heavy rainfall

USAGE SUMMARY

"heavy rainfall" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which there is a lot of rain. For example, "Our city has been experiencing heavy rainfall for the past few days."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Heavy rainfall, and thus flooding, has increased.

The Economist

Regions with heavy rainfall may not either.

The Economist

Unsurprisingly, heavy rainfall events were rare.

The Guardian

Southern Africa, however, experienced unusually heavy rainfall.

The Guardian

Under heavy rainfall, the sewage system is overwhelmed.

The Guardian

The culprit, locals knew, had been heavy rainfall.

The New York Times

Is such heavy rainfall out of the ordinary in Australia?

Independent

It receives generally heavy rainfall and is densely forested.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The coastal zone has a hot climate and heavy rainfall.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Heavy rainfall is also expected across the south of England.

Independent

Heavy rainfall and high waves also accompanied the storm.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about weather events, use "heavy rainfall" to clearly communicate the intensity and potential impact of the precipitation.

Common error

Don't use overly casual terms like "a lot of rain" when "heavy rainfall" provides a more precise and professional description, especially in formal reports or news articles.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heavy rainfall" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object in a sentence. It describes the condition or event of significant precipitation, as demonstrated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Wiki

39%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Science

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "heavy rainfall" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe significant precipitation. Ludwig shows that it's frequently found in news reports, encyclopedias, and Wikipedia articles. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase serves to inform about a particular weather condition and is generally neutral in register, making it suitable for diverse communication scenarios. When describing weather phenomena, using "heavy rainfall" provides clarity and precision. For variety, consider alternatives such as "torrential downpour" or "intense precipitation" depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

torrential downpour

Focuses on the intensity and suddenness of the rainfall.

intense precipitation

Highlights the high amount of precipitation, using a more scientific tone.

severe rain

Emphasizes the potentially damaging nature of the rainfall.

abundant precipitation

Stresses the plentiful nature of the rainfall.

copious rainfall

Highlights the large quantity of rain.

extreme rainfall

Indicates an unusual or exceptional amount of rain.

excessive rain

Suggests a surplus amount of rainfall, potentially causing problems.

heavy rainstorm

Implies a storm characterized by heavy rain.

substantial rainfall

Highlights the significant amount of rainfall.

deluge

Emphasizes the overwhelming nature of the rainfall.

FAQs

How can I use "heavy rainfall" in a sentence?

You can use "heavy rainfall" to describe weather conditions, such as "The region experienced "heavy rainfall" over the weekend, leading to flooding".

What's a more formal way to say "heavy rainfall"?

Alternatives like "intense precipitation" or "substantial rainfall" can be used in more formal contexts.

Is "heavy rainfall" the same as "torrential rain"?

While both describe a lot of rain, "torrential rain" suggests a more intense and potentially sudden downpour than "heavy rainfall".

What are the impacts of "heavy rainfall"?

"Heavy rainfall" can lead to various impacts, including "flooding", landslides, and disruptions to transportation.