Philadelphia (PA) Rainfall & Precipitation: Monthly Averages and Year-Round Insights

This page shows the average amount of rainfall per month in Philadelphia (PA). The numbers are calculated over a 30-year period to provide a reliable average. Let's now guide you through the details for a complete overview.

Philadelphia experiences significant rain/snowfall throughout the year, averaging 1272 mm of precipitation annually.

Monthly Precipitation Levels

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

The amount of precipitation varies moderately throughout the year. The wettest month, August, sees around 132 mm of rainfall, perfect for those who enjoy a bit of rain now and then. The driest month, November, still receives a respectable 78 mm of rainfall.

August, the city’s wettest month, has a maximum daytime temperature of 30°C. During the driest month November you can expect a temperature of 13°C. For more detailed insights into the city’s temperatures, visit our Philadelphia Temperature page.

Annual Precipitation in the United States of America

The map below shows the annual precipitation across the United States of America. You can also select the different months in case you are interested in a specific month.

Amsterdam Precipitation Compared World Wide

Philadelphia’s average annual precipitation is 1272 mm. Let’s compare this to some popular worldwide tourist destinations:

The city of Rome, Italy, has an average annual precipitation of 832 mm, spread fairly evenly throughout the year.

Beijing, China, receives 560 mm of annual precipitation, concentrated in the summer months.

Melbourne, Australia, has 690 mm of rainfall annually, spread fairly evenly throughout the year.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, receives 2529 mm of annual rainfall, characteristic of its equatorial tropical rainforest climate, with consistent rainfall throughout the year and peak months during March and November.

How is Precipitation Measured?

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.

Interesting weather facts

• The U.S. has a significant number of thunderstorms every year, with over 14.6 million taking place across the world annually.
• Approximately 70% of lightning bolts strike land rather than oceans.
• A storm named John was the longest-lasting Pacific tropical storm, continuing for 31 days. As it crossed the dateline twice, it changed status from a hurricane to a typhoon and back to a hurricane.

For more detailed information about Philadelphia (PA)’s weather, including sunshine hours, humidity levels, and temperature data, visit our Philadelphia (PA) Climate page.