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Wettest counties in Kentucky

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 Kentucky 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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#50. Breckinridge County

– Five-year precipitation average: 57.14 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 47.62 inches (#64 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 0.87 inches above norm

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#49. Breathitt County

– Five-year precipitation average: 57.22 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 53.71 inches (#106 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 7.37 inches above norm

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#48. Nelson County

– Five-year precipitation average: 57.29 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 44.85 inches (#46 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -2.18 inches below norm

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#47. Logan County

– Five-year precipitation average: 57.43 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 47.50 inches (#57 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -1.01 inches below norm

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#46. Woodford County

– Five-year precipitation average: 57.50 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 44.74 inches (#54 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -0.34 inches below norm

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#45. Anderson County

– Five-year precipitation average: 57.51 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 45.00 inches (#56 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -0.72 inches below norm

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#44. Taylor County

– Five-year precipitation average: 57.59 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 46.46 inches (#41 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -3.06 inches below norm

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#43. Shelby County

– Five-year precipitation average: 57.62 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 44.53 inches (#53 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -0.96 inches below norm

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#42. Franklin County

– Five-year precipitation average: 57.70 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 44.92 inches (#58 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 0.31 inches above norm

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#41. Warren County

– Five-year precipitation average: 57.73 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 46.93 inches (#49 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -2.21 inches below norm

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#40. Garrard County

– Five-year precipitation average: 57.86 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 46.21 inches (#55 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -0.56 inches below norm

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#39. Simpson County

– Five-year precipitation average: 58.02 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 47.19 inches (#54 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -1.81 inches below norm

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#38. Rowan County

– Five-year precipitation average: 58.07 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 44.90 inches (#54 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -0.02 inches below norm

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#37. Hardin County

– Five-year precipitation average: 58.44 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 46.46 inches (#54 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -0.50 inches below norm

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#36. Larue County

– Five-year precipitation average: 58.59 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 46.76 inches (#52 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -1.34 inches below norm

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#35. Leslie County

– Five-year precipitation average: 58.94 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 55.35 inches (#108 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 6.44 inches above norm

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#34. Metcalfe County

– Five-year precipitation average: 58.96 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 47.32 inches (#45 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -2.95 inches below norm

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#33. Wolfe County

– Five-year precipitation average: 58.96 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 50.77 inches (#92 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 4.90 inches above norm

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#32. Bath County

– Five-year precipitation average: 59.08 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 45.23 inches (#56 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -0.60 inches below norm

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#31. Clark County

– Five-year precipitation average: 59.29 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 45.61 inches (#62 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -0.22 inches below norm

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#30. Lincoln County

– Five-year precipitation average: 59.39 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 47.81 inches (#56 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -0.76 inches below norm

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#29. Grayson County

– Five-year precipitation average: 59.46 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 49.41 inches (#62 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 0.40 inches above norm

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#28. Allen County

– Five-year precipitation average: 59.46 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 47.37 inches (#46 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -2.91 inches below norm

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#27. Hart County

– Five-year precipitation average: 59.56 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 48.86 inches (#58 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -0.53 inches below norm

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#26. Madison County

– Five-year precipitation average: 59.81 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 47.02 inches (#71 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 1.11 inches above norm

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#25. Edmonson County

– Five-year precipitation average: 59.82 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 49.14 inches (#59 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -0.75 inches below norm

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#24. Montgomery County

– Five-year precipitation average: 59.94 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 45.94 inches (#58 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -0.75 inches below norm

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#23. Barren County

– Five-year precipitation average: 60.04 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 48.31 inches (#47 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -2.23 inches below norm

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#22. Owsley County

– Five-year precipitation average: 60.14 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 55.23 inches (#107 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 8.04 inches above norm

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#21. Adair County

– Five-year precipitation average: 60.47 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 46.34 inches (#40 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -3.94 inches below norm

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#20. Casey County

– Five-year precipitation average: 60.56 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 47.99 inches (#48 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -1.82 inches below norm

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#19. Harlan County

– Five-year precipitation average: 60.89 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 53.59 inches (#70 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 1.48 inches above norm

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#18. Monroe County

– Five-year precipitation average: 60.92 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 48.08 inches (#41 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -3.81 inches below norm

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#17. Lee County

– Five-year precipitation average: 61.01 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 53.36 inches (#99 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 6.79 inches above norm

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#16. Bell County

– Five-year precipitation average: 61.03 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 51.72 inches (#58 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 0.01 inches above norm

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#15. Clay County

– Five-year precipitation average: 61.13 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 54.30 inches (#95 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 5.46 inches above norm

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#14. Menifee County

– Five-year precipitation average: 61.53 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 48.22 inches (#70 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 1.86 inches above norm

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#13. Knox County

– Five-year precipitation average: 61.57 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 51.55 inches (#66 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 1.28 inches above norm

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#12. Cumberland County

– Five-year precipitation average: 62.03 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 47.88 inches (#43 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -3.37 inches below norm

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#11. Laurel County

– Five-year precipitation average: 62.14 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 49.66 inches (#65 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 0.29 inches above norm

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#10. Jackson County

– Five-year precipitation average: 62.60 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 52.12 inches (#88 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 3.85 inches above norm

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#9. Estill County

– Five-year precipitation average: 62.71 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 50.58 inches (#95 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 4.52 inches above norm

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#8. Rockcastle County

– Five-year precipitation average: 62.83 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 49.24 inches (#60 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -0.03 inches below norm

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#7. Pulaski County

– Five-year precipitation average: 63.10 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 48.78 inches (#56 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -1.07 inches below norm

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#6. Whitley County

– Five-year precipitation average: 63.11 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 52.70 inches (#74 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 2.50 inches above norm

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#5. McCreary County

– Five-year precipitation average: 63.27 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 52.47 inches (#68 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 1.90 inches above norm

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#4. Wayne County

– Five-year precipitation average: 63.50 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 50.09 inches (#56 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -0.71 inches below norm

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#3. Powell County

– Five-year precipitation average: 63.52 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 50.38 inches (#88 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: 3.91 inches above norm

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#2. Russell County

– Five-year precipitation average: 63.70 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 47.63 inches (#42 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -3.24 inches below norm

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#1. Clinton County

– Five-year precipitation average: 64.70 inches
– Precipitation over the past year: 51.02 inches (#56 rainiest year since 1895)
– Precipitation compared to 1901-2000 average: -1.22 inches below norm