rainfall
The amount of rain that falls in a place during a certain time.
The amount of rain that falls in a specific place over a specific period, usually measured in millimeters or inches.
Rain that is falling in an area, talked about as a kind of weather.
The falling of rain over an area, especially considered as a weather condition or event.
- Base: rainfall
- Plural: rainfall, rainfalls
annual rainfall
1total rain in one year
The total amount of rain that falls in a place in one year.
- The city’s average annual rainfall is about 600 millimeters.
- This region has the highest annual rainfall in the country.
- Climate change may affect the annual rainfall in this area.
average rainfall
1typical amount of rain
The usual amount of rain that a place gets, based on many years of measurements.
- This month’s rain was well below the average rainfall.
- The region’s average rainfall has changed over the last thirty years.
- Farmers compare this year’s rain with the average rainfall to plan their crops.
heavy rainfall
1a lot of rain falling
A large amount of rain that falls in a short time or in one period.
- Heavy rainfall caused flash flooding in several neighborhoods.
- The road was closed after two days of heavy rainfall.
- This area often experiences heavy rainfall during the monsoon season.
light rainfall
1a small amount of rain
A small amount of rain that falls gently.
- There will be light rainfall across the region this evening.
- Only light rainfall is expected, so flooding is unlikely.
- We walked home in light rainfall without using our umbrellas.
low rainfall
1less rain than usual
Less rain than normal for a place or time.
- Several years of low rainfall have led to water shortages.
- The plants died because of the low rainfall this season.
- Low rainfall is common in desert regions.
rainfall patterns
1typical ways rain is distributed
The usual way that rain falls in a place over time, for example which months are wet or dry.
- Scientists are studying how climate change affects rainfall patterns.
- Changes in rainfall patterns can harm local agriculture.
- The map shows global rainfall patterns throughout the year.
rainfall totals
1total amounts of rain measured
Numbers that show how much rain fell in a place over a certain time.
- Rainfall totals for the weekend reached 120 millimeters in some areas.
- The weather service released the monthly rainfall totals today.
- Comparing rainfall totals helps farmers plan irrigation.
record rainfall
1highest recorded amount of rain
More rain than has ever been measured before in that place for that time period.
- The city experienced record rainfall last weekend.
- Meteorologists confirmed that yesterday’s storm brought record rainfall to the region.
- The record rainfall caused serious damage to roads and bridges.