May 23, 2007

Way to go, Mobile!

Study Reveals Top 10 Wettest U.S. Cities

Andrea Thompson
LiveScience Staff Writer
LiveScience.com
Tue May 22, 7:30 AM ET

Do you think Seattle is the rainiest city in the United States? Well, think again.

Mobile, Alabama, actually topped a new list of soggiest cities, with more than 5 feet of rainfall annually, according to a study conducted by San Francisco-based WeatherBill, Inc. [...]

Southeastern cities are so prevalent on the list because the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico fuel storms that frequently soak the region, particularly between June and November.

The study also found that in the past 30 years, the East and Southeast seemed to be getting wetter, while the West got drier. Florida, Louisiana and Alabama were the wettest states, while California, Montana, Nevada and Arizona were the driest (Las Vegas took the top spot for driest city). [...]

Speaking from experience, I can tell you this is a fact. My sister lives down there, and it rains just about every day. The difference in perception is that Seattle seems to have a lot of fog all the time, while Mobile (and the rest of the Redneck Riviera area) will have a giant thunderstorm for an hour, then it'll become bright and fair again. So, you know, not a lot of brooding, flannel-clad, disaffected youth starting garage bands, which is kinda nice.

Although, in fairness, there is that tiny issue with hurricanes.

Posted by Terry Oglesby at May 23, 2007 12:43 PM
Comments

But how is the coffee? And the desire for a “green” car and Birkenstocks?

Posted by: jim at May 23, 2007 12:59 PM

The drink of choice is iced tea, you can't tow a big enough ski boat with a Prius, and Birkenstocks are fine as long as they're sandals.

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at May 23, 2007 01:25 PM

Australia's wettest town is Tully, on the Bruce Highway out of Cairns. It gets 4134mm* each year, which means the rain must know exactly when to stop.

*I don't know what that is in calories.

Posted by: kitchen hand at May 23, 2007 08:52 PM

4 meters of rain!? Why that's ::punching buttons on calculator:: that's over 500 foot-pounds!

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at May 24, 2007 07:57 AM