wetterthanaverage

The term wetterthanaverage is used in meteorology and climate reporting to indicate precipitation that exceeds the long-term normal for a specified location and period. It denotes a condition where total rainfall or other forms of precipitation are higher than the climatological baseline, rather than giving an exact quantity.

Normals are usually derived from a 30-year period published by meteorological agencies. Common baselines include periods such as 1981-2010 or 1991-2020. An observed amount can be described as wetter than average when it exceeds the corresponding normal value, or as an anomaly expressed as a positive deviation from the norm.

In forecasts and summaries, the phrase communicates relative conditions: "This spring is expected to be wetter than average for the region." The interpretation depends on the chosen base period and the spatial scale, from a city to a watershed.

Limitations: The term is imprecise and depends on the baseline period; it does not convey the magnitude of excess rainfall and can be influenced by data quality, gaps, and changes in climate over time. Local effects such as urbanization or topography can also affect whether a given location is wetter than average.

Beyond meteorology, wetterthanaverage can appear as a username, project name, or label in online communities, often used to denote interest in rainfall data or climate discussion.

See also: climate normals, precipitation anomaly, rainfall, climate variability, meteorology.