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Average Yearly Precipitation for States (rain & snow)

The amounts listed below are averages for each state. Some parts of a state will get more rain and/or snow than the average amount of precipitation listed. Some parts will get less. Different amounts fall in different areas of each state.

Average yearly precipitation by state. (List by state or average measure)
Rank StateList by state Average yearly precipitation
1. Alabama 56 inches (142 centimeters)
2. Alaska 55 inches (140 centimeters)
3. Arizona 13 inches (33 centimeters)
4. Arkansas 49 inches (124 centimeters)
5. California 22 inches (56 centimeters)
6. Colorado 15 inches (38 centimeters)
7. Connecticut 47 inches (119 centimeters)
8. Delaware 45 inches (114 centimeters)
9. Florida 54 inches (137 centimeters)
10. Georgia 50 inches (127 centimeters)
11. Hawaii 110 inches (279 centimeters)
12. Idaho 19 inches (48 centimeters)
13. Illinois 38 inches (97 centimeters)
14. Indiana 40 inches (102 centimeters)
15. Iowa 32 inches (81 centimeters)
16. Kansas 27 inches (69 centimeters)
17. Kentucky 47 inches (119 centimeters)
18. Louisiana 57 inches (145 centimeters)
19. Maine 41 inches (104 centimeters)
20. Maryland 43 inches (109 centimeters)
21. Massachusetts 45 inches (114 centimeters)
22. Michigan 32 inches (81 centimeters)
23. Minnesota 26 inches (66 centimeters)
24. Mississippi 56 inches (142 centimeters)
25. Missouri 40 inches (102 centimeters)
26. Montana 15 inches (38 centimeters)
27. Nebraska 22 inches (56 centimeters)
28. Nevada 22 inches (56 centimeters)
29. New Hampshire 42 inches (107 centimeters)
30. New Jersey 45 inches (114 centimeters)
31. New Mexico 13 inches (33 centimeters)
32. New York 39 inches (99 centimeters)
33. North Carolina 50 inches (127 centimeters)
34. North Dakota 17 inches (43 centimeters)
35. Ohio 38 inches (97 centimeters)
36. Oklahoma 33 inches (84 centimeters)
37. Oregon 28 inches (71 centimeters)
38. Pennsylvania 41 inches (104 centimeters)
39. Rhode Island 44 inches (112 centimeters)
40. South Carolina 48 inches (122 centimeters)
41. South Dakota 18 inches (46 centimeters)
42. Tennessee 52 inches (132 centimeters)
43. Texas 27 inches (67 centimeters)
44. Utah 12 inches (30 centimeters)
45. Vermont 39 inches (99 centimeters)
46. Virginia 43 inches (109 centimeters)
47. Washington 38 inches (97 centimeters)
48. West Virginia 44 inches (112 centimeters)
49. Wisconsin 31 inches (79 centimeters)
50. Wyoming 13 inches (33 centimeters)
Precipitation (Water Science)

Precipitation (Water Science), by Frances Purslow. 24 pages. Publisher: Av2 by Weigl Publishers, Inc.; (July 2010) Reading level: Ages 8+. Rain, snow, and hail are all forms of precipitation. Precipitation can be helpful, as it provides necessary water to all forms of life. However, it can also be dangerous. Hail causes billions of dollars worth of damage every year to crops and property. The Water Science series is dedicated to inspiring young readers with a lifelong curiosity about science and the world. Each book covers a core component of the water cycle through visual diagrams, hands-on experiments, and compelling biographies. Young readers are guided through the science of water with engaging and accessible language.
The Kids' Book of Weather Forecasting

The Kids' Book of Weather Forecasting, by Mark Breen, Kathleen Friestad . 144 pages. Publisher: Ideals Publications (August 1, 2008) Reading level: Ages 7+. Kids discover what makes the weather happen and how to predict what's ahead. Activities include making equipment to measure rainfall, wind direction and speed, humidity, and barometric pressure; recording measurements and observations in a Weather Log; and simulating weather events to demonstrate the science behind them. From foggy mornings to sunny afternoons to our changing seasons, weather forecasting is a year-round, practical science that children will have fun learning about. Perfect for budding meteorologists and science lovers.
The AMS Weather Book: The Ultimate Guide to America's Weather

The AMS Weather Book: The Ultimate Guide to America's Weather, by Jack Williams. 368 pages. Publisher: University Of Chicago Press (June 1, 2009) merica has some of the most varied and dynamic weather in the world. Every year, the Gulf Coast is battered by hurricanes, the Great Plains are ravaged by tornados, the Midwest is pummeled by blizzards, and the temperature in the Southwest reaches a sweltering 120 degrees. Extreme weather can be a matter of life and death, but even when it is pleasant—72 degrees and sunny—weather is still central to the lives of all Americans. Indeed, it’s hard to imagine a topic of greater collective interest. Whether we want to know if we should close the storm shutters or just carry an umbrella to work, we turn to forecasts.

The most comprehensive and up-to-date guide to our weather and our atmosphere, this is the ultimate resource for anyone who wants to understand how hurricanes form, why tornados twirl, or even why the sky is cerulean blue. Written by esteemed science journalist and former USA Today weather editor Jack Williams, The AMS Weather Book, copublished with the American Meteorological Society, covers everything from daily weather patterns, air pollution, and global warming to the stories of people coping with severe weather and those who devote their lives to understanding the atmosphere, oceans, and climate.