Think it rains too much in Seattle or Portland? Some cities around the world get ten times more rain—thanks to tough geography or a unique climate pattern.
Mawsynram, India: The Wettest Place on Earth
If you’re headed to Mawsynram, pack your raincoat. This city in eastern India sees over 11,800 mm of rain every year—that’s more than 32 liters per square meter daily. Located in the Himalayan foothills, it catches moisture rolling in from the Bay of Bengal, which hits the mountains and dumps buckets of rain.
Your best chance for a dry spell? Visit between December and January. Just 15 km away, Cherrapunji comes in second with nearly as much rainfall. For context, France’s rainiest city, Biarritz, gets just 1,451 mm annually.
Colombia and Cameroon: Constant Downpours
In Tutendo, Colombia, it rains 304 days a year. With hot, humid conditions and barely any wind, the place rarely dries out. Meanwhile, Debundscha in Cameroon is wedged between the Gulf of Guinea and Mount Cameroon—making it a perfect trap for rain clouds.
Hawaii: Paradise with a Rainy Side
Hawaii isn’t just beaches and sunshine. It’s also home to three of the wettest places on the planet. Mount Waialeale, meaning “rippling waters,” gets nearly 10,000 mm of rain per year. In 1912, it got a jaw-dropping 17,348 mm. This rain gives the islands their signature greenery and rare plant life.
Europe’s Rain Champion
In Europe, Podgorica in Montenegro leads with 1,661 mm of annual rain. It may not rival the numbers from India or Hawaii, but it’s still a soggy standout on the continent.
Céline Deluzarche
Journalist
Céline, a graduate of the Institut Français de Presse in 2004, worked for L’Internaute and Le Journal du Net, focusing on topics such as technology, environment, and health. Passionate about exploring the internet, she was always on the lookout for innovative information. She loved strolling through Strasbourg and watching Nordic and British TV series. Céline collaborated with Futura for several years before passing away in December 2021.
