During the past winter, parts of California experienced massive amounts of rain and snow. Though it momentarily eased the frequent drought periods that had been affecting the state, the surge in rainfall flooded roads, knocked out power, and broke levees. Fueled by multiple converging atmospheric rivers, the state's infrastructure was not able to capture all of the excess water, meaning water shortages could again return during future dry spells.
Climate change can both intensify rainfall and also extend droughts. Warmer temperatures increase rates of evaporation, pulling more water from the ocean and causing more precipitation overall. Data indicates single-day precipitation extremes are happening more frequently. Conversely, more evaporation also dries out surface water and soil, leaving less fresh water available. Even as the moist air from oceans and other sources returns to land as rain, sleet, or snow, inconsistent wind patterns and currents mean it isn't distributed evenly. That's why even as some counties experienced their wettest year on record, others experienced their driest.
Nationwide, 43% of counties reported precipitation over the past year greater than their long-term average. A 1,000-year event dumped 25 inches of rainfall over 24 hours in Fort Lauderdale on April 13. Nevada desert regions experienced thunderstorms and heavy rain in June. Severe weather through the mid-Atlantic in August brought tennis ball-sized hail to West Virginia and softball-sized hail and flash flooding in Maryland.
Using data from the National Centers for Environmental Information, Stacker identified counties in California that received the most precipitation from September 2022 to August 2023 compared to their average annual precipitation from 1901 to 2000. In the case of a tie, the amount of precipitation over the past year served as a tiebreaker.
Read on to see which counties reported more precipitation over the past year than usual.
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#50. Lassen County
- Precipitation over the past year: 24.6 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 4.2 inches above average (#37 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 6.3 inches below statewide average
#49. Kings County
- Precipitation over the past year: 13.5 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 5.9 inches above average (#7 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 17.4 inches below statewide average
#48. Kern County
- Precipitation over the past year: 15.0 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 5.9 inches above average (#8 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 15.9 inches below statewide average
#47. Shasta County
- Precipitation over the past year: 49.9 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 7.9 inches above average (#34 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 19.0 inches above statewide average
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5 / 50#46. Sutter County
- Precipitation over the past year: 27.0 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 7.9 inches above average (#12 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 4.0 inches below statewide average
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#45. Merced County
- Precipitation over the past year: 19.3 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 8.0 inches above average (#4 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 11.6 inches below statewide average
#44. Butte County
- Precipitation over the past year: 52.6 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 8.1 inches above average (#32 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 21.7 inches above statewide average
#43. Sacramento County
- Precipitation over the past year: 27.3 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 8.6 inches above average (#9 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 3.6 inches below statewide average
#42. Colusa County
- Precipitation over the past year: 31.0 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 8.9 inches above average (#16 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 0.0 inches above statewide average
#41. Yuba County
- Precipitation over the past year: 46.8 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 9.0 inches above average (#28 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 15.9 inches above statewide average
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11 / 50#40. Glenn County
- Precipitation over the past year: 35.0 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 9.0 inches above average (#18 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 4.1 inches above statewide average
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12 / 50#39. Trinity County
- Precipitation over the past year: 66.7 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 9.1 inches above average (#38 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 35.8 inches above statewide average
#38. San Benito County
- Precipitation over the past year: 26.2 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 9.4 inches above average (#11 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 4.7 inches below statewide average
#37. San Diego County
- Precipitation over the past year: 23.8 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 9.5 inches above average (#12 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 7.1 inches below statewide average
#36. Orange County
- Precipitation over the past year: 23.3 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 9.8 inches above average (#10 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 7.6 inches below statewide average
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#35. Tehama County
- Precipitation over the past year: 46.3 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 9.8 inches above average (#23 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 15.4 inches above statewide average
#34. Stanislaus County
- Precipitation over the past year: 23.5 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 9.9 inches above average (#4 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 7.4 inches below statewide average
#33. Yolo County
- Precipitation over the past year: 30.0 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 10.0 inches above average (#11 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 0.9 inches below statewide average
#32. San Joaquin County
- Precipitation over the past year: 24.1 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 10.0 inches above average (#3 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 6.8 inches below statewide average
#30. Solano County
- Precipitation over the past year: 31.2 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 11.4 inches above average (#8 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 0.3 inches above statewide average
#29. Los Angeles County
- Precipitation over the past year: 27.3 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 11.7 inches above average (#8 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 3.7 inches below statewide average
#28. Marin County
- Precipitation over the past year: 47.3 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 11.7 inches above average (#21 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 16.4 inches above statewide average
#27. Contra Costa County
- Precipitation over the past year: 30.5 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 12.0 inches above average (#6 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 0.4 inches below statewide average
#26. Madera County
- Precipitation over the past year: 35.2 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 12.0 inches above average (#10 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 4.2 inches above statewide average
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#25. Napa County
- Precipitation over the past year: 43.1 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 12.0 inches above average (#16 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 12.2 inches above statewide average
#24. Sonoma County
- Precipitation over the past year: 54.5 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 12.4 inches above average (#22 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 23.6 inches above statewide average
#23. Alameda County
- Precipitation over the past year: 31.9 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 13.1 inches above average (#3 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 0.9 inches above statewide average
#22. Monterey County
- Precipitation over the past year: 33.7 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 13.6 inches above average (#8 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 2.8 inches above statewide average
#21. San Francisco
- Precipitation over the past year: 38.6 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 14.3 inches above average (#6 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 7.7 inches above statewide average
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#20. Plumas County
- Precipitation over the past year: 55.6 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 14.3 inches above average (#20 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 24.7 inches above statewide average
#19. Lake County
- Precipitation over the past year: 57.9 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 14.4 inches above average (#20 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 27.0 inches above statewide average
#18. Fresno County
- Precipitation over the past year: 34.2 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 14.6 inches above average (#5 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 3.3 inches above statewide average
#17. Tulare County
- Precipitation over the past year: 37.2 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 15.3 inches above average (#5 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 6.3 inches above statewide average
#16. San Luis Obispo County
- Precipitation over the past year: 32.5 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 15.3 inches above average (#6 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 1.6 inches above statewide average
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#15. Santa Barbara County
- Precipitation over the past year: 34.4 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 15.5 inches above average (#7 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 3.5 inches above statewide average
#14. Mono County
- Precipitation over the past year: 31.8 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 16.1 inches above average (#1 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 0.8 inches above statewide average
#13. San Mateo County
- Precipitation over the past year: 45.2 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 16.5 inches above average (#5 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 14.3 inches above statewide average
Uladzik Kryhin // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Santa Clara County
- Precipitation over the past year: 40.3 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 17.2 inches above average (#3 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 9.4 inches above statewide average
#11. Sierra County
- Precipitation over the past year: 63.2 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 17.4 inches above average (#13 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 32.3 inches above statewide average
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#10. Ventura County
- Precipitation over the past year: 38.1 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 17.6 inches above average (#8 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 7.2 inches above statewide average
#9. Nevada County
- Precipitation over the past year: 69.8 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 19.4 inches above average (#15 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 38.9 inches above statewide average
#8. Calaveras County
- Precipitation over the past year: 54.0 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 19.6 inches above average (#6 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 23.1 inches above statewide average
#7. Amador County
- Precipitation over the past year: 55.9 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 20.6 inches above average (#6 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 25.0 inches above statewide average
#6. Mariposa County
- Precipitation over the past year: 54.0 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 21.1 inches above average (#4 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 23.1 inches above statewide average
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#5. Placer County
- Precipitation over the past year: 67.5 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 21.7 inches above average (#8 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 36.6 inches above statewide average
#4. El Dorado County
- Precipitation over the past year: 68.1 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 23.4 inches above average (#6 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 37.2 inches above statewide average
#3. Santa Cruz County
- Precipitation over the past year: 56.8 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 23.7 inches above average (#5 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 25.9 inches above statewide average
#2. Alpine County
- Precipitation over the past year: 61.8 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 25.6 inches above average (#3 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 30.9 inches above statewide average
StephanieFarrell // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Tuolumne County
- Precipitation over the past year: 69.3 inches
- Comparison to 1901-2000 average: 28.3 inches above average (#3 rainiest September-August period since 1895)
- Comparison to state's precipitation over past year: 38.4 inches above statewide average
This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 44 states.
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