The 10 Worst Weather Cities
Yesterday I shared with you our top 10 Best Weather Cities and today we have flipped the coin and look at what might be considered the worst weather locations in the USA. Since I live in Maine, cold temperatures, rain and snow is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, many people commented when we ran our list that it takes character to live in some o the harsher climates. But, we have to use the same criteria as we did yesterday which include sunshine, sky conditions, precipitation, humidity and wind to determine the “worst” cities for weather.
1. QUILLAYUTE, WASHINGTON—Ever heard of it? Neither had we. In fact, it’s not a city but a location where weather data is accumulated and because of the numbers, it ranks as the number one worst weather location. It is tied with Astoria, Oregon as the cloudiest U.S city (240 days) it is the most humid (83% relative humidity), and it is second in terms of rain (104.5 inches) and number of rainy days (210).
2. ASTORIA, OREGON—ties Quillayute for cloudiest in the nation (240 days), and comes in third in terms of wetness (69.6 inches per year/191 days).
3 & 4. MARQUETTE and SAULT ST. MARIE, MICHIGAN—We had a tie between these cities. They ranked number four and five (respectively) in terms of the coldest U.S. cities and numbers two and three as the snowiest cities. They both also ranked seventh and eighth among the rainiest cities. If you enjoy lots of rain, snow and cold weather, these are two places you must visit!
5 & 6. SYRACUSE and BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK—Similarly, two cities in New York State ran very close to each other in terms of cloud cover and precipitation. Syracuse ranks fourth among the rainiest cities in the U.S. (171 days); Binghamton came in tenth (162 days). Binghamton is among the top ten cloudiest cities (212 cloudy days annually) while Syracuse ranks fourth among the snowiest cities with 111.6 inches annually. Being adjacent to the St. Lawrence storm track and subject to color air masses approaching from the west and north, these cities must continually endure unsettled weather patterns.
7. ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA—tied Syracuse for fourth rainiest city in the U.S. and also ranked just behind Binghamton in the number of cloudy days (211).
8. NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA—landed among the top ten in terms of wettest cities (59.74 inches annually) as well as among the most humid (75.5%). Living in New Orleans during the summer requires air conditioning!
9. EUGENE, OREGON—Ranked high in the cloud and humidity department. It experiences 209 cloud-filled days annually, and has an average relative humidity that ties New Orleans for eighth place overall.
On a positive note, the abundant moisture and moderate temperatures result in rapid growth of timber evergreens. This is a major industry here.
10. HILO, HAWAII—Hawaii is usually assumed to a paradise with sun-filled skies and perfect weather year-round. But this is not necessarily the case with Hilo. This humidity is number one among U.S. cities in terms of average annual precipitation with a whopping 128 inches. In fact, the wettest part of Hawaii (over 200 inches) is only about six miles up-slope from the city limits. Hilo also ranks number one in terms of the number of rainy days (277). So there is at least a 75 percent chance that on any given day in Hilo, some rain will fall.
Weather is just that, weather. We love it, we hate it. We talk about it every day. If you’re getting married you want sunshine, if you’re going to ski, it has to snow. Want a tan, hey, sunshine is a must. We all live in communities for a variety of reasons. The criteria we used to select our ten best and worst weather cities were strictly statistical.
In the near future, check the Farmers’ Almanac™ web site. We’ll be asking you to comment on your favorite weather cities and watch for a new list.
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15 comments
I grew up in Sault Ste Marie! Yes it’’s very cold in the winter with way too much snow. But I also remember a lot of sunny days and it’s nice in the summer during the days when it’s sunny……Alright, I guess the weather’s pretty rough there. I’m moving to San Diego.
Actually Trevor, the author said that Astoria was cloudy, he didn’t say it was dreary. For some people, cloudy is great and sun is dreary. Many of the people who live here in the Northwest like myself agree.
It’s subjective, just like the author’s use of the word “worst.”
Living In Astoria All My Life, I would have to agree to it being an extremely dreary place. December of 2007 was the worst storm I have ever seen here, with 100+ MPH gusts, we were without power for a week (or More).
I lived in Syracuse, NY as a kid in the 60’s and 70’s, I remember the blizzard of 66 with 13ft drifts, 60+mph winds, snow covered the entire back of our house up to the gutters in drifts. Then in June 1970 on a Saturday afternoon a wild thunderstorm with winds over 80 mph maybe close to 90mph trees bending to the ground wind and rain blowing so hard you could not see anything outside we thought the tree had been ripped from the ground. Syracuse is hit often by very violent thunderstorms – once about ever 7 – 10 years on average, case in point labor day 1998 winds in excess of 100mph AT 115am raked Syracuse doing a lot of destruction at the fairgrounds and downtown Syracuse. A derecho they called it . In the seven years I lived there, from 1963 – 1970 I saw many bad windstorms, snowstorms, thunderstorms. I’ve lived in a lot of places in my entire life, NH, CT, MI, SC, CA, Japan, VA, and NJ and of all the places I’ve lived, Syracuse had the worst most violent weather. The only thing that topped it was a typhoon I experience while stationed in okinawa japan in 1980 on Columbus day the wind got to almost 100mph,
Alex, I live in Washington so I’m nearby Oregon. It’s very hard to answer your question, because “worst” and “overcast” are completely opposite terms to many people. I will try though… in Seattle, we get some really nice overcast days, where it’s not so bright and the sun doesn’t interfere through the clouds. But we do get some “worse” overcast days as well, when it’s cloudy, but it’s still really bright and the sun can start penetrating through the clouds. We have a lot of those. I suppose that’s what you mean by “worst overcast” days. But they still are a lot better than what we see here seven months of the year, which is nothing but sun.
If you’re getting married, you don’t necessarily want sunshine. Many people would be much more comfortable (especially in tuxes and dresses!!) in cool, cloudy weather. It’s all subjective.
Ahmm… I was thinking of moving to Hawaii. I live in New Mexico and love the desert and heat. So, I was wondering, besides Hilo, what are the rainiest and most overcast towns in Hawaii? I want to live in a small town but need to know which ones to avoid. If you can help thanks soo much!
hi i was wondering what small towns get the worst overcast days beside places in Oregon?
Savannah, Georgia would be a toss-up. From May 1 through November 1, it is unbearably hot and muggy. Temperatures in the 80s and 90s with heat indices regularly topping out in the upper 90s/low 100s. Prepare to pay $200-$300 a month to run your AC. Thunderstorms occur 4 to 5 days a week and hurricanes are an ever-looming threat (though Savannah has not had a direct hit from a hurricane in 30 years). Fall and spring are very nice- temperatures in the 60s and 70s, lower humidity and lows in the 40s and 50s. Winter is pleasant, too…highs in the 50s and 60s, little rain, no snow and very few days with low temperatures sub-freezing.
Worst weather cities in the US are most cities in central/southern Arizona, Nevada, California (particularly southern California), a lot of the west (not much clouds or rainfall once you get east of the coastal mountain ranges), and places in southern Texas (though thunderstorms do help). Why aren’t any of these mentioned on this list??
No sorry, but I don’t agree with you Judy! Firstable, the average High in January is 30 and not 17 at Chicago. 17 is the average Low ! Don’t try to get worse the climate of your city, please…
It’s sure that the wind is not the most pleasant weather characteristic of the Windy city, especially in the winter.
Though, Chicago has the fortune to experience nearly 2,500 hours of sunshine during a normal year, while some parts of the North West coastal region experiences less than 1,600 hours (above all, their winters are very poor in sunshine hours and very plenty of rainy days and rain amounts).
Actually, Chicago only knows 125 days of precipitation a year on the average, while some parts of these famous North West coastal region have to receive more than 200 days a year ! Maybe there are not as many thunder days as in Chicago, but 10 or even 15 straight rainy days are quite common, especially during the winter !
Moreover, the relative humidity are really higher in these same region than in Chicago. At all this lovely picture, you can add that nights during the summers are always cool and never mild !
But if you consider all the 50 States, some spots in Alaska are without any doubt worse than those I described… Then I would choose Juneau, but it’s still another tale…
I was just in Hilo and I think it should be closer to number one worst weather cities in the world! While I was there from Friday March 6th at 4pm it started to rain…it didn’t stop once until 58 hours later. It went from drizzle rain to pouring rain and no breaks or stopping even for a second. Ended up with something like 14 to 16 inches. A friend said it Hilo is known as the armpit of Hawaii and now I know it is true! What a shit hole…why would anyone want/choose to live/go there? I’ll never go back…a total waste of my vacation.
I would like to nominate Ithaca, NY, for that list. It falls exactly between Syracuse and Binghamton, and will be cloudy even when those cities have sun.
Of course, if you haven’t guessed, I am talking about CHICAGO, that toddling town. I put it at the top of the post but it came out as a Website!?
CHICAGO, IL. This is my vote for worst weather in the USA, 48 lower states of course.
I just spent six month, including the summer, in what I consider the worst weather, be it summer, winter, spring or fall!
In the summer it gets into the 80’s and 90’s but the humidity is usually the same or often HIGHER than the temperature. Mosquitos, bees, flies, etc. love it there and breed in the ponds and puddles. A picnic is a challenge and bring the bug killer.
In the spring there are thunderstorms galore. Loud thunder, lightning, hail, and sometimes 2 or 3 straight days of rain and drizzle. There are weeks when you don’t see the sun. The humidity is awful then too.
The fall is actually the best (after the first freeze) It kills most of the wasps, bees, and yellow jackets, etc. if you have a day or two below 32. You may be able to safely sit on your patio.
Winter is either raining, snowing, or there are 2 inches of frozen snow on your car from an ICE STORM. The average high is 17, but with the wind chill factor, below zero is common in January and February. The windchill factor one day during my visit was Minus 51!!! This is true.
Why don’t you ever mention this arm-pit of the US?
Sure, there are rivers and streams and large green trees. Therefore, commerce grew there.
But I dread going back, and so does my car! LOL (undercarriage rots really fast)
Anyone agree?
Thanks,
Judy (worn out just getting to work)
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