strong downpour

USAGE SUMMARY

'strong downpour' is correct and is usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a very heavy rain, such as: The strong downpour made it difficult to drive.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The Galaxy S5 offers some genuinely useful stuff that the Galaxy S4 doesn't, with extreme water and dust-protection (which really works, based on a brief 30-second submersion test and use in a fairly strong downpour) that should give most users a lot of extra peace of mind.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"This year we have seen how climate change can amplify the impacts of hurricanes with stronger downpours of rain, higher sea levels and warmer ocean conditions favoring more powerful storms," Le Quéré said.

Huffington Post

One hard downpour drove away many people at once.

The New Yorker

The remnants of hurricane Bertha have hit Britain, bringing strong winds and downpours moving in from the south-west.

The Guardian

Cindy brought strong winds and downpours along the coast of Nova Scotia.

Wikipedia

AccuWeather.com said residents in the affected areas should brace for downpours, strong wind gusts and possible isolated tornadoes through Thursday.

Huffington Post

The torrential downpours and strong winds that frequently accompany the typhoons sometimes devastate life and property in Hong Kong and in adjacent areas of Guangdong.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Hundreds of thousands of Midwestern residents remained without power on Thursday after remnants of Hurricane Ike swept through the region on Sunday, bringing torrential downpours and strong winds.

The New York Times

While not as strong as two years ago, when downpours flooded the mid-Atlantic region and sent rivers raging, outfitters say they expect a good run this year.

The New York Times - Travel

PAGE A11 AFTER HURRICANE IKE, STILL NO POWER Hundreds of thousands of Midwestern residents remained without power after remnants of Hurricane Ike swept through the region on Sunday, bringing torrential downpours and strong winds.

The New York Times

It's so strong and the heavy downpours are continuing," Mai Zamora, from the charity World Vision, in Cebu, told the BBC.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "strong downpour" to vividly describe a sudden and intense burst of rain. It's particularly effective when emphasizing the disruptive or impactful nature of the rainfall.

Common error

While "strong downpour" is acceptable in general writing, avoid using it in highly formal or scientific contexts. Opt for more neutral terms like "heavy rainfall" or "intense precipitation" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strong downpour" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "strong" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "downpour". According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and commonly used to describe a heavy rainfall event.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "strong downpour" is a grammatically sound and readily understandable phrase used to depict heavy rainfall. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While not overly common, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts, offering a vivid way to describe impactful weather. For more formal writing or scientific reports, alternatives such as "heavy rainfall" or "intense precipitation" might be more suitable. Its strength lies in its ability to quickly convey both the presence and intensity of rain.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

torrential rain

Emphasizes the intense, rapid flow of water.

heavy rainfall

Focuses on the amount of rain, without necessarily implying intensity.

severe deluge

Suggests an overwhelming and destructive amount of rain.

driving rain

Describes rain that is propelled by strong winds.

intense shower

Highlights the intensity and brief duration of the rainfall.

massive rainfall

Stresses the scale and quantity of the rain.

powerful rainstorm

Emphasizes the strength and force of the rain event.

heavy precipitation

A more formal term for substantial rainfall.

thunderstorm with heavy rain

Highlights the presence of both thunder and particularly heavy rain.

blinding rain

Focuses on how the intensity of rain affects visibility.

FAQs

What does "strong downpour" mean?

A "strong downpour" refers to a sudden and heavy rainfall, often characterized by its intensity and potential to cause immediate disruption or impact.

How can I use "strong downpour" in a sentence?

You might say, "The "strong downpour" caught us by surprise, and we had to take shelter under a tree."

What are some alternatives to "strong downpour"?

Alternatives include "heavy rainfall", "torrential rain", or "intense shower" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "strong downpour" a formal or informal expression?

"Strong downpour" is generally considered a neutral expression suitable for most contexts, but it might be less appropriate in highly formal or scientific writing. In such cases, using "heavy precipitation" might be preferable.