rain

Table of Contents

Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

How do clouds float?

What is cloud seeding and can it be used to fight climate change?

thunderstorm: rain and lightning

Distribution of peoples and annual rainfall in the Guinea Coast region. The northern boundary of the 500-mm isohyet (a line on a map connecting points experiencing the same rainfall amount) approximates the maximum advance of the West African summer monsoon.

Global distribution of mean annual rainfall (in centimetres).

Graph of monsoon rainfall in India, 1871–1981. Annual rainfall amounts are depicted as percentages departing from the 110-year average. The red line superimposed on the graph suggests a recurring trend over this time period.

How does desert dust from the Sahara affect global climate?

See how water transforms between liquid, ice, and vapour in the water cycle

Discover

Close up of periodic table, focus on nickel, copper, zinc, palladium, silver, cadmium

When Was the Periodic Table Invented?

Young boys working in a thread spinning mill in Macon, Georgia, 1909. Boys are so small they have to climb onto the spinning frame to reach and fix broken threads and put back empty bobbins. Child labor. Industrial revolution

The Rise of the Machines: Pros and Cons of the Industrial Revolution

World map. Continents. Oceans. Mendel thumb ok

Just How Many Oceans Are There?

Calendar marking march 15th

22 Questions About Time and Timekeeping Answered

airplane in flight (plane, aircraft, flying)

7 Puzzling Plane Disappearances

The Colosseum, Rome, Italy. Giant amphitheatre built in Rome under the Flavian emperors. (ancient architecture; architectural ruins)

New Seven Wonders of the World

Hindu Holi Festival celebrations with colored water, powder and colorful flower petals thrown over celebrants at a Hindu temple in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India on March 24, 2021.

Holi: Festival of Colors

rain: Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

California Forecast Sees More Rain and Snow • Mar. 11, 2025, 7:31 AM ET (New York Times)

MetMalaysia issues thunderstorm warning for 6 states until 7pm • Mar. 10, 2025, 4:51 AM ET (The Star)

MetMalaysia issues thunderstorm warning for 11 states until 9pm • Mar. 7, 2025, 2:14 AM ET (The Star)

Rainy Monday in Florida leads to all but one Grapefruit League spring training game being canceled • Feb. 24, 2025, 4:54 PM ET (AP)

Californians brace for flooding in areas torched by wildfires as freezing rain, snow aim for Oregon • Feb. 13, 2025, 11:21 AM ET (AP)

Photos and Videos

thunderstorm: rain and lightning

Distribution of peoples and annual rainfall in the Guinea Coast region. The northern boundary of the 500-mm isohyet (a line on a map connecting points experiencing the same rainfall amount) approximates the maximum advance of the West African summer monsoon.

Global distribution of mean annual rainfall (in centimetres).

Graph of monsoon rainfall in India, 1871–1981. Annual rainfall amounts are depicted as percentages departing from the 110-year average. The red line superimposed on the graph suggests a recurring trend over this time period.

How do clouds float?

What is cloud seeding and can it be used to fight climate change?

How does desert dust from the Sahara affect global climate?

See how water transforms between liquid, ice, and vapour in the water cycle

Explore how interactions between the water cycle and landforms affect climate and weather

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

Does It Rain on Other Planets?What Causes Acid Rain?cloudburst drizzle freezing rain raindrop shower Scotch mist acid rain water snow hail orographic precipitation sleet fog drip fog cloud aerosol rime glaze

Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

Key People

John Dalton

John Dalton

British scientist

Quiz

Thunderstorm cumulonimbus clouds above Montana. weather storm thunderstorm atmospheric disturbance cumulonimbus clouds thunder and lightning Homepage blog 2011, science and technology

Clouds and Cloud Types

rain. Child in the rain, wearing a rain coat, under a yellow umbrella. April Showers weather climate rain storm water drops

April Showers to March’s Lions and Lambs

Umbrella colored like a rainbow sticking out above a sea of black umbrellas while it rains. (storm, weather)

Weather Words Vocabulary Quiz

rain. Child in the rain, wearing a rain coat, under a yellow umbrella. April Showers weather climate rain storm water drops

April Showers to March’s Lions and Lambs

Iceland, Glacier lagoon (Jokulsarlon)

Winter Weather Words Quiz

Lightning over a farm field. Weather electricity thunderstorm light energy tree

Facts You Should Know: Weather Quiz