How Does Seattle’s Heavy Rain Impact Car Accidents

Rain and snow make driving treacherous. Cars have difficulty gaining traction, and drivers have difficulty seeing. Roads can begin to flood if there’s too much precipitation. There’s an old line by the singer Jim Croce that says you can’t have the rainbow without the rain. To ensure you can enjoy the rainbow, you need to know the proper way to drive when it rains.

How often does it rain in Seattle?

Seattle is known as one of the country’s rainiest cities primarily because of the number of days it rains each year – about 150 days on average. The number of rainy days is more than “nearly all U.S. cities east of the Rocky Mountains.” While Seattle has a high number of rainy days, the amount of rainfall in Seattle ranks 32^nd among the top 50 American cities.

According to the Seattle Weather Blog, the average amount of precipitation in Seattle each year is 39.34 inches – more than half of which is rain and not snow. The precipitation data is compiled at Sea-Tac Airport, which is located south of the Seattle city limits. The data, which the National Climatic Data Center calculates, has been accumulated since 1945. In many years, the average yearly precipitation amount is more than 40 inches.

According to additional data, there were 156 days of precipitation in Seattle, on average, between 1991 and 2020. The annual precipitation across all contiguous US states in 2024 was 31.68 inches in 2024 – making Seattle’s about 7.66 inches greater than the rest of the country.

Why is driving in the rain dangerous?

There is generally no excuse for car accidents to happen when it rains. Drivers of all types of vehicles need to understand how to drive in any weather conditions. The dangers of driving in the rain warrant certain preventive measures – including, if necessary, avoiding driving until the rain stops.

Some of the dangers of driving when it’s raining or while the roads are still wet include:

• Visibility difficulties. Pouring rain makes it hard for drivers to see other cars, walkers, and road signs. The constant movement of the windshield wipers can make it hard to concentrate. Fog, which often occurs when it rains, only makes driving more dangerous. Visibility challenges don’t just affect your driving; they affect the ability of other drivers to see you. That’s why one of the first rules of driving in the rain is to turn on your headlights.
• Wet surfaces can cause the tires of any vehicle to lose contact with the road surface – your car may end up driving on the water and not having traction with the road. The odds that your car will hydroplane increase as your speed increases. Cars should have tires with enough tread depth to help gain traction on the road. When cars begin to hydroplane, drivers should “ease off the accelerator and avoid sudden movements to regain control.”
• More time and distance to stop. Your car needs more time and more distance to come to a complete stop when it rains. These increases make it much more likely that a car will rear-end another car when it rains. Drivers should keep a longer following distance and should also lightly apply their brakes so their car does not skid.

Recommendations for driving in the rain

Drivers should consider using the following precautions to reduce the risk of a Seattle car accident when it rains.

• Tire maintenance. Drivers should ensure that the tread of their tires is above 2/32 of an inch. If your tires are below this measurement, you should replace them. It also helps to inflate your tires according to the manufacturer’s recommendations to help them have more traction and perform better overall. If you know it is raining or likely to rain; you should check your tires at a local gas station or with a tire pressure gauge.
• Speed and following distance. Reducing your speed helps prevent hydroplaning and gives you more time and distance to stop. A rule of thumb is to keep a distance of at least five seconds between your vehicle and the car in front of you.
• Defrosters, windshield wipers, and headlights. These parts of your car should be in good working condition to help with visibility. Defrosters help prevent your car from fogging up. Both the front and rear defrosters should work and should be in use when it’s raining. Some cars have a ventilation system that, with the proper setting, directs the flow of air toward the windshield.
• Newer vehicles should have some or all of the following technologies to help drivers when it rains.
  • Anti-lock braking systems (ABS). An ABS helps prevent your wheels from locking up when you brake, which can reduce the risk of skidding. According to The Wiser Driver, using an ABS helps improve response time and control.
  • Traction control systems (TCS). A TCS helps prevent the wheels of your car from spinning when you accelerate on a wet road. “When sensors detect wheels losing grip, TCS lowers engine power or applies braking force to specific wheels, restoring traction.” Studies show “a significant decrease in single-vehicle crashes. When combined with proper tire maintenance and cautious driving, TCS enhances your vehicle’s stability and safety, especially when accelerating or turning on wet roads.”
  • Rain-sensing windshield w These devices change their speed automatically based on how intense the rain is. The automatic feature allows drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel instead of manually adjusting the speed of the wipers.

Who is responsible for accidents during or after a rain in Seattle?

Drivers may be liable for car accidents if they fail to properly inspect their car and fail to properly follow the above recommendations. It should go without saying that driving while distracted when it is raining dramatically increases the odds of an accident. Manufacturers may be liable if their tires, ABS components, wipers, and other car parts or technologies are defective.

Our Seattle car accident lawyers hold drivers accountable for causing crashes by failing to use precautions when it rains. Contact us today to schedule your free evaluation.