In 2024, the United States saw some **** inches of precipitation. The main forms of precipitation include hail, drizzle, rain, sleet, and snow. Since the turn of the century, 2012 was the driest year on record with an annual precipitation of **** inches.
Regional disparities in rainfall
Louisiana emerged as the wettest state in the U.S. in 2024, recording a staggering ***** inches (*** meters) of precipitation—nearly **** inches (ca. ** centimeters) above its historical average. In stark contrast, Nevada received only **** inches (ca. ** centimeters), underscoring the vast differences in rainfall across the nation. These extremes illustrate the uneven distribution of precipitation, with the southwestern states experiencing increasingly dry conditions that experts predict will worsen in the coming years.
Drought concerns persist
Drought remains a significant concern in many parts of the country. The Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) for the contiguous United States stood at ***** in December 2024, indicating moderate to severe drought conditions. This reading follows three years of generally negative PDSI values, with the most extreme drought recorded in December 2023 at *****.
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (February 2, 2025). Annual volume of precipitation in the United States from 1900 to 2024 (in inches) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 08, 2026, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/504400/volume-of-precipitation-in-the-us/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Annual volume of precipitation in the United States from 1900 to 2024 (in inches)." Chart. February 2, 2025. Statista. Accessed May 08, 2026. https://www.statista.com/statistics/504400/volume-of-precipitation-in-the-us/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2025). Annual volume of precipitation in the United States from 1900 to 2024 (in inches). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 08, 2026. https://www.statista.com/statistics/504400/volume-of-precipitation-in-the-us/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Annual Volume of Precipitation in The United States from 1900 to 2024 (in Inches)." Statista, Statista Inc., 2 Feb 2025, https://www.statista.com/statistics/504400/volume-of-precipitation-in-the-us/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Annual volume of precipitation in the United States from 1900 to 2024 (in inches) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/504400/volume-of-precipitation-in-the-us/ (last visited May 08, 2026)
Annual volume of precipitation in the United States from 1900 to 2024 (in inches) [Graph], National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, February 2, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/504400/volume-of-precipitation-in-the-us/
