Average Precipitation in California by Year

This page is a list of the average statewide precipitation in the U.S. state of California for each year from 1895–2023. It is a statewide average over the entire territory of the state, based on data from the NOAA.

State:

Month:

What Was the Rainiest Year in California History?

1983 was the wettest year in California history with an average annual statewide precipitation of 42.5 inches.

What Was the Driest Year in California History?

2013 was the driest year in California history with an average annual statewide precipitation of 7.9 inches.

Click column headers to sort

Year	Rank	Precipitation (in)
2023	25	27.3
2022	120	14.2
2021	86	18.9
2020	127	12.1
2019	14	29.1
2018	94	18.1
2017	20	28.2
2016	32	25.7
2015	114	15.0
2014	81	19.9
2013	129	7.9
2012	50	23.5
2011	87	18.8
2010	10	31.2
2009	105	17.1
2008	95	17.9
2007	122	13.8
2006	48	23.6
2005	12	30.1
2004	67	21.8
2003	68	21.6
2002	90	18.7
2001	52	23.0
2000	70	21.4
1999	97	17.6
1998	2	36.4
1997	75	20.6
1996	8	32.5
1995	3	35.2
1994	98	17.5
1993	27	26.7
1992	51	23.2
1991	82	19.8
1990	121	14.0
1989	115	15.0
1988	104	17.1
1987	84	19.7
1986	42	24.3
1985	118	14.7
1984	92	18.3
1983	1	42.5
1982	9	32.0
1981	29	26.2
1980	44	24.1
1979	38	24.6
1978	16	28.9
1977	99	17.5
1976	128	11.8
1975	73	20.9
1974	71	21.4
1973	15	28.9
1972	102	17.2
1971	93	18.2
1970	22	27.8
1969	11	30.6
1968	76	20.4
1967	46	23.8
1966	88	18.7
1965	63	22.0
1964	61	22.3
1963	37	24.7
1962	62	22.1
1961	108	16.5
1960	66	21.8
1959	113	15.2
1958	24	27.8
1957	39	24.6
1956	96	17.9
1955	47	23.7
1954	53	23.0
1953	103	17.2
1952	21	28.0
1951	49	23.6
1950	31	25.9
1949	112	15.2
1948	79	20.2
1947	125	13.2
1946	109	16.5
1945	28	26.4
1944	60	22.3
1943	57	22.8
1942	58	22.5
1941	4	34.9
1940	7	32.7
1939	110	15.3
1938	18	28.7
1937	23	27.8
1936	45	24.0
1935	72	21.2
1934	100	17.4
1933	89	18.7
1932	116	14.8
1931	54	23.0
1930	107	16.7
1929	124	13.3
1928	101	17.2
1927	34	25.0
1926	43	24.2
1925	83	19.8
1924	111	15.3
1923	123	13.6
1922	41	24.3
1921	65	21.9
1920	55	22.9
1919	91	18.6
1918	78	20.3
1917	119	14.2
1916	30	26.1
1915	26	27.0
1914	33	25.6
1913	69	21.6
1912	85	19.0
1911	40	24.4
1910	117	14.8
1909	5	34.5
1908	106	17.0
1907	17	28.8
1906	6	33.5
1905	77	20.4
1904	19	28.2
1903	74	20.7
1902	35	24.8
1901	59	22.4
1900	80	20.1
1899	36	24.8
1898	126	12.5
1897	64	22.0
1896	13	29.5
1895	56	22.9