Wettest cities in America [2 parts] (best, state, place, people)

[Fly Dragon]

Which city do you think is the wettest (getting the most rain)?

Which city has most humid springs/summers?

[citidata18]

Of the big cities, my understanding is while Seattle sees the most "rainy" days, Miami actually sees the most accumulated precipitation in the year.

[P Larsen]

On average, New Orleans gets more rain at its airport than Miami at its. And "humid" in a place with a trade wind breeze is very different from "humid" in a place in the Horse Latitudes with relatively dead air. I'd take Miami (or Tampa, though in that order) over NOLA or Houston any day on that score.

[jas75]

New Orleans and Miami average over 60 inches of rain/year, so they are probably the best choices. There isn't much difference in humidity across most locations in the Gulf and South Atlantic coastlines, other than points further south having progressively longer summers.

Honolulu shouldn't be on this poll, as many of the more populated areas of Oahu island are considerably drier, getting close to 20 inches/year.

[Texamichiforniasota]

The first question is easy to answer. I’m sure the answer is out there for the second, but it would require a little more digging, so I will leave it for someone else to answer.

City Inches of rain/year Rainy days/year
Honolulu 17” 89
Seattle 37” 152
Portland 37” 156
Houston 50” 104
New Orleans 62” 115
Tampa 46” 105
Miami 62” 135

So, on average, New Orleans gets the most inches of rain (62.45 vs Miami at 61.90) and Portland has the most rainy days. I’m not sure why Honolulu is on this list, it’s in the rain shadow on Oahu. It is part of what makes it so pleasant. Kaneohe on the other side of the Ko’olau Range gets 54 inches a year, and once got 247 consecutive days of rain.

[elchevere]

Keep in mind in Miami when it rains it often pours with 90%+ in the form of passing thunderstorms that last 30-40 minutes before it clears up / sunny again (hence, Sunshine State, not Rainshine State).

Unusual for nonstop all day rain, let alone 2-3 consecutive days, unless there is a disturbance (tropical storm, or less frequent hurricane). More common for an occasional 3-5 day period with cloudy or mixed skies with various rain bands throughout the day or, more likely, the 30-40 minute passing rain mentioned above which is welcomed in the summer. Currently we are in our dry season which sees much less rain than the summer months.

Rain patterns also vary depending upon what area of Miami we are talking about....inland areas draw more moisture due to closer proximity to the Everglades whereas coastal Miami (bay and beach areas) receive less rain (and more breezes, which not only cools but helps keep more clouds away).

[Texamichiforniasota]

Ok, I decided to answer the 2nd question, for avg relative humidity over the 6 months from March-August. If someone wants to do the same for average dew points, be my guest:

New Orleans - 76.0%
Houston- 74.2%
Tampa-73.3%
Miami- 72.6%
Seattle- 69.1%
Portland- 68.1%
Honolulu- 65.9%

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by Texamichiforniasota

\ I’m not sure why Honolulu is on this list, it’s in the rain shadow on Oahu. It is part of what makes it so pleasant. Kaneohe on the other side of the Ko’olau Range gets 54 inches a year, and once got 247 consecutive days of rain.

Yeah exactly.

Most people are not aware of Hawaiian island weather patterns. They assume all islands are wet, tropical rainforests entirely.

It's quite the surprise to learn that half of Oahu and Maui are practically desert climates, with the other halves tropical rainforest. With the leeward sides much more dry and the windward sides wetter.

It's what makes the islands truly paradise. All the sunshine and warmth without the constant tropical rain, on the leeward sides.

[ccm123]

I voted Seattle, as I haven’t visited Miami enough times to experience the wet climate.

[CCrest182]

Not necessarily rain, but I heard Tampa gets the most thunderstorms