Some of the heaviest rains have been getting heavier since 1950

Climate Central analysis shows that 72% of 246 evaluated U.S. locations have seen an increase in the amount of rain falling on their annual wettest day since 1950, with the most significant increases occurring in the Gulf Coast and Mid-Atlantic. The document links these trends to rising temperatures, noting that for every 1°F increase, the atmosphere holds approximately 4% more moisture. It highlights the severe impacts of these events, including $43 billion in flood damages from 2016-2020 and disproportionate risks for Black, Brown, Indigenous, and poor communities, particularly in redlined areas where flood risk is 25% higher.

• Analysis of 246 locations reveals that 72% (178 sites) have experienced an increase in the volume of rain on their annual wettest day since 1950. The most significant increases occurred in the Mid-Atlantic and Gulf Coast, with Houston recording the highest increase of 2.8 additional inches, representing an 83% increase.
• The year 2021 was characterized by record-breaking rainfall across the contiguous U.S. For 15% of 2,568 evaluated stations, the wettest day of 2021 ranked among their top ten annual wettest days on record; 37 of these locations, including Newark, N.J., Sacramento, Calif., and La Crosse, Wis., saw their wettest day since 1950.
• There is a direct link between rising temperatures and extreme precipitation: every 1°F increase in temperature allows the atmosphere to hold about 4% more moisture, which increases the frequency and intensity of heavy rain events.
• Extreme rainfall causes substantial economic and public health crises. Flooding caused $43 billion in U.S. damages between 2016 and 2020, with precipitation extremes accounting for over one-third of those damages. Public health risks include exposure to water-borne diseases and toxic contaminants, as well as post-traumatic mental disorders.
• Flood risks and recovery burdens are disproportionately higher for marginalized groups. Homes in redlined areas face a 25% higher flood risk than non-redlined areas. Furthermore, FEMA is less likely to approve aid for homeowners in nonwhite neighborhoods or those with lower incomes, and nonwhite homeowners typically receive less aid on average than white homeowners in similar situations.

APA

Climate Central (2021). Some of the heaviest rains have been getting heavier since 1950. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/record-rain

Chicago

Climate Central. Some of the heaviest rains have been getting heavier since 1950. 2021. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/record-rain.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Central |title=Some of the heaviest rains have been getting heavier since 1950 |date=10 November 2021 |url=https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/record-rain |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatecentral2021some, author = {{Climate Central}}, title = {{Some of the heaviest rains have been getting heavier since 1950}}, institution = {Climate Central}, year = {2021}, month = nov, url = {https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/record-rain}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }