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

Submerged sperm whale off east Sri Lanka coast, mammal

How Did the Sperm Whale Get Its Name?

Artist interpretation of a Space meteoroid impact. Meteor impact. Asteroid, End of the world, danger, destruction, dinosaur extinct, Judgement Day, Planet Earth, Doomsday Predictions, comet

10 Failed Doomsday Predictions

Candles Burning On Table In Church

What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?

All Saints Day. All Souls Day. Candles in cemetery in Poland on All Saints Day, November 1. All Souls Day, November 2. Christian church, All Hallows, Solemnity of All Saints, Feast of All Saints, purgatory, Roman Catholic church

7 Unique Burial Rituals Across the World

Mona Lisa, oil on wood panel by Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1503-06; in the Louvre, Paris, France. 77 x 53 cm.

Why Is the Mona Lisa So Famous?

Figure 13: A Maxim machine gun, belt-fed and water-cooled, operated by German infantrymen, World War I.

7 Deadliest Weapons in History

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

New Seven Wonders of the World

rain: Related Content

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

News •

Rain eases but set to return in south-east Queensland for long weekend • Apr. 27, 2025, 11:10 AM ET (ABC News (Australia))

Rain, fierce storm batter Thrissur on Tuesday: damage estimated at ₹1.66 crore • Apr. 23, 2025, 9:20 AM ET (The Hindu)

MetMalaysia issues thunderstorm warning for three states • Apr. 19, 2025, 6:03 PM ET (The Star)

MetMalaysia: Thunderstorm, heavy rain warning for six states until 9pm • Apr. 16, 2025, 4:10 AM ET (The Star)

Rain helps Rhine shipping but river level still too low • Apr. 15, 2025, 2:46 AM ET (Reuters)

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 shower raindrop What Causes a Rainbow?Scotch mist acid rain snow hail orographic precipitation sleet fog drip fog cloud aerosol rime glaze

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Key People

John Dalton

John Dalton

British scientist

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

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

Weather Words Vocabulary Quiz

Iceland, Glacier lagoon (Jokulsarlon)

Winter Weather Words 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

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

Facts You Should Know: Weather Quiz