excessive rainfall

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excessive rainfall" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where the amount of rainfall exceeds normal or expected levels, often leading to potential flooding or other weather-related issues. Example: "The region experienced excessive rainfall last week, resulting in widespread flooding and road closures."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

The Fena Lake reservoir experienced excess silt deposit after excessive rainfall from Chataan, which prevented water distribution from the facility; on July 19 – fifteen days after the typhoon's landfall – water production resumed.

Wikipedia

Typically when we think of floods, we think excessive rainfall.

The Guardian

Many parts of our country experience erratic and excessive rainfall, which causes floods and landslides.

The Guardian

One scientist thought excessive rainfall was the cause but this has not been proven Pressure is mounting on the Australian govt. to do something.

The New Yorker

Excessive rainfall, bursting rivers and breaching embankments are a recurring phenomenon that tend to wreak havoc on the lives of millions, with the poor usually the worst affected.

The New York Times

Mr. Stone said excessive rainfall and flooding this summer might have caused sewage treatment plants to release more nutrients into the lake that allowed the botulism organism to thrive.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

These effects will be exacerbated under climate change when there is excessive rain leading to flooding or low rainfall leading to drought.

Environmental Systems Research

Excessive peak rainfall intensity resulting from enhanced seasonality of monsoonal precipitation in the following glacial period triggered catastrophic floods, which transported mature detritus in large quantities into a fault-controlled piedmont basin.

Journal of Asian Earth Sciences

Excessive heat, rainfall, or wind exposures may be a short-term feature of each day or it may continue during the whole day.

Global Health Action

India, which receives nearly 80% of its annual rainfall from June to September, has seen a series of disasters caused by excessive rain.

The Guardian

Excessive evaporation, low rainfall, and high temperatures continually generate large volumes of warm (11.9° C), salty (36.5 parts per thousand) water.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the impact of heavy rain, use "excessive rainfall" to emphasize the problematic or damaging nature of the precipitation. This is especially relevant when discussing floods, landslides, or other adverse effects.

Common error

Do not use phrases like "excessive amount of rainfall" as "excessive" already implies a surplus. Simply use "excessive rainfall" for a more concise and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessive rainfall" primarily functions as a noun phrase. It acts as a subject or object in a sentence, describing a condition or event involving a higher-than-normal amount of precipitation. As demonstrated by Ludwig, this phrase is widely employed to depict situations where rainfall surpasses expected levels, often leading to adverse consequences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

32%

Wiki

26%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "excessive rainfall" is a common and grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe instances where rainfall exceeds normal levels, often leading to negative consequences. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is widely accepted and used in various contexts. While alternatives like "heavy rainfall" and "torrential rain" exist, "excessive rainfall" specifically highlights the problematic nature of the precipitation. It is crucial to avoid redundancy, like saying "excessive amount of rainfall". The phrase is most frequently found in scientific, news, and wiki sources, indicating its widespread use in both formal and informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excess precipitation

A more concise way of saying "excessive rainfall".

heavy rainfall

Focuses on the weight or intensity of the rainfall.

abundant rainfall

Emphasizes the large quantity of rainfall.

torrential rain

Highlights the intense and forceful nature of the rain.

extreme precipitation

Uses a more formal term for rainfall, emphasizing the extremity.

copious rainfall

Stresses the plentiful nature of the rainfall.

unusually heavy rain

Highlights that the rainfall is not typical.

intense rainfall

Focuses on the strength and power of the rainfall.

extreme downpour

Emphasizes the sudden and heavy nature of the rainfall.

abnormal precipitation levels

Uses a more scientific term for rainfall, denoting a deviation from the norm.

FAQs

How to use "excessive rainfall" in a sentence?

You can use "excessive rainfall" to describe situations where there's an unusually large amount of rain, such as: "The "excessive rainfall" caused widespread flooding" or "Farmers are concerned about the impact of "excessive rainfall" on their crops".

What can I say instead of "excessive rainfall"?

You can use alternatives like "heavy rainfall", "abundant rainfall", or "torrential rain" depending on the specific context and the aspect you want to emphasize.

Which is correct, "excessive rainfall" or "excessive rain"?

Both ""excessive rainfall"" and "excessive rain" are grammatically correct, but ""excessive rainfall"" is more commonly used and sounds more formal in many contexts. "Excessive rain" is perceived as less formal.

What's the difference between "heavy rainfall" and "excessive rainfall"?

"Heavy rainfall" simply indicates a large amount of rain. "Excessive rainfall" implies that the amount of rain is not only large but also problematic, causing or likely to cause negative consequences like flooding or damage. Therefore ""excessive rainfall"" indicates something negative.