rain

meteorology
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/science/rain
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/science/rain
rain
rain
Key People:
John Dalton
Related Topics:
cloudburst drizzle freezing rain raindrop shower

Recent News

Jun. 2, 2023, 10:36 AM ET (AP)
Tropical Storm Mawar intensifies rains for Japan, threatens floods and mudslides in some regions
Heavy rains intensified by Tropical Storm Mawar are falling on Japan’s main archipelago and triggering floods and mudslides in western and central regions

rain, precipitation of liquid water drops with diameters greater than 0.5 mm (0.02 inch). When the drops are smaller, the precipitation is usually called drizzle. See also precipitation. Concentrations of raindrops typically range from 100 to 1,000 per cubic m (3 to 30 per cubic foot); drizzle droplets usually are more numerous. Raindrops seldom have diameters larger than 4 mm, because as they increase in size they break up. The concentration generally decreases as diameters increase. Except when the rain is heavy, it does not reduce visibility as much as does drizzle. Meteorologists classify rain according to its rate of ...(100 of 446 words)