Climate
California vs New York: Annual Precipitation
California is drier overall than New York.
National Rankings
Where They Rank Nationally
See where both states fall among all 50 states for annual precipitation.
California
#11 · 22.2 in
New York
#26 · 41.8 in
Best
Worst
10 Best States — Annual Precipitation
Lower is better
#1
Nevada
9.5 in
Nevada
#2
Utah
12.2 in
Utah
#3
Wyoming
12.9 in
Wyoming
#4
Arizona
13.6 in
Arizona
#5
New Mexico
14.6 in
New Mexico
#6
Montana
15.3 in
Montana
#7
Colorado
15.9 in
Colorado
#8
North Dakota
17.8 in
North Dakota
#9
Idaho
18.9 in
Idaho
#10
South Dakota
20.1 in
South Dakota
Selected states
#11
California
22.2 in
California
#26
New York
41.8 in
New York
California ranks 11th and New York ranks 26th nationally for annual precipitation.
Related context
Precipitation & Climate
Rain and snow affect agriculture, flood risk, water supply, and outdoor lifestyle.
MetricCaliforniaNew York
Sunny Days / Year
146 days
63 days
Average Temperature
59.4°F
45.4°F
Summer Temperature
73.4°F
66.5°F
Winter Temperature
46.2°F
23.3°F
What this means
California vs New York: Annual Precipitation in context
California's annual precipitation is 22.2 in, compared with 41.8 in in New York. Average annual rain and snowfall combined, measured in inches.
California
22.2 in
New York
41.8 in
Difference
19.6 inches
People also ask
California vs New York Annual Precipitation — common questions
QWhat is California's annual precipitation?
California's annual precipitation is 22.2 in.
QWhat is New York's annual precipitation?
New York's annual precipitation is 41.8 in.
QWhich state has a lower annual precipitation — California or New York?
California is drier overall than New York.
More comparisons: California vs New York
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Data source and freshness
Data period
1991–2020 climate normals
Dataset reviewed
July 23, 2026
Method note
Statewide climate summaries; normals describe long-term conditions, not a forecast.