extreme rainfall

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "extreme rainfall" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant and intense amount of rainfall that exceeds normal levels, often leading to potential flooding or other weather-related issues. Example: "The region experienced extreme rainfall last night, resulting in flash floods and road closures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Extreme rainfall events are becoming more frequent.

The Guardian

The review asked the Met Office to develop new plausible extreme rainfall scenarios.

The Guardian

Several extreme rainfall events have already been made more likely because of warming, analyses have shown.

The Guardian

A positive attribution for an extreme rainfall event like Desmond is still rare".

The Guardian

This week's extreme rainfall in the north-west of the UK will be no exception.

The Guardian

This is undisputed science and it clearly increases the potential for extreme rainfall and flooding".

Independent

"The increase in extreme rainfall was due to a rise in moisture….

Independent

The experiment altered factors such as greenhouse gas levels to see how they correlate to extreme rainfall events.

The Guardian

I asked him if there was anything to suggest a link between climate change and the extreme rainfall over Indonesia.

The Guardian

Furthermore, a 10-60% increase in extreme rainfall could lead to a quadrupling of flooding in urban areas.

The Guardian

Dr Peter Stott, of the Met Office, said more extreme rainfall was likely to be the most noticeable impact.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the impact of "extreme rainfall", use specific details such as the amount of rainfall, the duration, and the affected areas to provide a clearer picture of the event's severity.

Common error

Avoid solely relying on "extreme rainfall" without providing context. Specify whether you are referring to intensity, duration, or frequency. For example, instead of just saying "extreme rainfall caused flooding", specify "the sustained, extreme rainfall of 200mm in 24 hours caused widespread flooding".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "extreme rainfall" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It refers to a type of precipitation characterized by its intensity or unusual nature. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is acceptable and used across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

48%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "extreme rainfall" is a frequently used and grammatically sound phrase to describe unusually heavy or intense precipitation. As verified by Ludwig AI, it’s suitable for various contexts, especially in news and scientific reporting. While inherently descriptive, providing specific details about the nature and impact of the rainfall enhances clarity. Remember to contextualize its usage by specifying duration, intensity, or affected areas to avoid vagueness. Alternatives such as "heavy rainfall" or "intense rainfall" can be used to diversify your writing. Overall, "extreme rainfall" is a valuable term for discussing significant weather events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extraordinary rainfall

Replaces "extreme" with "extraordinary", emphasizing the exceptional nature of the rainfall.

severe rainfall

Substitutes "extreme" with "severe", highlighting the intensity and potential danger of the rainfall.

heavy rainfall

Uses a more common term, "heavy", to describe the intensity of the rainfall.

intense rainfall

Replaces "extreme" with "intense", focusing on the high degree of rainfall.

torrential rain

Emphasizes the rapid and voluminous nature of the rainfall.

abnormal rainfall

Highlights the deviation from usual rainfall patterns.

unusually heavy rain

Adds "unusually" to emphasize the exceptional nature of the heavy rain.

catastrophic rainfall

Highlights the potential for disastrous consequences due to the rainfall.

excessive precipitation

Uses a more formal and scientific term for heavy rainfall.

record rainfall

Implies the rainfall has reached or exceeded historical records.

FAQs

What are some synonyms for "extreme rainfall"?

Alternatives include "heavy rainfall", "intense rainfall", "severe rainfall", and "torrential rain". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

How does climate change relate to "extreme rainfall"?

Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of many "extreme rainfall" events due to a warmer atmosphere holding more moisture.

What are the typical impacts of "extreme rainfall"?

"Extreme rainfall" can lead to a variety of impacts, including flooding, landslides, damage to infrastructure, and disruption of essential services.

Is "extreme rainfall" a scientific term?

Yes, "extreme rainfall" is used in scientific contexts to describe rainfall events that are statistically rare or have a high impact. Scientists also use more precise measures such as rainfall intensity and duration.