Intense rainfall and historic flooding have hit parts of the U.S. in recent days while other areas are experiencing extreme dryness, as indicated by the United States Drought Monitor.
Climates are known to be extremely diverse in the U.S. but some states experience very distinct wet and dry seasons.
With this in mind, 24/7 Wall St. set out to determine which states experienced the most and least amount of rain. The survey was based upon the average annual rainfall between 1901 and 2000, which was then compared to the average precipitation levels of a 30-year period as reported by the government scientific agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
24/7 Wall St. noted that the rainiest months occurred at different times in different states. Thirty-four states experienced the peak precipitation during the summer months of May, June, and July while eight states experienced their rainiest months in late fall and winter. Based on their findings, we look at the ten states with the most and least rainfall:
States with the most rain
10. South Carolina
Average yearly rainfall: 48.0 inches
Average monthly rainfall: 3.9 inches
Rainiest time of year: 5.9 inches in August
9. North Carolina
Average yearly rainfall: 49.3 inches
Average monthly rainfall: 4.0 inches
Rainiest time of year: 5.2 inches in August
8. Arkansas
Average yearly rainfall: 49.6 inches
Average monthly rainfall: 4.0 inches
Rainiest time of year: 5.1 inches in May
7. Georgia
Average yearly rainfall: 50.1 inches
Average monthly rainfall: 3.9 inches
Rainiest time of year: 5.1 inches in July
6. Tennessee
Average yearly rainfall: 51.6 inches
Average monthly rainfall: 4.1 inches
Rainiest time of year: 4.8 inches in July
5. Florida
Average yearly rainfall: 53.7 inches
Average monthly rainfall: 4.5 inches
Rainiest time of year: 7.5 inches in August
4. Alabama
Average yearly rainfall: 55.3 inches
Average monthly rainfall: 4.7 inches
Rainiest time of year: 5.7 inches in March
3. Mississippi
Average yearly rainfall: 55.5 inches
Average monthly rainfall: 4.6 inches
Rainiest time of year: 5.5 inches in December
2. Louisiana
Average yearly rainfall: 56.9 inches
Average monthly rainfall: 4.8 inches
Rainiest time of year: 6.6 inches in June
1. Hawaii
Average yearly rainfall: 57.2 inches
Average monthly rainfall: 4.8 inches
Rainiest time of year: 7.7 inches in December
States with the least rain
10. California
Average yearly rainfall: 22.4 inches
Average monthly rainfall: 1.6 inches
Rainiest time of year: 3.8 inches in February
9. South Dakota
Average yearly rainfall: 19.1 inches
Average monthly rainfall: 1.8 inches
Rainiest time of year: 3.5 inches in June
8. Montana
Average yearly rainfall: 18.7 inches
Average monthly rainfall: 1.1 inches
Rainiest time of year: 2.3 inches in June
7. Colorado
Average yearly rainfall: 18.1 inches
Average monthly rainfall: 1.0 inches
Rainiest time of year: 1.9 inches in August
6. North Dakota
Average yearly rainfall: 17.3 inches
Average monthly rainfall: 1.6 inches
Rainiest time of year: 3.3 inches in June
5. Wyoming
Average yearly rainfall: 15.9 inches
Average monthly rainfall: 1.2 inches
Rainiest time of year: 2.1 inches in May
4. New Mexico
Average yearly rainfall: 14.0 inches
Average monthly rainfall: 1.1 inches
Rainiest time of year: 2.2 inches in August
3. Utah
Average yearly rainfall: 13.6 inches
Average monthly rainfall: 1.1 inches
Rainiest time of year: 1.5 inches in April
2. Arizona
Average yearly rainfall: 12.6 inches
Average monthly rainfall: 0.9 inches
Rainiest time of year: 1.7 inches in August
1. Nevada
Average yearly rainfall: 10.3 inches
Average monthly rainfall: 0.7 inches
Rainiest time of year: 0.9 inches in January
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