a nearly tropical climate, it is definitely the most humid state in the U.S. Attached is a map of annual average dew point temperatures across the coterminous U.S. The map shows that north Florida has dew point ...
The top state is Massachusetts, which ranked first in the nation for education and health, fourth for safety, sixth for quality of life, and 10th for its economy. It did rank a low 44th out of 50 states for affordability, but its overall score was enough to eke out a win over the closely-second next state.
The rainy season extends from October to March with December normally the wettest month, however, precipitation is rather evenly distributed through the winter and early spring months with more than 75% of the yearly precipitation falling during the winter wet season.
Portions of the Olympic Peninsula receive upwards of 150 inches of precipitation annually, while areas along the Columbia River in eastern interior Washington average less than 10 inches. Statewide total annual precipitation has ranged from a low of 26.0 inches in 1929 to a high of 55.0 inches in 1996.
| Rank | Average Precipitation ▼ | City / Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | 110.31 inches | Taholah, WA / 829 |
| 2. | 109.79 inches | Amanda Park, WA / 175 |
| 3. | 109.77 inches | Quinault, WA |
| 4. | 109.75 inches | Neilton, WA / 400 |
Which state gets more rain Washington or Oregon?
Portland, OR, gets an average of 36″/year of rain, Seattle 37.49″. The Hoh rainforest in WA gets 140″. Less rain on the other side of the mountains because, well, they're mountains.
You can see the location below. Less than five inches in Washington State. Who would have thought? Mattawa has almost exactly the same annual precipitation as Las Vegas (4.49 inches per year).
The largest ocean on the planet brings a huge amount of moisture over to the state of Washington, carrying it over the Olympic Mountain range. The moisture coming from the Pacific is in the form of vapor, but once it reaches the mountains, the cool air turns it into drops of rain.
The wettest city in the U.S. is Hilo, Hawaii, where it rains 211 days a year. Interestingly, Hilo gets between 10 and 40 times as much rain as some other parts of the Big Island. It also rains and snows a lot in Alaska. Sitka gets about 86 inches of precipitation a year over a whopping 173 days.
Everyone knows that gray skies and rainy days are inevitable while living in Seattle or Portland. Yet few folks know that it actually rains more in Portland than Seattle — Seattle averages 38″ of rainfall annually compared to Portland's 43″.
Washington State features a climate that is similar to Oregon's, but even more extreme. Between the effects of the Pacific Ocean, the Cascades and more, cities like Olympia receive 52 days of full sun per year. Seattle fares slightly better with 71 days of full sunshine.
Sequim, Washington
If you're looking to stay somewhat local, consider a trip to Sequim on the Olympic Peninsula. We know what you're thinking: There's no way to escape the cloud cover for hundreds of miles, but as it turns out, Sequim is the sunniest place in Western Washington.
Nevada is the driest state in the US, receiving about 10.2 inches (241 mm) of rain every year. According to data collected since 1938, Las Vegas receives slightly less than 4.2 inches of rain per year on average.
