Why does it rain so much on Kauai?

As the northernmost large Hawaiian island, Kauai gets exposed to winter rains and front winds more than other islands in the chain. Because of the mountain's shape and height, it lies under the trade wind inversion layer, which keeps trade winds from rising away and escaping before rain can fall.



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MOUNT WAIALEALE, Kauai — This legendary peak dominates the geography of Kauai, jutting to an altitude of 5,148 feet and constituting possibly the wettest place on Earth. Or possibly the second-wettest, after Mawsynram, a mountain in India.

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Nicknamed the “Garden Isle” for its magically lush appearance, Kauai is considered one of the rainiest places on earth.

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Kauai enjoys a tropical climate marked by warm temperatures and an abundance of rain. The island has only two seasons: dry from April to October and wet or rainy from November to March, with December and January experiencing the most rainfall.

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It is also home to one of the planet's wettest spots, Mount Wai'ale'ale. If you worry the rain in Kauai will ruin your holiday, don't. It seldom pours for more than three days straight, and tropical storms are rare. The Kauai rainy season typically consists of gray, overcast days with spurts of brief showers.

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Kauai is considered one of the rainiest places on the planet. Of course, that's one of the reasons it's also so lush. You can often find sunshine on the southern side, but it's not guaranteed, especially in the winter. Maui receives less rainfall than Kauai.

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Hawaii's hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

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Hilo, Hawaii Known for its dramatic waterfalls, lush rainforests and blooming gardens, Hilo is full of amazing sites and world-class beauty. It's also known as the wettest place in the United States, averaging about 12 in. of rain per month.

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Nestled in the heart of Kauai, Mount Waialeale boasts a mesmerizing beauty, but its most distinguishing feature is its astounding rainfall. Touted as one of the rainiest places on our planet, this majestic mountain receives an astonishing amount of precipitation annually.

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The North is wetter due to the tradewinds and the mountains. Kauai's South Shore is drier, which means more bright, warm, picture-perfect beach days.

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Kauai is a bit more humid than the other popular islands of Maui and Oahu due to its rainfall. From October to March, it can be more humid in the mornings (from 77 percent to 81 percent) and go down to 65 percent to 69 percent in the afternoons.

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Waimea is probably the driest of all the areas on the island but offers fewer accommodation choices than other locations. Poipu or Lawai, which offer an abundance of accommodations on the South Shore, is your best bet for a dry and sunny vacation. The area averages about 30-40 (76-102 cm) of rain each year.

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Cherrapunji, India The town Cherrapunji, also known as Sohra, can be found in the East Khasi Hills district in the Indian state of Meghalaya. Despite being the second wettest place in the world averaging 11,777 mm of rainfall a year, the region faces acute annual water shortages during the dry months of winter.

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While there may not be a “bad” time to visit Kauai, the late fall and winter months can be considered the island's low season. From October to December, Kauai experiences slightly higher rainfall, which can lead to more overcast days. However, don't be quick to dismiss this time of year.

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Despite these variations, each side of Kauai has observed tsunami runups of over 10 ft with significant damaging effects. The recorded history of Hawaiian tsunamis shows that 26 large tsunamis have made landfall within the islands and 8 have had significant damaging effects on Kauai.

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Kauai is the winner It has a variety of views and terrain to see. Rocky coastlines, beautiful beaches, lush jungles, and mountains and valleys. There is so much to see and do.

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Why Kauai, you ask? Well, let's start with the fact that it's known as the “Garden Island,” thanks to its lush greenery and vibrant flowers. But that's not all! Kauai is also famous for its stunning natural attractions, from the majestic Waimea Canyon to the awe-inspiring Napali Coast.

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Kauai is the safest island in Hawaii, with the lowest violent and property crime rate compared to other islands.

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Kauai is nicknamed the 'Garden Island'. The mountains surround the rainforests, basically blocking them off. Because of this, about 97% of Kauai's land is undeveloped. It is also pretty hard to access!

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Kauai is nicknamed the 'Garden Island'. Even their local newspaper, which has been in print since 1901, is called 'The Garden Island'! The mountains surround the rainforests, basically blocking them off. Because of this, about 97% of Kauai's land is undeveloped. It is also pretty hard to access!

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