Baby, it's HOT outside!
July and August are typically the hottest months of the summer and, for most of us, the driest. Melting as you make your way from air-conditioned house to car? Drenched in perspiration by the time you reach the office? Scanning the skies for those ever elusive rain clouds and thinking, “Just a little rain, PLEASE!” as you stare at empty blue? You're not alone. While it may be miserably dry where you live, there are some spots you definitely wouldn't want to earn your living selling umbrellas or rain slickers; they're the driest places in the planet.
For the US the three driest cities are not a big surprise. Located in Arizona, Nevada and California, the three hold the record for the least rainfall in the US per year.
Yuma, AZ is the driest city in the country, ranking in at only 3 inches of rain each year. Located in southern Arizona, in the Yuma and Gila Valleys, it is surrounded by picturesque mountains mountains and boasts the cool waters of the Colorado River. Ranked by Money Magazine as one of the most desirable places to live in the United States, it is a favorite for residents and visitors alike. Fresh air, a rich history and friendly population makes Yuma a welcoming, but dry place to go.
Las Vegas, Nevada ranks as the States number two most dry city, receiving an average of only 4 inches of rain per year. That doesn't seem to bother anybody; the city averages 40 thousand tourists each year and is supported primarily by tourist trade. There are hundreds of things to do in Vegas, from golfing to gambling, shows to museums, Grand Canyon tours to grand eating at Emeril's. Dry or not, Vegas is definitely a winner.
The third driest city is located in California. Receiving an average of only 5 inches of wet stuff per year, Bishop is located at the edge of the Death Valley Park and Mammoth Lakes. While Bishop doesn't thrive on its tourism industry, it's a great destination for the outdoor enthusiast. The Owens River, South Lake or Lake Sabrina offer great spots for fishing and rock climbers will enjoy the peaks of the Buttermilks. With a wide choice of campgrounds in the area, backpacking, hiking or mountain-biking the Sierra High Country is a breeze, and not much will beat a soak in primitive Hot Springs. It seems the dry weather here is viewed as an asset.
For the world-traveler in you, Aswan, Egypt is the driest city in the world, receiving an average of 0.02 inches of rain per year. Australia is the world's driest continent. Eighty per cent of the continent has an average annual rainfall less than 19 inches. Tourism in Australia seems to be booming, too.
I guess it's true … When you're hot, you're hot!
