Rainiest Cities In The World – 12 Locations With The Highest Rainfall In The World
Rainiest Cities In The World – 12 Locations With The Highest Rainfall In The World
If you live in a region where it rains constantly throughout the year, you may believe you live in the rainiest place on Earth. However, a few cities and towns on the planet have annual rainfalls that defy belief.
Mawsynram, situated in the state of Meghalaya, India, is officially recognized as the rainiest location in the world, with an average annual rainfall of 11 872 mm (467.4 inches). Cherrapunji, in the same state, ranks second, followed by Tutunendo in Colombia in third place.
If you don’t live in an arid or semi-arid region of the world, the chances are good that you have already experienced spells of persistent rain that seem to go on forever. It’s hard to believe that some locations on the planet receive more rain in a week than most places do in a year.
Although many places experience a large volume of rainfall over a short period of time (as is the case with a microburst), the best criterion to use to accurately determine the rainiest city/town on Earth is to look at its average annual rainfall.
In this article, we take a look at the 12 wettest locations around the globe. When listing the cities, we include more densely populated areas, such as towns and villages, to be more inclusive and accurate.
As one can imagine, the title of “Rainiest Place in the World” has been passed around between cities and varies over time. The locations in this article, though, have consistently recorded exceptionally high rainfall averages throughout history.
How Rainfall Figures Are Calculated
The rainfall totals in this article are based on long-term average annual precipitation measurements that are recorded at official weather stations. These averages are typically calculated over multiple decades to ensure that short-term anomalies or unusually wet years do not incorrectly impact the overall ranking.
12 Cities With The Highest Rainfall In The World
The following list looks at the 12 rainiest cities in the world, starting with the wettest location on the planet and working our way down. We then take a closer look at each individual city or town:
| City / Town | Millimeters | Inches |
|---|---|---|
| Mawsynram, India | 11 871 | 467 |
| Cherrapunji, India | 11 777 | 464 |
| Tutunendo, Colombia | 11 770 | 463 |
| San Antonio de Ureca, Equatorial Guinea | 10 450 | 418 |
| Debundscha, Cameroon | 10 299 | 405 |
| Quibdó City, Colombia | 7 328 | 289 |
| Buenaventura, Colombia | 6 276 | 247 |
| Mawlamyine, Myanmar | 4 772 | 188 |
| Monrovia, Liberia | 4 540 | 179 |
| Hilo, Hawaii | 3 219 | 127 |
| Singapore | 2 340 | 92 |
| Bergen, Norway | 2 250 | 89 |
On closer examination, a clear pattern emerges from this list: most of the rainiest cities in the world are located near the Equator and close to a large body of water. The combination of strong solar heating, abundant moisture, and favorable topography creates the perfect environment for persistent rainfall.
1) Mawsynram, India
Location: Meghalaya, India
Average Annual Rainfall: 11 871 mm (467 inches)
Mawsynram is situated in the Khasi Hills, which form part of the state of Meghalaya, India. At a latitude/longitude of 25° 18′ N, 91° 35′ E, it is also located close to the Equator, a factor that many rainy cities have in common, as will be illustrated in this article.
(The intense solar radiation that ocean waters receive at the Equator results in mass evaporation at the surface. The moist air rises and cools down, leading to condensation, which is the primary cause of the heavy rainfall that characterizes equatorial regions.)
Although it is technically a village and not a city, there is no disputing the fact that this small populated area in India is the rainiest place on the planet, with an average annual rainfall of 11 872 mm (467.4 inches).
2) Cherrapunji, India
Location: Meghalaya, India
Average Annual Rainfall: 11 777 mm (464 inches)
Situated only 13.6 km (8.4 miles) away from Mawsynram, it is literally a stone’s throw away. It should come as no surprise that it is just as rainy and even carries the title of the rainiest place in the world on a few occasions.
In fact, Cherrapunji is the current record holder for the highest rainfall during both a calendar month and year.
Both Mawsynram and Cherrapunji are located in the state of Meghalaya in India, which has consistently been the rainiest region in the world in recent history.
3) Tutunendo, Colombia
Location: Quibdó Municipality, Colombia
Average Annual Rainfall: 11 770 mm (463 inches)
Tutunendo lies in the municipality of Quibdó, the rainiest region in Colombia and South America. It is also situated only 13 km (8 miles) from the city of Quibdó, which also disputes and claims the title of the rainiest location on the planet.
With an average annual rainfall of 11 770 mm (463 inches), Tutunendo deserves its title as the rainiest place in South America.
4) San Antonio de Ureca, Equatorial Guinea
Location: Bioko Sur, Equatorial Guinea
Average Annual Rainfall: 10 450 mm (418 inches)
San Antonio de Ureca is located on the island of Bioko, Equatorial Guinea.
At a latitude/longitude of 3°16′N 8°31′E, it lies almost on top of the Equator. Like the state of Meghalaya in India, as well as Tutunendo in Colombia, its close proximity to the Equator largely contributes to the heavy rainfall in the region.
San Antonio de Ureca also carries the title of the rainiest location on the African continent.
5) Debundscha, Cameroon
Location: Southwestern Region, Cameroon
Average Annual Rainfall: 10 299 mm (405 inches)
Located on the foothills of Mount Cameroon and facing the South Atlantic Ocean, Debundscha is another example of a location with exceptionally high rainfall that is situated at or close to the Equator.
As its ranking on this list illustrates, it is also widely recognized as one of the five rainiest destinations in the world, with an average annual rainfall of 10 299 mm (405 inches).
6) Quibdó City, Colombia
Location: Quibdó Municipality, Colombia
Average Annual Rainfall: 7 328 mm (289 inches)
Quibdó City is situated in the municipality of Quibdó, which forms part of the Chocó Department. It lies on the banks of the Atrato River in the western part of Colombia.
As previously stated, there is a great debate and pushback from observers who strongly believe Quibdó should be acknowledged as the rainiest location on the planet.
Since it receives rain 309 days out of the year and is also regarded as one of the cloudiest places in the world (only 1 276 hours of sunlight a year), these observers may have a point.
7) Buenaventura, Colombia
Location: Valle del Cauca, Colombia
Average Annual Rainfall: 6 276 mm (247 inches)
Buenaventura is a coastal city that forms part of the department of Valle del Cauca in Colombia. It is also the primary seaport of the country, handling around 60% of all goods entering and leaving the country via sea.
Its location close to the Equator, combined with the fact that it is located at the coast, are the two main driving forces behind its average annual rainfall of 6 276 mm (247 inches).
8) Mawlamyine, Myanmar
Location: Mon State, Myanmar
Average Annual Rainfall: 4 772 mm (188 inches)
Mawlamyine is located in Mon State, Myanmar. Like Buenaventura, it is also a coastal city and one of Myanmar’s major seaports. It lies on the banks of the Salween (Thanlwin) River.
In this region, the rainy season starts around 6 May and lasts until 14 October, approximately 5.2 months. The majority of its 4 772 mm (188 inches) average annual rainfall occurs during this period.
9) Monrovia, Liberia
Location: Montserrado County, Liberia
Average Annual Rainfall: 4 540 mm (179 inches)
Monrovia is a coastal city on the West African coast bordering the Atlantic Ocean. It is also the capital of Liberia and the largest city in the country. It currently holds the title of the wettest capital city in the world.
The flooding that occurs as a result of the heavy rainfall is a significant problem in the city. The water mixes with the city’s excess waste, causing blocked sewers and drains, which leads to standing water and generally unsanitary conditions.
10) Hilo, Hawaii
Location: Hawaii, United States Of America
Average Annual Rainfall: 3 219 mm (127 inches)
Hilo is located on the east coast of Hawaii in Hilo Bay. It sits at the foot of two volcanoes, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.
Its tropical rainforest climate is responsible for the heavy rains that characterize the region. It is also widely regarded as the rainiest city in the United States of America.
11) Singapore
Location: Southeast Asia
Average Annual Rainfall: 2 340 mm (92 inches)
Singapore is a city-state situated in Southeast Asia. The city lies on the main island, which is located about 137 km (85 miles) north of the Equator, explaining the high rainfall averages recorded in the city each year.
With no clear distinction between the seasons, the rainfall in the city is pretty evenly spread out throughout the year. It also rains for approximately 167 days out of the year.
12) Bergen, Norway
Location: Vestland County, Norway
Average Annual Rainfall: 2 250 mm (89 inches)
Bergen is located on the west coast of Norway in the county of Vestland. It has an oceanic climate with rain evenly spread out throughout the year.
Although this city is last on this list and its average annual rainfall is dwarfed by that of the state of Meghalaya in India, its 2 250 mm (89 inches) of rain is still pretty impressive.
It is not called “The City of Rain” without reason. With rain falling 270 days out of the year, it is the rainiest city in Europe.
Conclusion
Determining the rainiest city in the world is no easy feat, as this article clearly illustrates. It varies from time to time, but the cities listed in this post routinely measure record-high rainfall figures throughout history.
What is evident, though, is that the vast majority of rainy locations around the planet are situated in and around the Equator. This proximity to the Equator is responsible for the tropical rainforest climate that results in the record-high rainfall these regions routinely experience.
This article highlighted the 12 cities and towns that consistently record the highest rainfall in the world.
Until next time, keep your eye on the weather!