Amanda has taught high school science for over 10 years. She has a Master's Degree in Cellular and Molecular Physiology from Tufts Medical School and a Master's of Teaching from Simmons College. She is also certified in secondary special education, biology, and physics in Massachusetts.
Why Does It Rain?
What Is Rain?
What a gloomy day outside! You check the weather and there's about a 70% chance of rain. You grab your best rain boots and umbrella, and head out into the soggy world. Rain is liquid precipitation that falls from the clouds. But, have you ever thought about how rain forms? Today, we're going to explain why it rains, and what scientific principles are at work.
![]() |
High and Low Pressure Systems
Rain is ultimately caused by differences in air pressure. Air with high pressure sinks and stays near the ground, while low pressure air rises.
Although we might think of air as weightless, this is not true. All matter, even invisible gases have weight. The more air on top of you, the greater the air pressure, or the weight of the air in the atmosphere. So, low pressure systems have less air above them, causing them to rise. High pressure systems typically are near the surface, with lots of air on top of them, causing them to sink.
Think of it like a light and heavy object falling into a pool. High pressure means there are more molecules in a given area, which makes the air heavier. Heavier objects, like a nail, would sink in a pool. On the other hand, low pressure air has less air molecules in the same amount of area, so this type of air rises. Think of low pressure air like a float in water - it is less dense than water, so it rises to the top of the pool.
Air Movement
So, what does all this air pressure stuff have to do with rain? Well, when air rises, it cools in the upper atmosphere. Like we mentioned, the molecules in cold air are packed closely together. This makes less room for water vapor, or water in its gaseous form. When the water vapor gets cold, it condenses into liquid water. The liquid water combined with dust particles in the atmosphere form clouds. When the clouds become saturated, or containing the maximum amount of water they can hold, rain droplets form. And, when the cloud can no longer hold anymore water, the water falls from the sky as precipitation.
So, when a low pressure system enters the area, the low pressure air rises into the atmosphere and the high pressure air stays near the surface. As the air rises, it cools and forms clouds. Eventually the clouds become saturated and rain falls.
![]() |
Temperature Changes
Changes in temperature can also cause precipitation. Cold air is denser than warm air, and sinks towards the Earth. When a cold front, or a cold body of air, moves into an area, it forces the warm, less dense air to rise. As the air rises, it cools, water condenses forming clouds, and eventually falls as precipitation.
![]() |
Geological Features and Rainfall
Now that we know the basic principles of rainfall, let's look at why different areas of the Earth get more or less rain.
If you had to pick the city with the most rainfall in the United States, you might think of Seattle, Portland or other cities in the Pacific Northwest. These weather patterns have to do with the mountains surrounding the area. As warm, moist air blows inland from the Pacific Ocean, it is forced up the mountain face. As the air rises, it cools and water condenses producing rain. This rainy side receiving air from the ocean is called the windward side of the mountain, and gets lots of precipitation.
However, the other side of the mountain, the leeward side, gets very little rain at all. This side of the mountain is often a desert, like the Great Basin in Nevada, Utah and Arizona, which are on the leeward side of the Cascade Mountains.
![]() |
Lesson Summary
Rain is liquid precipitation falling from the clouds. Rain occurs when air rises into the upper atmosphere and cools. The cool temperatures cause water vapor to condense into water droplets, which fall from the clouds as rain when the air becomes saturated. Air pressure contributes to this process.
Low pressure systems bring stormy weather, since the low pressure air is less dense, causing it to rise into the clouds, where water vapor condenses to form rain. Changes in temperature can also cause rain. Cold air is denser than warm air. When a cold front enters an area it forces warm air into the clouds, where water vapor condenses into rain. Geological barriers also alter rainfall patterns, like mountains whose windward side gets more rain than the leeward side that gets less rain.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
Register to view this lesson
Unlock Your Education
See for yourself why 30 million people use Study.com
Become a Study.com member and start learning now.
Become a MemberAlready a member? Log In
BackWhy Does It Rain?
Related Study Materials
- TExES Science of Teaching Reading (293): Practice & Study Guide
- Next Gen NCLEX-PN Study Guide & Practice
- Next Gen NCLEX-RN Study Guide & Practice
- TExES Core Subjects EC-6 (391): Practice & Study Guide
- TExES School Counselor (252): Practice & Study Guide
- Multithreading, Networking & Machine Learning in Python
- Digital Forensics
- The Internet of Things and Networking
- Network Routing and Switching
- Virtual Servers and Networking
- How to Pick Your Homeschool Curriculum
- Role of Student Support in Open & Distance Learning
- TExES Principal Exam Redesign (068 vs. 268)
- Teacher Salary by State
- ESL Resource Guide for Teachers
- What is a Homeschool Co-op?
- How to Start Homeschooling Your Children
Latest Courses
- Chemical Nomenclature & Notation
- Factors Impacting Family & Consumer Sciences
- Heritability Coefficient
- Major Health Problems in the United States
- Direct Impact of Two Smooth Bodies
- Transistor as an Amplifier & Oscillator
- Using Research to Select Interventions in Social Work
- What are Dinosaurs Related to? - Quiz & Worksheet for Kids
- Quiz & Worksheet - Types of Personality Disorders
- Quiz & Worksheet - Memory Hole in 1984
- Finding a Character's Emotions by Actions: Quiz & Worksheet for Kids
- Flashcards - Real Estate Marketing Basics
- Flashcards - Promotional Marketing in Real Estate
- Rubrics | Rubric Definition and Types
- Effective Discussion Questions for the Classroom
Latest Lessons
- Business Law Syllabus Resource & Lesson Plans
- Supplemental Business: Study Aid
- ILTS Social Science - Political Science (247): Test Practice and Study Guide
- Psychology 103: Human Growth and Development
- CSET English: Study Guide & Test Prep
- Math & Data Analysis Lesson Plans
- Physical Science - Weathering and Erosion: Help and Review
- Quiz & Worksheet - Writing Complete Technical Documents
- Quiz & Worksheet - The Collective Bargaining Process
- Quiz & Worksheet - Issues with Manuals
- Quiz & Worksheet - Terms of Trade
Popular Courses
- Types of Definitions Used in Technical Writing
- 10th Grade Assignment - Technical Communication
- Pre-K Word Walls
- How to Go to College for Free
- Professional Development Resources for High School Teachers
- How to Pass Intermediate Algebra
- Failed the USMLE Step 1: Next Steps
- Grants for Adult Education
- High School Summer Reading List
- Earth Day Activities for Kids
- How to Pass the COMPASS Math Test
- How to Learn Spanish for Free
Popular Lessons
Math
Social Sciences
Science
Business
Humanities
Education
History
Art and Design
Tech and Engineering
- Tech and Engineering - Videos
- Tech and Engineering - Quizzes
- Tech and Engineering - Questions & Answers