Some U.S. cities are outlined by their dry, sunny climate, buying and selling lush greenery for sweeping desert landscapes, open skies, and low humidity. From desert basins to excessive plateaus, these locations see only a few inches of precipitation a yr, making a local weather that’s each hanging and, for a lot of, interesting.
It’s no shock that most of the driest cities within the nation are within the Southwestern U.S., a area recognized for its agriculture, desert local weather, and heat climate. In truth, this sunny, dry attraction helped drive migration to the world throughout the pandemic, as individuals seemed for more room and a change of tempo. However with year-round heat and solar comes challenges, particularly drought and long-term water safety.
So, in the event you’re on the lookout for a heat retreat or wish to say goodbye to the rain, we’re right here to assist. We’ve compiled an inventory of the driest cities within the U.S. that will help you transfer with confidence. Learn on to be taught extra and uncover if one in all these locations is best for you.
How we decide the driest cities
Earlier than diving into the driest cities, let’s outline our phrases. There are two frequent methods to calculate whether or not a metropolis is dry:
Annual precipitation complete, and/or;
Annual common humidity
For our functions of figuring out the “driest” cities, this checklist will deal with cities that obtain the bottom annual common precipitation. Since a lot of the driest cities even have very low humidity, they’d doubtless rank extremely for each metrics.
Hold studying to see Redfin’s rankings of the driest cities within the U.S. with a metropolitan space inhabitants of 100,000 or extra.
What are the driest cities within the U.S.?
Yuma, AZ
Lake Havasu Metropolis, AZ
Las Vegas, NV
Bakersfield, CA
Phoenix, AZ
Reno, NV
Farmington, NM
Kennewick, WA
Yakima, WA
El Paso, TX
1. Yuma, Arizona
Common annual precipitation: 3.2 inches
Yuma, an agricultural powerhouse within the coronary heart of the Sonoran Desert, is the driest metropolis within the U.S. by a large margin. With countless sunshine and near-perfect winters, it’s straightforward to see the attraction.
Nicknamed the “Winter Salad Bowl Capital,” Yuma grows about 90% of the nation’s leafy greens. The circumstances are ultimate: fertile, river-fed soil, dependable irrigation, and nonstop heat and sunshine. Many individuals are drawn to Yuma for its crystal blue skies, sweeping desert views, and old-western attraction. However there’s a tradeoff. Summers are brutally scorching, and water from the shrinking Colorado River is turning into tougher to depend on.
As a result of local weather change, some elements of the Sonoran Desert have grown so scorching and dry that even native crops – as soon as thought almost indestructible – are beginning to disappear. A decades-long megadrought, erratic monsoons, and rising temperatures are placing intense stress on the world’s most biodiverse desert ecosystem.
So, whereas Sonoran cities like Yuma are almost rain-free, the draw back is that they’re turning into more and more water-insecure.
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2. Lake Havasu Metropolis, Arizona
Common annual precipitation: 4.2 inches
On the northeastern fringe of the Sonoran Desert, Lake Havasu Metropolis is the second-driest metropolis within the nation. Summer season monsoons ship a majority of the area’s annual rainfall, though some winter rain can happen. Other than a number of days of rain, summers are scorching. Lake Havasu Metropolis truly holds the Arizona high-temperature document of 128°F.
Rivers are the lifeblood of almost each metropolis on this checklist, and Lake Havasu Metropolis isn’t any exception. The Colorado River sustains the inhabitants and fills close by Lake Havasu – the large, artifical reservoir created by the Parker Dam.
Unsurprisingly, as a consequence of extraordinarily scorching climate and near-zero rainfall, water insecurity is a matter. Lake Havasu Metropolis can depend on a big provide of groundwater, in addition to water from the reservoir, although. Residents usually love the desert local weather, and luxuriate in touring the unique London Bridge, boating within the lake, or mountain climbing
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3. Las Vegas, Nevada
Common annual precipitation: 4.2 inches
Recognized for its glitz, glamor, and arid landscapes, Las Vegas is a real desert gem. The area is extraordinarily dry, usually solely seeing rain from summer time monsoons. Monsoons have change into a lot much less predictable in recent times, too, with the 2024 season dropping simply 0.08 inches of rain. Nonetheless, freak storms, like Hurricane Hillary in 2023, can produce very heavy rain. These are additionally anticipated to change into extra frequent.
Las Vegas is positioned within the Mojave Desert – the driest desert within the nation – so it is smart that the town is mainly rain-free. In truth, almost all of Nevada is roofed in desert (both the Mojave or Nice Basin), serving to it to be the driest state within the nation.
Curiously, though Las Vegas will get about 90% of its water from the shrinking Colorado River, the town just isn’t water insecure. Las Vegas has a reasonably strong water provide, because of top-of-the-line water reclamation and storage techniques within the nation. In truth, the town treats and provides again 99% of the water it makes use of to Lake Mead, making a cyclical water cycle. That, paired with aggressive garden, watering, and pointless water use fines and incentives, has helped Sin Metropolis maintain its progress.
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4. Bakersfield, California
Common annual precipitation: 6.4 inches
Tucked into the southern finish of California’s Central Valley, Bakersfield is the fourth-driest metropolis within the nation. It averages simply 6.4 inches of rain per yr, most of which falls throughout the winter. Some storms can drop inches of rain at a time. The remainder of the yr is dry, dusty, and scorching.
Bakersfield sits simply west of the Sierra Mojave Desert and has a desert-like local weather, which means a lot of sunshine and little or no moisture. Its location, surrounded by the Sierra Nevada mountains, additionally usually traps warmth and air pollution, contributing to among the worst air high quality within the nation. Summers frequently hit triple digits, and rainfall is simply too rare to meaningfully cool issues down.
Bakersfield is surrounded by among the most efficient farmland on this planet. Kern County, the place the town is positioned, is persistently among the many high agricultural producers within the nation. That is because of exceptionally fertile soil, countless sunshine, and many irrigation.
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5. Phoenix, Arizona
Common annual precipitation: 7.2 inches
Phoenix is thought for a lot of issues: nice meals, countless golf, and spring baseball, amongst others. However its true calling card is warmth. Months and months of dry warmth. 2024 was traditionally scorching, and 2025 has begun with among the earliest 100°F days within the metropolis’s historical past. This warmth, paired with more and more little rain, has pressured the town to adapt.
Dryness is a rising concern within the Sonoran Desert, together with round Phoenix. Whereas sometimes stormy in the summertime and mildly moist within the winter, traits have been shifting to the purpose the place little or no rain is frequent. Phoenix acquired simply 1.62 inches of rain for a 365-day stretch in 2025, which comes after many years of megadrought. And, to start the yr, the Valley area endured 159 straight days with none measurable rain.
Curiously, Tucson, simply two hours south, sees greater than 3 further inches of rain per yr (10.6 inches). That is thanks primarily to its larger elevation.
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6. Reno, Nevada
Common annual precipitation: 7.4 inches
Reno is perhaps often known as the “Biggest Little City in the World,” however it’s additionally one of many driest. Tucked into the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada, Reno sees simply 7.4 inches of precipitation per yr, with most of it falling within the winter and spring. Summers are normally lengthy, scorching, and dry, whereas winters are usually chilly and snowy.
Reno’s dryness comes from its location east of the Sierras and adjoining to the Nice Basin Desert. Most climate techniques that go by means of from the west dump their precipitation on the mountain slopes, leaving Reno with no matter is left. Drought is frequent, however the metropolis has ample long-term infrastructure.
Most residents adore the dry and seasonal local weather, although. Outside recreation is ample within the foothills and round close by Lake Tahoe, particularly for winter snowboarding or spring frolicking. Nonetheless, steadily scorching and dry circumstances create harmful wildfire dangers, and sometimes result in poor air high quality.
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7. Farmington, New Mexico
Common annual precipitation: 7.8 inches
Farmington is the seventh-driest metropolis within the nation and the one one in New Mexico on this checklist. Sitting at over 5,300 toes in elevation, Farmington is an agricultural metropolis wealthy with Native tradition, annual occasions, and out of doors facilities.
Farmington sits within the dry San Juan Basin close to the 4 Corners area, surrounded by mesas, canyons, and wide-open skies. Rainfall is sporadic all year long, though most frequently falls throughout more and more unreliable summer time monsoons. Like a lot of the Southwest, Farmington is feeling the stress of hotter temperatures, a declining snowpack, and long-term drought.
In case you make the transfer to Farmington, put together for chilly winters and scorching summers, however with a lot of sunshine and broad open landscapes.
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8. Kennewick, Washington
Common annual precipitation: 7.9 inches
Situated within the coronary heart of the Columbia Basin, Kennewick enjoys over 300 days of sunshine a yr, with scorching, dry summers and delicate winters. Irrigation from the Columbia, Snake, and Yakima rivers has remodeled your entire Tri-Metropolis space into a serious agricultural hub. Residents love exploring the plethora of farmers markets and ample riverside magnificence.
Many individuals consider Washington as wet, however over half the state is definitely fairly dry. That is due to the Cascade Mountains, which cut up the state in two: The west is wetter, and the east is dryer. This rain shadow is powerful. For instance, Forks, WA, on the Pacific Coast, will get round 120 inches per yr – almost 20 occasions Kennewick’s complete. Most Pacific storms are almost depleted by the point they attain far-Japanese Washington.
The distinction in rainfall additionally helps Japanese Washington additionally appear like a distinct world from Western Washington. Dry, desert-like plains, rolling volcanic hills, and river-carved gorges make up the panorama, in comparison with evergreen forests and luxurious floodplains within the west. Some precipitation
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9. Yakima, Washington
Common annual precipitation: 8 inches
Yakima sits within the Yakima Valley simply east of the Cascades, seeing little or no rain and loads of sunshine. Winters are chilly and considerably snowy, however spring, summer time, and fall are usually nice. Some scorching days are frequent, though they’re nothing like desert cities.
The Yakima Valley is within the Columbia River Basin, which is a fertile, various panorama carved from the Columbia River. Due to the basin’s wealthy volcanic soil, lengthy rising seasons, and irrigation from the Yakima and Naches Rivers, Yakima is a serious agricultural powerhouse greatest recognized for apples, hops, and wine grapes. Yakima wine is definitely considerably of a delicacy.
Other than agriculture, there’s rather a lot to do in Yakima, from touring native wineries, to mountain climbing within the close by Cascades and having fun with sunny days at native parks and trails.
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10. El Paso, Texas
Common annual precipitation: 8.8 inches
El Paso, located within the Chihuahuan Desert, is the tenth-driest metropolis in the USA. A real-Western metropolis, El Paso is thought for its scenic views of the Franklin Mountains, unbelievable meals, and centuries of Native and colonial historical past.
El Paso is normally extremely popular and dry – summers are sometimes within the 100°F vary, however it’s truly within the midst of an excessive, ongoing drought. Situations have been exacerbated by a notably dry winter and below-average snowpack within the Rio Grande headwaters. These circumstances have led to decreased river flows and declining air high quality from mud storms.
Due to its arid local weather, the town is investing in dramatic water administration methods, like elevated wastewater recycling and aquifer storage. The Pure Water Middle is on the coronary heart of all of it, delivering as much as 10 million gallons per day of fresh, toilet-to-tap water. Even so, local weather change is pushing the town to its limits.
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How is dryness altering?
As a result of local weather change, precipitation patterns are more and more flip-flopping between deluge and drought. That, paired with hotter, drier climate within the Southwest, means the driest locations within the U.S. will doubtless get drier.
Rainfall within the Southwest is predicted to change into heavier when it does happen, but additionally much less frequent, making water conservation extra necessary in fast-growing desert cities. Drought within the area was not too long ago at its worst stage in additional than 1,200 years.
Generally, specialists predict that a lot of the U.S. will see longer dry seasons and shorter however extra intense moist seasons.
Methodology
This checklist incorporates annual precipitation knowledge for metropolitan areas (“cities”) with over 100,000 residents.
Information was obtained from the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its subsidiary, the Nationwide Facilities for Environmental Info (NCEI). Whole rainfall knowledge is a 30-year common from 1991-2020. Common wet days knowledge is thru 2023. Further knowledge discovered on the U.S. Local weather Normals database.
