rain

Table of Contents

Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

A large window looking at a forested exterior, four hand-drawn blue raindrops, and a hand holding a phone displaying a pie chart showing a 60% chance of partly cloudy skies, and a 40% chance of rain.

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?

Discover

Artist interpretation of space asteroids impacting earth and moon. Meteoroids, meteor impact, end of the world, danger, destruction, dinosaur extinct, Judgement Day, Doomsday Predictions, comet

Major Mass Extinctions

San Francisco, California/USA-1/18/20: Womens March at Civic Center marching with signs of political protest regarding equality also embracing 2020 presidential candidates and celebrating equality

How Does the U.S. Government Define the Difference Between a Protest and a Riot?

Estimated battle casualties, Normandy invasion, World War II. WWII, D-Day

Estimated Battle Casualties During the Normandy Invasion and Campaign to Liberate Paris (June–August 1944)

Nelson Mandela, undated photo.

15 Nelson Mandela Quotes

Scolex (head) of the tapeworm Taenia solium. The hooks of the scolex enable the tapeworm to attach to the intestinal wall.

Uninvited Guests: The 7 Worst Parasitic Worms

Normandy Invasion: Omaha Beach. World War II. D-Day. Infographic. SPOTLIGHT VERSION

Facts and Figures About the Landings on Omaha Beach During the Normandy Invasion on June 6, 1944

African Americans demonstrating for voting rights in front of the White House as police and others watch, March 12, 1965. One sign reads, "We demand the right to vote everywhere." Voting Rights Act, civil rights.

Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement

rain: Related Content

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

Last Updated: Jun 14, 2025

News •

Rain falls in South Australia "like a meal for a starving man" • June 11, 2025, 3:03 AM ET (ABC News (Australia))

MetMalaysia issues thunderstorm warning for 10 states until 6pm • June 4, 2025, 5:11 AM ET (The Star)

Incessant rain batters highways and houses in Tripura • May 31, 2025, 9:10 AM ET (The Hindu)

Rains, today’s weather updates: IMD issues red alert for Wayanad, Kozhikode; heavy rain likely in Mumbai • May 28, 2025, 8:05 AM ET (The Hindu)

Rains highlights: Heavy rains continue to wreak havoc in Kerala, Maharashtra • May 26, 2025, 10:59 AM ET (The Hindu)

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.

A large window looking at a forested exterior, four hand-drawn blue raindrops, and a hand holding a phone displaying a pie chart showing a 60% chance of partly cloudy skies, and a 40% chance of rain.

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

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

raindrop shower freezing rain cloudburst What Causes Acid Rain?Does It Rain on Other Planets?drizzle Scotch mist What Causes a Rainbow?acid rain 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

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

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

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