Counties in North Carolina by annual precipitation

Transylvania County had the highest annual precipitation of 100 counties in 2024, at 79.62 inches. Davie County had the lowest, at 44.21 inches. The median was 52.43 inches and the figure for North Carolina was 53.09 inches. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Lowest44.21Davie County
Median52.43100 counties
North Carolina53.09History

Map of counties, 2024

Alamance County: 56.12 inchesAlexander County: 56.23 inchesAlleghany County: 62.26 inchesAnson County: 55.35 inchesAshe County: 65.73 inchesAvery County: 64.41 inchesBeaufort County: 51.19 inchesBertie County: 46.73 inchesBladen County: 50.12 inchesBrunswick County: 50.83 inchesBuncombe County: 58.78 inchesBurke County: 59.06 inchesCabarrus County: 52.44 inchesCaldwell County: 61.8 inchesCamden County: 47.22 inchesCarteret County: 54.47 inchesCaswell County: 50.75 inchesCatawba County: 56 inchesChatham County: 53.48 inchesCherokee County: 57.6 inchesChowan County: 46.51 inchesClay County: 61.87 inchesCleveland County: 55.23 inchesColumbus County: 50.34 inchesCraven County: 53.36 inchesCumberland County: 47.46 inchesCurrituck County: 46.45 inchesDare County: 50.13 inchesDavidson County: 48.22 inchesDavie County: 44.21 inchesDuplin County: 52.26 inchesDurham County: 53.47 inchesEdgecombe County: 46.2 inchesForsyth County: 47.39 inchesFranklin County: 53.48 inchesGaston County: 56.34 inchesGates County: 48.12 inchesGraham County: 52.91 inchesGranville County: 53.9 inchesGreene County: 51.47 inchesGuilford County: 53.21 inchesHalifax County: 44.72 inchesHarnett County: 51.12 inchesHaywood County: 59.03 inchesHenderson County: 70.03 inchesHertford County: 46.42 inchesHoke County: 47.84 inchesHyde County: 49.91 inchesIredell County: 51.19 inchesJackson County: 63.93 inchesJohnston County: 50.07 inchesJones County: 53.62 inchesLee County: 50.69 inchesLenoir County: 53.3 inchesLincoln County: 56.62 inchesMcDowell County: 67.5 inchesMacon County: 62.58 inchesMadison County: 52.27 inchesMartin County: 47.49 inchesMecklenburg County: 54.31 inchesMitchell County: 60.2 inchesMontgomery County: 54 inchesMoore County: 46.76 inchesNash County: 48.37 inchesNew Hanover County: 50.65 inchesNorthampton County: 44.53 inchesOnslow County: 53.65 inchesOrange County: 55.21 inchesPamlico County: 53.17 inchesPasquotank County: 47.44 inchesPender County: 50.66 inchesPerquimans County: 47.07 inchesPerson County: 52.65 inchesPitt County: 50.12 inchesPolk County: 66.36 inchesRandolph County: 53.52 inchesRichmond County: 53.78 inchesRobeson County: 48.86 inchesRockingham County: 50 inchesRowan County: 50.29 inchesRutherford County: 59.41 inchesSampson County: 49.93 inchesScotland County: 50.38 inchesStanly County: 57.21 inchesStokes County: 52.42 inchesSurry County: 55.87 inchesSwain County: 56.76 inchesTransylvania County: 79.62 inchesTyrrell County: 48.33 inchesUnion County: 52.13 inchesVance County: 54.23 inchesWake County: 51.02 inchesWarren County: 49.88 inchesWashington County: 47.32 inchesWatauga County: 66.48 inchesWayne County: 51.29 inchesWilkes County: 60.1 inchesWilson County: 49.71 inchesYadkin County: 48.28 inchesYancey County: 62.28 inches
  • Under 48
  • 48 to 50
  • 50 to 52
  • 52 to 54
  • 54 to 59
  • 59 and over
inches, 2024. Source: NOAA NCEI, NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December precipitation, counties. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2024

Transylvania County: 79.62 inchesTransylvania County79.62Henderson County: 70.03 inchesHenderson County70.03McDowell County: 67.5 inchesMcDowell County67.5Watauga County: 66.48 inchesWatauga County66.48Polk County: 66.36 inchesPolk County66.36Ashe County: 65.73 inchesAshe County65.73Avery County: 64.41 inchesAvery County64.41Jackson County: 63.93 inchesJackson County63.93Macon County: 62.58 inchesMacon County62.58Yancey County: 62.28 inchesYancey County62.28Alleghany County: 62.26 inchesAlleghany County62.26Clay County: 61.87 inchesClay County61.87Caldwell County: 61.8 inchesCaldwell County61.8Mitchell County: 60.2 inchesMitchell County60.2Wilkes County: 60.1 inchesWilkes County60.1Rutherford County: 59.41 inchesRutherford County59.41Burke County: 59.06 inchesBurke County59.06Haywood County: 59.03 inchesHaywood County59.03Buncombe County: 58.78 inchesBuncombe County58.78Cherokee County: 57.6 inchesCherokee County57.6Stanly County: 57.21 inchesStanly County57.21Swain County: 56.76 inchesSwain County56.76Lincoln County: 56.62 inchesLincoln County56.62Gaston County: 56.34 inchesGaston County56.34Alexander County: 56.23 inchesAlexander County56.23Alamance County: 56.12 inchesAlamance County56.12Catawba County: 56 inchesCatawba County56Surry County: 55.87 inchesSurry County55.87Anson County: 55.35 inchesAnson County55.35Cleveland County: 55.23 inchesCleveland County55.23Orange County: 55.21 inchesOrange County55.21Carteret County: 54.47 inchesCarteret County54.47Mecklenburg County: 54.31 inchesMecklenburg County54.31Vance County: 54.23 inchesVance County54.23Montgomery County: 54 inchesMontgomery County54Granville County: 53.9 inchesGranville County53.9Richmond County: 53.78 inchesRichmond County53.78Onslow County: 53.65 inchesOnslow County53.65Jones County: 53.62 inchesJones County53.62Randolph County: 53.52 inchesRandolph County53.52Transylvania County: 79.62 inchesTransylvania County79.62Henderson County: 70.03 inchesHenderson County70.03McDowell County: 67.5 inchesMcDowell County67.5Watauga County: 66.48 inchesWatauga County66.48Polk County: 66.36 inchesPolk County66.36Ashe County: 65.73 inchesAshe County65.73Avery County: 64.41 inchesAvery County64.41Jackson County: 63.93 inchesJackson County63.93Macon County: 62.58 inchesMacon County62.58Yancey County: 62.28 inchesYancey County62.28Alleghany County: 62.26 inchesAlleghany County62.26Clay County: 61.87 inchesClay County61.87Caldwell County: 61.8 inchesCaldwell County61.8Mitchell County: 60.2 inchesMitchell County60.2Wilkes County: 60.1 inchesWilkes County60.1Rutherford County: 59.41 inchesRutherford County59.41Burke County: 59.06 inchesBurke County59.06Haywood County: 59.03 inchesHaywood County59.03Buncombe County: 58.78 inchesBuncombe County58.78Cherokee County: 57.6 inchesCherokee County57.6Stanly County: 57.21 inchesStanly County57.21Swain County: 56.76 inchesSwain County56.76Lincoln County: 56.62 inchesLincoln County56.62Gaston County: 56.34 inchesGaston County56.34Alexander County: 56.23 inchesAlexander County56.23Alamance County: 56.12 inchesAlamance County56.12Catawba County: 56 inchesCatawba County56Surry County: 55.87 inchesSurry County55.87Anson County: 55.35 inchesAnson County55.35Cleveland County: 55.23 inchesCleveland County55.23Orange County: 55.21 inchesOrange County55.21Carteret County: 54.47 inchesCarteret County54.47Mecklenburg County: 54.31 inchesMecklenburg County54.31Vance County: 54.23 inchesVance County54.23Montgomery County: 54 inchesMontgomery County54Granville County: 53.9 inchesGranville County53.9Richmond County: 53.78 inchesRichmond County53.78Onslow County: 53.65 inchesOnslow County53.65Jones County: 53.62 inchesJones County53.62Randolph County: 53.52 inchesRandolph County53.52
inches. Source: NOAA NCEI, NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December precipitation, counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2024
inches
Change on 2023
1Transylvania County79.62+41.5%
2Henderson County70.03+48%
3McDowell County67.5+23%
4Watauga County66.48+28%
5Polk County66.36+33.3%
6Ashe County65.73+35%
7Avery County64.41+22.3%
8Jackson County63.93+17%
9Macon County62.58+15.7%
10Yancey County62.28+20.1%
11Alleghany County62.26+23.5%
12Clay County61.87+9.3%
13Caldwell County61.8+19.3%
14Mitchell County60.2+18.8%
15Wilkes County60.1+14.5%
16Rutherford County59.41+28.4%
17Burke County59.06+18.5%
18Haywood County59.03+14.2%
19Buncombe County58.78+32%
20Cherokee County57.6+0.9%
21Stanly County57.21+13.7%
22Swain County56.76-1.2%
23Lincoln County56.62+22.4%
24Gaston County56.34+21.1%
25Alexander County56.23+24.4%
26Alamance County56.12+17.7%
27Catawba County56+23.9%
28Surry County55.87+6.3%
29Anson County55.35+16.2%
30Cleveland County55.23+18.8%
31Orange County55.21+14.3%
32Carteret County54.47-12%
33Mecklenburg County54.31+18.4%
34Vance County54.23+13.7%
35Montgomery County54+14.1%
36Granville County53.9+14.8%
37Richmond County53.78+14.8%
38Onslow County53.65+0.8%
39Jones County53.62+5.7%
40Randolph County53.52+14.3%
41Chatham County53.48+6.9%
41Franklin County53.48+14.8%
43Durham County53.47+11.2%
44Craven County53.36+1.6%
45Lenoir County53.3+13.1%
46Guilford County53.21+15.4%
47Pamlico County53.17-5.1%
48Graham County52.91-5.1%
49Person County52.65+20.6%
50Cabarrus County52.44+11.9%
51Stokes County52.42+13.1%
52Madison County52.27+10.5%
53Duplin County52.26-1.7%
54Union County52.13+14.8%
55Greene County51.47+12.3%
56Wayne County51.29+5.9%
57Beaufort County51.19+2.6%
57Iredell County51.19+19.2%
59Harnett County51.12+9.8%
60Wake County51.02+5.6%
61Brunswick County50.83-9.5%
62Caswell County50.75+18.1%
63Lee County50.69+3.4%
64Pender County50.66-12.6%
65New Hanover County50.65-14.2%
66Scotland County50.38+6.6%
67Columbus County50.34-3.5%
68Rowan County50.29+16.7%
69Dare County50.13-1.4%
70Bladen County50.12+1.3%
70Pitt County50.12+9.8%
72Johnston County50.07+5.5%
73Rockingham County50+20.3%
74Sampson County49.93-2%
75Hyde County49.91-10.4%
76Warren County49.88+7.1%
77Wilson County49.71+8.2%
78Robeson County48.86+2.1%
79Nash County48.37+8%
80Tyrrell County48.33-2.9%
81Yadkin County48.28+4.9%
82Davidson County48.22+12%
83Gates County48.12+8.7%
84Hoke County47.84+1.3%
85Martin County47.49+5.5%
86Cumberland County47.46+6.2%
87Pasquotank County47.44+6.7%
88Forsyth County47.39+7.8%
89Washington County47.32-6%
90Camden County47.22+7.1%
91Perquimans County47.07+1.8%
92Moore County46.76+2.4%
93Bertie County46.73+4.9%
94Chowan County46.51-2.4%
95Currituck County46.45+5.3%
96Hertford County46.42+5.1%
97Edgecombe County46.2+7.8%
98Halifax County44.72-0.4%
99Northampton County44.53-2.9%
100Davie County44.21+8.1%

Other periods

About this ranking

Total precipitation from January to December, in inches: rain plus the water content of snow and other frozen precipitation. NOAA computes it from its climate divisional dataset (nClimDiv): station readings interpolated onto a 5 km grid and averaged over the area.

Values are area averages, not the reading at one weather station. NOAA revises the last two years every month.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance. NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December precipitation, counties. From the NOAA Monthly U.S. Climate Divisional Database (nClimDiv), doi:10.7289/V5M32STR. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/county/mapping. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. (2026). NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December precipitation, counties (Counties in North Carolina by annual precipitation, 2024) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/county/mapping

MLA 9

NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December precipitation, counties, Counties in North Carolina by annual precipitation, 2024. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 6 Oct. 2026, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/county/mapping. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/annual-precipitation/north-carolina-counties?period=2024. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. 2026. NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December precipitation, counties. Counties in North Carolina by annual precipitation, 2024. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/county/mapping. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/annual-precipitation/north-carolina-counties?period=2024.

Harvard

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (2026) NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December precipitation, counties, Counties in North Carolina by annual precipitation, 2024 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/county/mapping, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/annual-precipitation/north-carolina-counties?period=2024 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{noaa_counties_in_north_carolina_2024,
  author = {{NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information}},
  title = {{NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December precipitation, counties: Counties in North Carolina by annual precipitation, 2024}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/county/mapping},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/annual-precipitation/north-carolina-counties?period=2024. Publisher attribution: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance. NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December precipitation, counties. From the NOAA Monthly U.S. Climate Divisional Database (nClimDiv), doi:10.7289/V5M32STR. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/county/mapping. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
TI  - NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December precipitation, counties: Counties in North Carolina by annual precipitation, 2024
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/06
PB  - NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/county/mapping
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/annual-precipitation/north-carolina-counties?period=2024
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/annual-precipitation/north-carolina-counties?period=2024.
N1  - Publisher attribution: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance. NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December precipitation, counties. From the NOAA Monthly U.S. Climate Divisional Database (nClimDiv), doi:10.7289/V5M32STR. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/county/mapping. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Rank Counties in North Carolina by annual precipitation using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which county has the highest annual precipitation?

Transylvania County, with 79.62 inches in 2024, according to NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.

Which county has the lowest annual precipitation?

Davie County, with 44.21 inches in 2024.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December precipitation, counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Annual precipitation: other rankings

Counties in North Carolina: more rankings