Some parts of the United States barely see enough rain to keep a succulent thriving, while others seem to be damp nonstop. The majority of America’s wettest states are clustered in one specific area: the Southeast on the Gulf Coast. One state far from the mainland manages to beat all of them, though. Using long-term state average annual precipitation, which includes both rain and melted snow, these eight states earn a spot on this list.
Hawaii
It probably isn’t shocking that Hawaii is the wettest state in America. The tropical state averages about 63.7 inches of precipitation each year. However, rainfall varies pretty drastically from one island to the next, or even one side of an island to the other. Hawaii is known for its mountains, which push moist air upward. This makes for one very rainy slope and one much drier area on the opposite side. Some parts of Hawaii that are especially mountainous, such as Mount Waiʻaleʻale on Kauaʻi, can get hundreds of inches of rain in a wet year. This enormous amount of rain is what helps create the state’s thriving rainforests and famous waterfalls.
Louisiana
Anyone who has spent a bit of time in Louisiana knows how fast a perfectly sunny day can turn into a light sprinkling or even a downpour. The extremely humid state averages roughly 60.1 inches of precipitation each year. This makes it the wettest state in the continental U.S. Warm, moisture-packed air from the Gulf of Mexico keeps thunderstorms frequent. The summer is especially known for rainy days. Louisiana is also no stranger to tropical storms and hurricanes, which both bring plenty of rain. Unfortunately, all that water contributes to Louisiana’s notorious flooding.
Mississippi
Mississippi is just a skosh behind its Louisiana neighbor, averaging right around 59 inches of precipitation every year. Summers are hot, humid, and full of sudden showers. The rest of the year is almost just as wet, as it doesn’t have a true dry season. As with Louisiana, moisture from the Gulf does a lot to keep the state wet, and it’s no stranger to tropical systems come hurricane season.
Alabama
Alabama gets an average of roughly 58.3 inches of precipitation annually. As with other Gulf states, Alabama gets a steady supply of moisture directly from the Gulf of Mexico. A heavy downpour here is commonplace. Interestingly, rain is balanced throughout the year instead of being mostly confined to a rainy season. The northern part of Alabama starts to get a bit mountainous, which can increase rainfall.
Florida
Florida is widely known as the Sunshine State, but that doesn’t mean lack of storms. In fact, torrential downpours are not uncommon here. Florida gets right about 54.5 inches of precipitation each year on average. Summer is especially wet, as every seasonal beach vacationer likely knows. A beautiful June day on the sand can easily be interrupted by a brief thunderstorm, sending tourists packing fast and running back to their hotels. In fact, during the three summer months of June, July, and August, Florida has the highest state average rainfall in the entire country. Because Florida has water on both sides, the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico both contribute to rainy conditions. Hurricanes and tropical storms occasionally add massive amounts to the total as well. The good news is that a famous Florida summer storm can move through quite quickly, so we can all return to the beach.
Tennessee
Tennessee is landlocked, but that doesn’t stop it from getting plenty of rain. The state averages a little over 54 inches of precipitation a year. Wet air from the Gulf of Mexico tends to travel as far north as Tennessee to create storms in the state. The Appalachian Mountains also play a role in rainfall across eastern Tennessee. Rain is spread throughout the seasons, helping to produce that rolling green landscape the state is known for.
Georgia
Georgia gets around 50.7 inches of precipitation during a typical year. Like Florida, the state is influenced by moisture from both the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. Georgia’s climate varies in a big way across its landscapes, from the northern mountains to the southern regions. Tropical systems occasionally affect the state as well. Despite being one of the top 10 wettest states in the country, it can experience serious droughts.
Arkansas
Arkansas places 8th on the list with roughly 50.8 inches of precipitation in a single year. The state’s location means warm, wet air meets other weather systems moving across the nation. The result can be drawn-out periods of rainy weather. Arkansas also has elevation changes, leading to some regions receiving way more rain than others. Spring tends to be particularly rainy. All that water helps keep the Natural State nice and green.