Which State Gets More Rain, Iowa or Minnesota?

It's something that both the Iowa and Minnesota economy's depend on in a big way. Rain. And perhaps surprisingly, both states are nowhere near the top of the list, when it comes to the rainiest states in the United States.

According to USA.COM, the top 5 rainiest states are:
1) Louisiana at 59.15 inches

2) Mississippi at 56.48 inches

3) Alabama at 56 inches

4) Florida at 54.7 inches

5) Tennessee at 51.8 inches

As you can see, all of these states have one thing in common, they are in the south. In fact, of the top 10 states with the highest yearly precipitation, 7 are located in the southern U.S. The only outliers are Hawaii at #6, Connecticut at #8, and Rhode Island at #9.

But where do Iowa and Minnesota land on the list and which one comes out on top?

Average Precipitation for Iowa and Minnesota

On average, the state of Minnesota receives 28.6 inches of precipitation per year, placing it at #39 on the list, just below Alaska and just above Nebraska.

Iowa, on the other hand, fares a little better. It's #34 on the list, coming in just behind Texas and just above Michigan, as it receives 34.5 inches of precipitation per year.

While this list may surprise some, it's important to remember that some parts of each of these states receive much higher amounts of rainfall than others. For example, the southeastern region of Minnesota has a much higher amount of rainfall on average, making it much more comparable to Iowa.

To see the full list of the rainiest states in the United States, check out the article from USA.COM here.

Story Sources: USA.COM Website, Minnesota DNR Website