Precipitation anomalies in United States
United States: Precipitation anomalies was -18.65 millimeters in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-18.65 millimeters
Change on year
down 163.0%
World rank
95th
of 192 countries
All-time high
108.96 millimeters
in 2019
All-time low
-129.92 millimeters
in 1966
Years of data
86
1940–2025
Precipitation anomalies in United States, 1940–2025
Source: Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in millimeters.
Analysis
The most recent figure for precipitation anomalies in United States is -18.65 millimeters, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 163.0% on the previous year and down 146.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, precipitation anomalies in United States peaked at 108.96 millimeters in 2019 and was at its lowest, -129.92 millimeters, in 1966.
That places United States 95th out of 192 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Precipitation anomalies in United States, year by year
| Year | millimeters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | -54.11 millimeters | — |
| 1941 | -65.78 millimeters | +21.6% |
| 1942 | -71.84 millimeters | +9.2% |
| 1943 | -122.25 millimeters | +70.2% |
| 1944 | -23.91 millimeters | -80.4% |
| 1945 | 55.66 millimeters | -332.8% |
| 1946 | -0.36 millimeters | -100.6% |
| 1947 | -39.62 millimeters | +10907.3% |
| 1948 | -14.25 millimeters | -64.0% |
| 1949 | -2.64 millimeters | -81.4% |
| 1950 | -11.19 millimeters | +323.2% |
| 1951 | 22.04 millimeters | -297.0% |
| 1952 | -91.23 millimeters | -513.9% |
| 1953 | -62.33 millimeters | -31.7% |
| 1954 | -120.17 millimeters | +92.8% |
| 1955 | -72.9 millimeters | -39.3% |
| 1956 | -125.98 millimeters | +72.8% |
| 1957 | 44.42 millimeters | -135.3% |
| 1958 | -57.76 millimeters | -230.0% |
| 1959 | -4.92 millimeters | -91.5% |
| 1960 | -43.83 millimeters | +791.3% |
| 1961 | 3.16 millimeters | -107.2% |
| 1962 | -91.58 millimeters | -2998.3% |
| 1963 | -113.48 millimeters | +23.9% |
| 1964 | -46.84 millimeters | -58.7% |
| 1965 | -48.58 millimeters | +3.7% |
| 1966 | -129.92 millimeters | +167.4% |
| 1967 | -52.25 millimeters | -59.8% |
| 1968 | -76.24 millimeters | +45.9% |
| 1969 | -68.9 millimeters | -9.6% |
| 1970 | -65.54 millimeters | -4.9% |
| 1971 | -64.14 millimeters | -2.1% |
| 1972 | -29.97 millimeters | -53.3% |
| 1973 | 73.77 millimeters | -346.1% |
| 1974 | -43.09 millimeters | -158.4% |
| 1975 | 3.87 millimeters | -109.0% |
| 1976 | -104.66 millimeters | -2806.7% |
| 1977 | -3.79 millimeters | -96.4% |
| 1978 | -9.72 millimeters | +156.1% |
| 1979 | 29.95 millimeters | -408.2% |
| 1980 | -16.53 millimeters | -155.2% |
| 1981 | 13.5 millimeters | -181.6% |
| 1982 | 104.25 millimeters | +672.3% |
| 1983 | 102.5 millimeters | -1.7% |
| 1984 | 35.89 millimeters | -65.0% |
| 1985 | 39.04 millimeters | +8.8% |
| 1986 | 53.55 millimeters | +37.2% |
| 1987 | 6.99 millimeters | -86.9% |
| 1988 | -64.25 millimeters | -1019.0% |
| 1989 | -13.2 millimeters | -79.5% |
| 1990 | 43.45 millimeters | -429.2% |
| 1991 | 47.87 millimeters | +10.2% |
| 1992 | 23.33 millimeters | -51.3% |
| 1993 | 79.05 millimeters | +238.9% |
| 1994 | 14.43 millimeters | -81.7% |
| 1995 | 35.42 millimeters | +145.4% |
| 1996 | 45.5 millimeters | +28.4% |
| 1997 | 13.7 millimeters | -69.9% |
| 1998 | 57.63 millimeters | +320.7% |
| 1999 | -64.57 millimeters | -212.0% |
| 2000 | -58.31 millimeters | -9.7% |
| 2001 | -57.39 millimeters | -1.6% |
| 2002 | -44.83 millimeters | -21.9% |
| 2003 | -23.08 millimeters | -48.5% |
| 2004 | 29.37 millimeters | -227.2% |
| 2005 | -36.71 millimeters | -225.0% |
| 2006 | -39.82 millimeters | +8.5% |
| 2007 | -78.88 millimeters | +98.1% |
| 2008 | -11.61 millimeters | -85.3% |
| 2009 | 10.09 millimeters | -186.9% |
| 2010 | -26.13 millimeters | -359.0% |
| 2011 | -29.7 millimeters | +13.7% |
| 2012 | -103.1 millimeters | +247.1% |
| 2013 | -17.84 millimeters | -82.7% |
| 2014 | -32.24 millimeters | +80.7% |
| 2015 | 39.88 millimeters | -223.7% |
| 2016 | -2.95 millimeters | -107.4% |
| 2017 | 42.86 millimeters | -1553.3% |
| 2018 | 94.73 millimeters | +121.0% |
| 2019 | 108.96 millimeters | +15.0% |
| 2020 | -15.66 millimeters | -114.4% |
| 2021 | 5.47 millimeters | -134.9% |
| 2022 | -31.84 millimeters | -682.5% |
| 2023 | -13.85 millimeters | -56.5% |
| 2024 | 29.61 millimeters | -313.8% |
| 2025 | -18.65 millimeters | -163.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's -18.65 millimeters is above the median for high income countries, which is -18.65 millimeters, 1.0× the median. (65 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Precipitation anomalies in United States changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | -10907.3% | -0.36 millimeters | -39.62 millimeters |
| 1962 | -2998.3% | 3.16 millimeters | -91.58 millimeters |
| 1976 | -2806.7% | 3.87 millimeters | -104.66 millimeters |
| 2017 | +1553.3% | -2.95 millimeters | 42.86 millimeters |
| 1988 | -1019.0% | 6.99 millimeters | -64.25 millimeters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | -33.91 millimeters | -122.25 millimeters | 55.66 millimeters | 10 |
| 1950s | -48 millimeters | -125.98 millimeters | 44.42 millimeters | 10 |
| 1960s | -66.85 millimeters | -129.92 millimeters | 3.16 millimeters | 10 |
| 1970s | -21.33 millimeters | -104.66 millimeters | 73.77 millimeters | 10 |
| 1980s | 26.17 millimeters | -64.25 millimeters | 104.25 millimeters | 10 |
| 1990s | 29.58 millimeters | -64.57 millimeters | 79.05 millimeters | 10 |
| 2000s | -31.12 millimeters | -78.88 millimeters | 29.37 millimeters | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.45 millimeters | -103.1 millimeters | 108.96 millimeters | 10 |
| 2020s | -7.49 millimeters | -31.84 millimeters | 29.61 millimeters | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More climate change data for United States
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 274,482 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 60,922 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 213,560 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 229.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 7,627 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 107,381 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 89,068 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 18,313 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 336.11 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 654.05 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is precipitation anomalies in United States?
- Precipitation anomalies in United States was -18.65 millimeters in 2025, according to Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest precipitation anomalies recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 108.96 millimeters in 2019.
- What is the lowest precipitation anomalies recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was -129.92 millimeters in 1966.
- How does United States rank for precipitation anomalies?
- United States ranks 95th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is precipitation anomalies rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 146.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Precipitation anomalies. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 86 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Difference in a specific year's total precipitation—rain and snow—from the 1991–2020 average, measured in millimeters, excluding fog and dew.