Fort Smith (AR) Monthly Rainfall & Precipitation

This page shows both the average monthly rainfall and the number of rainy days in Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States of America. The numbers reflect climate data gathered over a 30-year period, from 1990 to 2020. Let's now guide you through the details for a complete overview.

Fort Smith has a relatively rain/snowy climate with high precipitation levels, averaging 1205 mm (47 in) of rain/snowfall annually.

Monthly Precipitation Levels

The average number of days each month with precipitation (> 0.2 mm (0.01 in))

The seasons in Fort Smith, bring significant changes in precipitation. The wettest month, May, receives heavy rainfall, with an average of 168 mm (6.6 in) of precipitation. This rainfall is distributed across 12 rainy days.

May, the wettest month, has a maximum daytime temperature of 27°C (81°F). During the driest month February you can expect a temperature of 12°C (54°F). For more detailed insights into the city's temperatures, visit our Fort Smith Temperature page.

Fort Smith's average annual precipitation is 1205 mm (47 in). Let's compare this to some popular worldwide tourist destinations:

In Barcelona, Spain, the average annual precipitation is 620 mm (24 in), evenly distributed across the year with no extreme wet or dry seasons.

Meanwhile, Buenos Aires, Argentina, enjoys a humid subtropical climate with 1000 mm (39 in) of annual rainfall, mostly in the summer.

In Brisbane, Australia, the annual precipitation is 979 mm (39 in), making it wetter than Sydney.

Bangkok, Thailand, experiences a tropical monsoon climate with 1668 mm (66 in) of annual rainfall, with the heaviest precipitation occurring during September and October.

Precipitation amounts are measured using specific gauges installed at weather stations, collecting both rain and snow and any other type of precipitation. Rainfall is measured directly in millimeters, while that from snow and ice is obtained by melting it. Automated systems often incorporate heaters to make this easier.

Information from these stations is transmitted via Wi-Fi, satellite, GPS, or telephone connections to central monitoring networks. This information is immediately updated and integrated into weather models and forecasts.

Climate change is affecting precipitation patterns worldwide, including Fort Smith (AR):

• Changing Rainfall Patterns: Global warming causes drastic changes in the patterns of rainfall. Some areas have been experiencing increased frequency and intensity of rainfall, while other areas experience longer dry spells or even droughts.
• Local Impacts: Many regions are experiencing heavier rainfall in the winter months and drier, hotter summers. This affects agriculture, water resources, and ecosystems.

• "Ginger" was the longest-lasting Atlantic tropical storm, which spun around the open ocean for 28 days in 1971.
• The world's largest snowflake was recorded in the Guinness Book of Records, at 38 cm (15 inches) wide and 20 cm (7.9 inches) thick. The snowflake fell at Fort Keogh, Montana, USA, on 28 January 1887.
• The greatest snowfall recorded was on Mt. Rainier, Washington State, USA, over 31.5 meters (103 feet) fell during the winter of 1972.

For more detailed information about Fort Smith (AR)'s weather, including sunshine hours, humidity levels, and temperature data, visit our Fort Smith (AR) Climate page.