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
#6Clark County110$1.8M2001–2023
#7Spokane County110$38K1996–2022
#8Thurston County90$21.3M1999–2023
#9Pierce County90$38.0M2001–2015
#10Stevens County80$5K1996–2022
#11Pend Oreille County80$6K1996–2022
#12Mason County80$16.2M1996–2025
#13Jefferson County81$10.2M1999–2025
#14Chelan County80$1K1998–2015
#15Kitsap County80$31.7M1997–2007
#16Skamania County70$128K2001–2020
#17Whatcom County60$175K2001–2024
#18Grant County60$5K1997–2015
#19Pacific County60$02001–2020
#20Kittitas County50$01998–2012
#21Wahkiakum County50$02001–2015
#22Lewis County50$50K2001–2006
#23Whitman County40$3K1997–2026
#24Snohomish County40$10.0M2001–2007
#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.