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Come Rain or … Rain

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 theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information.

 

Related: The Coldest and Warmest Cities in Every State

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20. Shreveport, Louisiana

Mean Rainfall: 51.47 inches

 

Rain falls on this southern city every month. Therainiest month is November. If you’re looking for clear skies, you’re most likely to find them in August (the least rainy month).   


Related:The Most Underrated Town in Every State

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17. Jackson, Tennessee

Mean Rainfall: 52.65 inches

 

Jackson gets precipitation of some kind112 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.

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16. Montgomery, Alabama

Mean Rainfall: 53.16 inches

 

Rain, snow, sleet, and hail are all common in Montgomery, where precipitation falls on average95 days a year.

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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.

 


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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.


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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.


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11. Jackson, Mississippi

Mean Rainfall:54.25 inches

 

If you love rainy days, head to Jackson inFebruary (the wettest month) and skip September (the driest).

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10. Huntsville, Alabama

Mean Rainfall:54.57 inches

 

Huntsville sees the most rainy days inJuly, with an average of 12 days of rain, but the most precipitation in December with an average rainfall of nearly5 inches.

 


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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 precipitation114 days a year.

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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 thedrought 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.

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7. Wilmington, North Carolina

Mean Rainfall: 56.82 inches

 

This coastal city sees the most showers inJuly; it receives, on average, 7.6 inches that month.  

 


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6. Miami

Mean Rainfall:61.77 inches

 

It rains cats and dogs in Miami fromMay to September, the city’s monsoon season.

 


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5. Juneau, Alaska

Mean Rainfall:62.53 inches

 

Set on the Gulf of Alaska, Juneau’s rainfalldepends largely on the year. The precipitation can vary between 50 and 90 inches.

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4. West Palm Beach, Florida

Mean Rainfall:62.68 inches

 

For clear skies, head to West Palm Beach inMarch. But if you love rainy days — or afternoon thunderstorms — you’ll love May to October.

 


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3. New Orleans

Mean Rainfall: 63 inches

 

With only56 rainy days per year, New Orleans knocks out its mean 63 inches in deluges.

 


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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.

 


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1. Hilo, Hawaii

Mean Rainfall:127.41 inches

 

Hawaii may be a tropical paradise, but all that lush greenery needs moisture. It rains in Hilo275 days a year with a drizzle often falling at night.