Discover the Rainiest Place in Pennsylvania

Written by Hailey Pruett
Updated: May 26, 2023
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As the 22nd rainiest state in the United States, Pennsylvania is right in the middle when it comes to its average precipitation per year. But what is its wettest city, and how does it rainfall compare to the state average? If you’re looking to learn about the rainiest place in Pennsylvania, keep reading. We’ll look at its history, demographics, weather, and the local wildlife.

Pennsylvania’s Rainiest Town

The town of Germansville in Lehigh County is Pennsylvania’s rainiest city. It is part of Eastern Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, known simply as “the valley” to locals. On average, Germansville receives around 50.71 inches of rain each year. This is around 8 inches higher than the state average of 42.77 inches of precipitation yearly. It’s also about 10 inches higher than the national average of around 38 inches of rain per year.

As an exurban community, Germansville is located just outside of Allentown to the southeast. It is also around 60 miles northwest of the much larger city of Philadelphia. Notably, Germansville is an unincorporated area. This means it lacks an official local government. Generally, unincorporated areas are very small, remote, or located just outside of a larger city with a governing body that oversees it. 

Germansville is also part of Heidelberg Township. As one of Allentown’s main suburbs, the township is the 68th most populated metropolitan area in the United States.

Germansville, Pennsylvania, Population and Demographics

Upper Delaware Scenic And Recreational River

The town rests along Jordan Creek. It meets Little Lehigh Creek just before flowing into the Lehigh River, which also flows into the Delaware River.

©vm2002/Shutterstock.com

While the entire surrounding metropolitan area of Germansville has around 861,999 people, Germansville itself has a much smaller population of approximately 2,800 residents with around 1,000 total households. The town rests at an elevation of 604 feet. It rests along Jordan Creek, a tributary of Little Lehigh Creek. It meets Little Lehigh Creek at Allentown just before flowing into the Lehigh River, which also flows into the Delaware River.

In addition to being Pennsylvania’s rainiest place, Germansville is also one of the hottest places in the state. July is its hottest month with an average high temperature of 83 degrees F. January, meanwhile, is its coldest month, with an average temperature of 34 degrees and a low of 21 degrees. October is its wettest month, with an average of 1.8 inches of precipitation. Germansville is also rather humid compared to much of Pennsylvania, with humidity at its highest during October and February at 82%.

Wildlife Near Germansville, Pennsylvania’s Rainiest Town

Germansville, and Eastern Pennsylvania by extension, are home to a wide range of local wildlife, with more than 25,000 unique species living in the entire state. Many of its state parks and forests, like Eastern Hemlock in Albrightsville and the much-larger French Creek State Park, contain extensive habitats ideal for viewing animals like deer and various songbirds. Its waterways are also ideal for various freshwater game fish like largemouth bass, northern pike, and walleye.

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Peregrine Falcon in flight, ready to land

Best known for being the world’s fastest animal, peregrine falcons are capable of diving at up to 200 miles per hour while hunting for prey.

©TPCImagery – Mike Jackson/Shutterstock.com

The peregrine falcon is one of Eastern Pennsylvania’s most majestic and agile animals. Allentown’s Hawk Mountain Sanctuary just outside of Germansville is an excellent place for viewing and learning about these unique birds of prey. 

Best known for being the world’s fastest animal, peregrine falcons are capable of diving at up to 200 miles per hour while hunting for prey. An expert hunter, it mainly feeds on other, smaller birds like doves, songbirds, and pigeons. It isn’t very picky, though, and will eat just about anything it can pick up, even occasionally feeding on animals as large as ducks and seagulls!

In total, the peregrine falcon has around 19 subspecies, with their geographic ranges spanning nearly every continent. Most subspecies average anywhere from 15 to 50 ounces, with males being leaner than females. They also boast an impressive 30 to 45-inch wingspan when fully grown.

Red Lynx/Bobcat (Lynx rufus)

This gorgeous kitty gets its name from its short, “bobbed” tail.

©Don Mammoser/Shutterstock.com

The red lynx, also known simply as the bobcat, has a very wide geographic range that covers much of North America’s northern half. It lives throughout much of Canada and the Northern United States. It has two subspecies, which are mainly divided by their specific native range. One lives east of the Great Plains, while the other lives to the west of the area.

As the smallest of all four main lynx species, the North American bobcat stands at around 12 to 24 inches tall. It can range from 10 to 40 pounds, with males being heavier than females. It gets its name from its short, “bobbed” tail. Its tall, pointed ears are tipped with black tufts of fur. Its large, strong paws make it a skilled climber and swimmer, and its sense of sight and hearing are extremely sharp.

Hardy and adaptable, the red lynx can thrive in various habitats. While it prefers densely wooded forests, it sometimes also resides in deserts, swamps, and more mountainous areas. It feeds mainly on small mammals like the eastern cottontail and cotton rat.

American Black Bear (Ursus americanus)

Black bear standing straight up on two back legs

Averaging anywhere from 130 to 550 pounds, the American black bear is incredibly strong and flexible.

©Constance Mahoney/Shutterstock.com

The last animal that we’ll highlight today is the American black bear. Its geographic range is vast and covers much of North America, particularly the northern half of the continent. It’s actually the continent’s most widely distributed species of bear, as well as the smallest overall.

Averaging anywhere from 130 to 550 pounds, the American black bear is incredibly strong and flexible. It is also one of Pennsylvania’s fastest animals, with especially lean individuals capable of running at speeds of 30 miles per hour! In addition, it also has keen eyesight and an exceptional sense of smell that is around seven times more sensitive than the average dog’s sense of smell.

As an omnivore, the black bear is adaptable and able to feed on a wide range of animals and plants. More than 80% of its total diet consists of plant matter, like berries and nuts. However, when they come out of hibernation, they are more likely to seek out carrion, fish, and insects.

Where Is Germansville Located on a Map?

Germansville is about 20 miles northwest of Allentown and two miles north of Pleasant Corners, Pennsylvania. Notably, Pleasant Corners and Allentown are also part of the Lehigh Valley metropolitan area. Allentown is the largest city in the Lehigh Valley with a population of 125,845 people.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © CEW/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Hailey "Lex" Pruett is a nonbinary writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering reptiles and amphibians. They have over five years of professional content writing experience. Additionally, they grew up on a hobby farm and have volunteered at animal shelters to gain further experience in animal care. A longtime resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, Hailey has owned and cared extensively for a wide variety of animals in their lifetime, including cats, dogs, lizards, turtles, frogs and toads, fish, chickens, ducks, horses, llamas, rabbits, goats, and more!

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