Rain, sleet, snow, hail, wintry mix. Precipitation takes on many forms, and the degree to which climate change affects precipitation levels comes down to something almost everyone learns about in school—Earth's water cycle. A system in endless motion, the water cycle traces the process through which water exists in its three primary phases—liquid, solid, and gas—as it moves perpetually between the Earth and its atmosphere.
Increases in precipitation frequency and intensity are markers of climate change. When temperatures rise and oceans grow warmer, the amount of water that evaporates into the atmosphere—and the speed at which it does so—also increases. As atmospheric circulation carries the moisture-rich air over land or pushes it into a storm system, heavy rain or snow is often the result.
The continental U.S. on average received about 30 inches of precipitation between March 2022 and February 2023. Traditionally "wet" regions—such as Washington state and Alaska in the northwest and Georgia and Mississippi in the southeast—continue to have some of the rainiest counties in the United States. Other areas such as Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska, as well as pockets of the South and of California, experience the opposite extreme: drought, also largely a product of climate change.
Stacker cited data from the National Centers for Environmental Information to identify the counties in West Virginia that receive the most precipitation through rain, sleet, or snow. Counties are ranked by five-year precipitation averages in inches as of February 2023 with rainfall over the past year serving as a tiebreaker. Supplementary data on how last year's precipitation compares to the 100-year average for the area is also included.
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1 / 50#50. Berkeley County
- Five-year precipitation average: 43.81 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 37.88 inches (#64 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 0.19 inches above norm
#49. Jefferson County
- Five-year precipitation average: 44.65 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 39.36 inches (#75 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 0.77 inches above norm
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3 / 50#48. Brooke County
- Five-year precipitation average: 46.12 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 43.66 inches (#93 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 4.22 inches above norm
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4 / 50#47. Putnam County
- Five-year precipitation average: 47.13 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 43.29 inches (#58 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 0.18 inches above norm
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5 / 50#46. Pendleton County
- Five-year precipitation average: 47.15 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 41.90 inches (#89 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 2.66 inches above norm
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#45. Marion County
- Five-year precipitation average: 47.50 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 45.95 inches (#80 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 2.19 inches above norm
#44. Ohio County
- Five-year precipitation average: 47.86 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 43.91 inches (#86 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 3.22 inches above norm
#43. Monongalia County
- Five-year precipitation average: 47.86 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 46.01 inches (#79 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 2.43 inches above norm
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9 / 50#42. Hancock County
- Five-year precipitation average: 47.93 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 44.97 inches (#110 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 6.79 inches above norm
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11 / 50#40. Mercer County
- Five-year precipitation average: 48.33 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 45.82 inches (#97 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 4.56 inches above norm
#39. Wood County
- Five-year precipitation average: 48.45 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 43.10 inches (#67 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 1.65 inches above norm
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13 / 50#38. Jackson County
- Five-year precipitation average: 48.51 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 44.70 inches (#73 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 2.14 inches above norm
#37. Summers County
- Five-year precipitation average: 48.72 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 44.14 inches (#92 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 3.75 inches above norm
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15 / 50#36. Cabell County
- Five-year precipitation average: 49.04 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 42.16 inches (#56 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -0.37 inches below norm
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16 / 50#35. Taylor County
- Five-year precipitation average: 49.09 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 47.19 inches (#80 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 2.29 inches above norm
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17 / 50#34. Monroe County
- Five-year precipitation average: 49.43 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 44.50 inches (#97 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 3.96 inches above norm
#33. Wirt County
- Five-year precipitation average: 49.58 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 45.53 inches (#72 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 2.17 inches above norm
#32. Roane County
- Five-year precipitation average: 49.68 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 48.73 inches (#99 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 4.73 inches above norm
#31. Calhoun County
- Five-year precipitation average: 49.84 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 46.15 inches (#66 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 1.21 inches above norm
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#30. Harrison County
- Five-year precipitation average: 49.98 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 48.14 inches (#87 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 3.70 inches above norm
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22 / 50#29. Gilmer County
- Five-year precipitation average: 50.02 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 45.05 inches (#52 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -0.79 inches below norm
#28. Pleasants County
- Five-year precipitation average: 50.21 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 44.05 inches (#61 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 1.08 inches above norm
#27. Ritchie County
- Five-year precipitation average: 50.59 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 45.03 inches (#60 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 0.65 inches above norm
#26. Lincoln County
- Five-year precipitation average: 50.69 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 44.82 inches (#63 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 0.77 inches above norm
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#25. Kanawha County
- Five-year precipitation average: 51.46 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 49.86 inches (#99 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 4.96 inches above norm
#24. McDowell County
- Five-year precipitation average: 52.03 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 49.59 inches (#102 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 5.06 inches above norm
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28 / 50#23. Lewis County
- Five-year precipitation average: 52.20 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 47.67 inches (#63 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 0.57 inches above norm
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29 / 50#22. Raleigh County
- Five-year precipitation average: 52.21 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 48.84 inches (#90 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 3.51 inches above norm
#21. Marshall County
- Five-year precipitation average: 52.27 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 48.63 inches (#106 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 5.85 inches above norm
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#20. Wayne County
- Five-year precipitation average: 52.34 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 44.18 inches (#60 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 0.38 inches above norm
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32 / 50#19. Clay County
- Five-year precipitation average: 52.34 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 52.11 inches (#110 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 5.89 inches above norm
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33 / 50#18. Doddridge County
- Five-year precipitation average: 52.44 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 48.55 inches (#81 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 3.20 inches above norm
#17. Tyler County
- Five-year precipitation average: 52.54 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 47.20 inches (#87 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 3.28 inches above norm
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36 / 50#15. Greenbrier County
- Five-year precipitation average: 52.88 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 51.50 inches (#111 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 7.07 inches above norm
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37 / 50#14. Braxton County
- Five-year precipitation average: 52.89 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 48.20 inches (#71 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 1.54 inches above norm
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38 / 50#13. Wetzel County
- Five-year precipitation average: 53.05 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 50.24 inches (#101 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 5.41 inches above norm
#12. Wyoming County
- Five-year precipitation average: 53.07 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 49.20 inches (#87 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 2.55 inches above norm
#10. Barbour County
- Five-year precipitation average: 53.45 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 50.40 inches (#84 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 2.81 inches above norm
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42 / 50#9. Logan County
- Five-year precipitation average: 53.79 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 47.27 inches (#68 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 1.02 inches above norm
#8. Preston County
- Five-year precipitation average: 54.26 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 48.36 inches (#53 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -0.81 inches below norm
#7. Pocahontas County
- Five-year precipitation average: 54.53 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 50.17 inches (#74 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 1.21 inches above norm
#6. Mingo County
- Five-year precipitation average: 54.66 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 48.11 inches (#78 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 2.70 inches above norm
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46 / 50#5. Upshur County
- Five-year precipitation average: 55.45 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 51.20 inches (#55 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -0.11 inches below norm
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47 / 50#4. Nicholas County
- Five-year precipitation average: 55.80 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 58.62 inches (#117 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 9.54 inches above norm
#3. Tucker County
- Five-year precipitation average: 59.34 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 50.56 inches (#62 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 0.03 inches above norm
#2. Randolph County
- Five-year precipitation average: 60.59 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 56.13 inches (#82 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 2.52 inches above norm
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50 / 50#1. Webster County
- Five-year precipitation average: 61.19 inches
- Precipitation over the past year: 57.19 inches (#88 rainiest year since 1895)
- Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 2.56 inches above norm
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