Severe Weather History


Washington Heavy Rain History: 237 Recorded Events

239

Recorded events

36

Counties affected

2

Direct deaths

$228.9M

Property damage

Washington heavy rain history: 239 recorded events across 36 counties between 1996 and 2026.

Decade by decade

Washington heavy rain history by decade

Washington heavy rain history: recorded events per decade
Washington heavy rain history: recorded events per decade

The 2000s are the busiest decade on record with 115 reported heavy rain events across Washington. Earlier decades are thinner because systematic reporting for this hazard expanded over time, not because the weather was calmer.

County ranking

Counties with the most heavy rain events in Washington

RankCountyEventsDeathsDamageSpan
#1King County221$85.8M1996–2023
#2Cowlitz County160$2.1M2001–2017
#3Clallam County140$5.9M1999–2025
#4Grays Harbor County130$5.0M1997–2025
#5Okanogan County120$01998–2022
#6Spokane County110$38K1996–2022
#7Clark County110$1.8M2001–2023
#8Thurston County90$21.3M1999–2023
#9Pierce County90$38.0M2001–2015
#10Kitsap County80$31.7M1997–2007
#11Stevens County80$5K1996–2022
#12Pend Oreille County80$6K1996–2022
#13Mason County80$16.2M1996–2025
#14Jefferson County81$10.2M1999–2025
#15Chelan County80$1K1998–2015
#16Skamania County70$128K2001–2020
#17Pacific County60$02001–2020
#18Whatcom County60$175K2001–2024
#19Grant County60$5K1997–2015
#20Wahkiakum County50$02001–2015
#21Lewis County50$50K2001–2006
#22Kittitas County50$01998–2012
#23Snohomish County40$10.0M2001–2007
#24Whitman County40$3K1997–2026
#25Douglas County30$5K2001–2015
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events · ranked by recorded event count

Significant events

Deadliest heavy rain events in Washington

DateCountyScaleDeathsInjuries
Aug 21, 2001Jefferson County—10
Jan 6, 2022King County—10
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events · dates UTC

All hazards in Washington · Heavy Rain across the U.S.