Heavier Rainfall Rates in U.S. Cities

Hourly rainfall intensity in 126 U.S. cities has increased by an average of 15% since 1970, with the heaviest 1% of downpours intensifying most in the Northeast (+60%) and Midwest (+45%) between 1958 and 2021. Future warming of 2°C is projected to increase precipitation during the heaviest events by an average of 17% across U.S. counties. The document highlights that flood risks disproportionately affect people of color, those in mobile homes, and Black communities along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, noting that rainfall changes between 1988 and 2017 caused approximately $73 billion in flood damages.

• Between 1958 and 2021, the heaviest 1% of downpours intensified across every major region in the continental U.S., with the highest increases occurring in the Northeast (60%) and the Midwest (45%). Additionally, hourly rainfall rates rose by an average of 15% across 126 analyzed U.S. cities since 1970.
• Future warming of 2°C (3.6°F) is expected to result in an average increase of 17% in precipitation during the heaviest rainfall events across U.S. counties.
• Flood risks are disproportionately distributed, affecting people of color, residents of mobile homes, and specifically Black communities along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts by 2050. From 1988 to 2017, rainfall changes were responsible for one-third of U.S. flood damages, totaling approximately $73 billion.

APA

Climate Central (n.d.). Heavier Rainfall Rates in U.S. Cities. https://www.climatecentral.org/toolkit-rain-and-flooding

Chicago

Climate Central. Heavier Rainfall Rates in U.S. Cities. n.d. https://www.climatecentral.org/toolkit-rain-and-flooding.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Central |title=Heavier Rainfall Rates in U.S. Cities |url=https://www.climatecentral.org/toolkit-rain-and-flooding |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatecentralndheavier, author = {{Climate Central}}, title = {{Heavier Rainfall Rates in U.S. Cities}}, institution = {Climate Central}, url = {https://www.climatecentral.org/toolkit-rain-and-flooding}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }