intense rainfall

USAGE SUMMARY

"intense rainfall" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where there is a very heavy amount of rainfall. For example, "The intense rainfall caused flooding in the streets."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Intense rainfall has become more frequent, along with major flooding.

Independent

In July 150 people were killed in central and northern China after intense rainfall.

The Guardian

Intense rainfall, it warned, leads to nutrients being more easily washed out.

The Economist

Global warming also adds more water vapor to the atmosphere, which causes more intense rainfall and exacerbates flooding.

The Guardian

Every year around ten atmospheric rivers stall over the British Isles, bringing intense rainfall to a small region.

The Guardian

For example short bursts of intense rainfall in Dhaka already cause huge traffic jams and misery for its citizens," he said.

The Guardian

For instance, considering the city's intense rainfall, there will now be more storm water storage capacity using interdependent components such as integrated wetlands and circulating canals.

The Guardian

If an atmospheric river hits one of these regions head-on, as it did in Cumbria in 2009, the resulting intense rainfall can be devastating.

The Guardian

The influence of such intense rainfall events has not, until now, been considered in assessments of the melt and flow response of any ice sheet.

The Guardian

Scientists blame global warming, which is heating the atmosphere, allowing it to hold on to more water, which it then releases as bursts of intense rainfall.

The Guardian

Intense rainfall over the rocky soil there could potentially lead to violent flash floods like those in New England and eastern New York after Hurricane Irene.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ "intense rainfall" when precision matters in scientific or technical writing about climate, weather patterns, or hydrological processes.

Common error

Avoid using "intense rainfall" when "moderate rain" or "heavy rain" would be more accurate. Overusing "intense" can dilute its impact and make descriptions less precise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intense rainfall" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "intense" modifies the noun "rainfall". According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. The examples show it describing weather events and their consequences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "intense rainfall" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe significant precipitation events. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely accepted and employed across diverse sources like news outlets, scientific journals, and encyclopedias. Its use indicates a high volume of rain occurring in a short period, often associated with natural disasters such as floods and landslides. While versatile, be mindful of overuse and aim for precision when describing rainfall intensity. Alternative phrases like "torrential rain" or "heavy downpour" can add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

heavy downpour

Focuses on the sudden and forceful nature of the rain.

torrential rain

Emphasizes the overwhelming and copious amount of rain.

severe precipitation

Highlights the harsh or extreme nature of the rainfall event.

extreme rainfall

Underscores that the rainfall is beyond the usual or expected amount.

copious rainfall

Stresses the abundant and plentiful quantity of rain.

abundant rainfall

Similar to copious, but with a slightly broader connotation of general plentifulness.

heavy rainfall

A more general term indicating a significant amount of rain.

powerful rainfall

Focuses on the strength and impact of the rain.

extreme precipitation event

Positions the rainfall within the context of a larger weather phenomenon.

deluge

Implies a great and overwhelming flood, often associated with very heavy rain.

FAQs

How is "intense rainfall" commonly used in a sentence?

The phrase "intense rainfall" is often used to describe the cause of events like flooding or landslides. For example, "The "intense rainfall" caused the river to overflow its banks."

What are some alternatives to "intense rainfall"?

You can use alternatives like "heavy downpour", "torrential rain", or "severe precipitation" depending on the context.

What kind of events are associated with "intense rainfall"?

"Intense rainfall" is often associated with events like flash flooding, mudslides, and landslides due to the sheer volume of water within a short time.

Is there a difference between "heavy rainfall" and "intense rainfall"?

While both describe significant rainfall, "intense rainfall" suggests a higher degree of severity and a more concentrated period of precipitation compared to "heavy rainfall".