infrequent precipitation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "infrequent precipitation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe weather conditions where rain or snow occurs rarely over a certain period. Example: "The region is known for its infrequent precipitation, making it a popular destination for those seeking dry weather."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

From early November to mid-March, the lighter and drier winds of the northeast monsoon bring variable cloudiness, infrequent precipitation, and lower humidity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The percolation of infrequent precipitation tends to cause lateral and downslope movement of silt particles beneath the surface of the ground.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Whereas the soil habitat was characterized by more extreme temperatures, short infrequent precipitation-, fog-, and dewfall events, and high light intensities, the temperatures in the hypolithic environment were more balanced and water conditions were much more favorable, while light intensities were clearly lower.

Ecological Processes

During the dry season, precipitation is infrequent except for high elevation thunderstorms (>3,000m).

Plosone

Precipitation is light and infrequent, but the state's eastern corner, which drops toward the Gulf of Mexico's coastal plain, is generally humid.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Heavy rain is infrequent and rainstorms do not exceed a daily precipitation of 50.0 mm.

Journal of Modern Transportation

Precipitation in arid ecosystems occurs as rain pulses, namely infrequent, discrete and unpredictable events of variable intensity.

CATENA

Although average precipitation and humidity during summer is low, there are infrequent yet heavy and often violent storms.

Wikipedia

The upper basin generally receives snow and rain during the winter and early spring, while precipitation in the lower basin falls mainly during intense but infrequent summer thunderstorms brought on by the North American Monsoon.

Wikipedia

At elevations above 16,000 feet (4,900 metres), precipitation always takes a solid form, but snow in June is not infrequent even at lower elevations.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This water-controlled ecosystem with infrequent, discrete and largely unpredictable water inputs (Berry 2000) and far higher rates of potential evaporation than precipitation (Mendelsohn et al. 2002) allows only a few plant and animal species inhabitation.

Forest Ecosystems

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing regional climates, use "infrequent precipitation" to highlight dry conditions or drought-prone areas.

Common error

Avoid using "infrequent precipitation" when you mean heavy but sporadic rainfall. "Infrequent" refers to how often it rains, not how hard it rains when it does.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "infrequent precipitation" functions as a descriptive noun phrase. It modifies an environment, climate, or region, highlighting the scarcity of rainfall or other forms of moisture. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

50%

News & Media

17%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "infrequent precipitation" is a grammatically correct and relatively uncommon way to describe a climate or region that experiences little rainfall. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is appropriate for formal and scientific contexts, where precise descriptions of environmental conditions are necessary. While other options like "sparse rainfall" or "limited precipitation" exist, "infrequent precipitation" effectively communicates the scarcity of rain or snow. It's important to use this phrase to accurately describe conditions when rainfall is rare rather than to describe the intensity of sporadic storms. Given its distribution across encyclopedias, scientific journals, and news sources, it occupies a niche as a descriptive phrase in educated discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sparse rainfall

Emphasizes the scattered and limited nature of the rainfall.

rare rainfall

Highlights the uncommon occurrence of rainfall events.

limited precipitation

Focuses on the restricted amount of precipitation received.

scarce rainfall

Indicates a deficiency or shortage of rainfall.

low precipitation

Describes the reduced quantity of precipitation.

meager rainfall

Suggests that the rainfall is scanty or insufficient.

minimal precipitation

Indicates that the precipitation is very slight or the least possible.

occasional precipitation

Highlights the sporadic and irregular nature of precipitation.

sporadic rainfall

Emphasizes the irregular and intermittent occurrence of rainfall.

infrequent rainfall events

Specifies that the rainfall occurs as distinct and uncommon events.

FAQs

How can I use "infrequent precipitation" in a sentence?

You can use "infrequent precipitation" to describe climates or regions that experience limited rainfall, such as: "The desert climate is characterized by "infrequent precipitation" and high temperatures."

What's a more formal synonym for "infrequent precipitation"?

A more formal synonym would be "sparse rainfall" or "limited precipitation". These terms are suitable for scientific or academic contexts.

Is "infrequent precipitation" the same as "no precipitation"?

No, "infrequent precipitation" means that precipitation does occur, but it's not common. "No precipitation" implies a complete absence of rainfall or snowfall.

What are some regions characterized by "infrequent precipitation"?

Arid and semi-arid regions, such as deserts and steppes, are often characterized by ""infrequent precipitation"". Examples include the Sahara Desert and parts of the Southwestern United States.