Weather forecasts often refer to either rain or showers, but did you know they often give a very different 'feel' to the day?
Showers imply the weather will change a lot during the day with rain on and off, whereas rain will bring continuous wet weatherfor hours at a time, and then it will clear.
Showers
While showers are technically a type of rain, theyusually fall from individual clouds you can see in the sky so the rainwill be on and off, withgaps of drier and brighter weather in between. It is quite hit and miss where they occur, and this means that you could get heavy showers on and off through the day, whereas in the next town their weather stays dry all day (see picture below).
On any day with a shower in the forecast, it is usually best to prepare to get rained on, even if it looks bright outside.On some days there will be frequent showers, on other days you may just catch one brief shower and then it stays dry the rest of the day.
Rain
When a weather front brings rain, it will usually bring continuously grey skies, with rainfalling through a large portion of the day. In these situations, weather forecasters tend to use the terms 'persistent rain' or 'prolonged rainfall'.
The key differences relate to the types of cloud that lead to their formation and the resulting difference in the duration and intensities of the downpours.
In our forecasts
The difference between showers and rain becomes readily apparent when we take a top-down look at the weather map. In the examples below, the difference is evident in a large organised band of rainfall moving across the UK, and isolated showers spouting up and disappearing across Scotland.
We also distinguish between the two in our forecasts with different symbols referencing showers or rain as in the table below:
Shower and rain weather forecast symbols | Day | Night |
|---|
| Light rain |
|
|
|---|
| Light showers |
|
|
|---|
| Heavy rain |
|
|
|---|
| Heavy showers |
|
|
|---|
A difference in size and duration
Rain
What we usually mean when referring to 'rain' is the precipitation that falls from weather fronts. A front is aboundary between two bodies of air that have different properties.Frontal cloud may stretch for hundreds of miles usually consisting of various types of stratus cloud (including stratus, altostratus and nimbostratus).
Frontal rain tends to stretch across large areas bringing precipitation to a wider area.
This makes frontal rain hard to avoid because the rain usually stretches along the entire length of the front. These fronts can typically last for a day or so and they are commonly associated with unsettled weather.
Showers
Showers, by contrast,are produced by convective clouds known as cumulus.Rain-bearing cumulus clouds are commonly taller than they are wide and have a fluffy, cauliflower-like appearance to their tops.
The largest cumulus clouds are called cumulonimbus and they reach high enough into the atmosphere to contain ice, rather than water droplets. Whilst cumulonimbus clouds are large relative to an observer on the ground, they are not on the same scale as the body of cloud associated with a front.
A mature cumulonimbus cloud can be tens of thousands of feet high and many miles in diameter, butunlike frontal cloud, they are relatively narrow. A cumulonimbus cloud will last for tens of minutes to hours, and so showers tend to be sudden and brief whereas frontal rain can last for days.
A difference in process and formation
Rain
Fronts produce most of their rain through mass ascent. Mass ascent is where one body of air is lifted, bodilyupwards, by another body of air. The lifted body of air cools and the water vapour it contains condenses to form clouds and then rain.
Showers
Showers produce their precipitation via convection. A cumulus or cumulonimbus cloud will begin life as a 'bubble' of buoyant air that rises upwards in the atmosphere. The bubble of air will cool as it gains height and this will lead to the formation of the cumulus cloud with its distinctive cauliflower-like top. The cauliflower-like head of the cloud represents where buoyant air is continuing to ascend into the air of the surrounding atmosphere. Once the cumulus cloud reaches a certain depth or attains a cold enough cloud top temperature, it will produce rain. Rain often falls in a downdraught within the cumulus cloud. The downdraught usually acts to suppress the updraught that originally formed the cumulus cloud, which limits the life-span of a cumulus cloud.
FAQs
Showers imply the weather will change a lot during the day with rain on and off, whereas rain will bring continuous wet weather for hours at a time, and then it will clear.
What is the difference between rain and shower? ›
A shower is typically hit-or-miss. It can be light, heavy, isolated, spotty, scattered or numerous, but short-lived. Rain can also be light to heavy, but lasts for hours or even days. Rain will also typically cover a much larger geographic area.
How much rain is considered a shower? ›
Very heavy rain: Greater than 8 mm per hour. Slight shower: Less than 2 mm per hour. Moderate shower: Greater than 2 mm, but less than 10 mm per hour. Heavy shower: Greater than 10 mm per hour, but less than 50 mm per hour.
What is the meaning of rain showering? ›
Meaning of rain shower in English
a short period of rain: There is a very slight chance of rain showers this afternoon. He got caught in a sudden rain shower.
What is the difference between rain and water? ›
Rainwater is the result of condensation and precipitation in the atmosphere, while stream water is the accumulation of water from various sources, such as rainfall, groundwater, and runoff. 2. Purity: Generally, rainwater is considered relatively pure because it falls directly from the atmosphere.
Should I take a shower if I got rained on? ›
Again, most viruses that cause cough and colds have an easier time invading the body when there is a drastic temperature change. Showering helps the body gradually shift back to the normal temperature after drying. On top of this, it can wash away the germs that may have attached to the skin.
Is it OK to shower with rainwater? ›
Rainwater might not be safe for household use without additional treatment. Before using collected rainwater for drinking, bathing, or cooking, consider whether treatment is needed to make it safe. Testing the water can determine if there are harmful germs, chemicals, or toxins in it.
What is considered a shower? ›
Summary. Being a shower or a grower refers to the change in penis length from a flaccid to erect state. If people have a penis that increases significantly in length from a flaccid to erect state, they may be a grower. If there is no significant change, they may be a shower.
What makes a rain shower? ›
A rain showerhead, also known as a rainfall or waterfall showerhead, is a ceiling-mounted showerhead that sprays water down vertically. It has light water pressure to mimic the feel of rinsing in the rain, so even on your most hectic mornings, you can enjoy a relaxing, serene shower before you start your day.
How many inches of rain does it take to fill a 5 gallon bucket? ›
Hence it would take between 15 and 20 cm of rain to fill the bucket if you just sat it outside on level ground in the rain. ( 6 to 8 inches). The EXACT amount of taper is what determines the depth of rain needed to fill the volume of the bucket.
Think of showers like you're turning on a faucet or hose, but on and off every so often. It's not a constant stream of water or precipitation that lasts much more than 20 minutes or so at a time. You might get some dry breaks in between showers with both peaks of blue and overcast skies in the mix.
Is rain shower better than regular? ›
If you're into a powerful, targeted water stream, a regular shower head is probably your thing. But, if you're into the idea of a calm, spa-like shower that covers your entire body, a rainfall shower head might be just the ticket. The best shower head is the one that makes you happy and gives you the best shower.
Why do they say not to shower when it rains? ›
People may be at risk of electric shock if lightning strikes a building and travels through metal plumbing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , people should avoid showering, bathing, and other activities that involve running water or plumbing during a thunderstorm.
Is there a difference between rain and showers? ›
Weather forecasts often refer to either rain or showers, but did you know they often give a very different 'feel' to the day? Showers imply the weather will change a lot during the day with rain on and off, whereas rain will bring continuous wet weather for hours at a time, and then it will clear.
Does rain count as watering? ›
When rain does occur, the water beads and flows off, not absorbing into the soil where the plant roots are. After when the rain subsides the soil is many times softer, you can reapply water, this water penetrates the soil easier.
Is rain better than watering? ›
It might not come as a surprise that there's no water plants love better than rainwater. Imagine your thirsty plants doused in droplets fallen fresh from the sky, their leaves expertly channeling the bounty down stalks and into the soil—right to the root zone where it is needed most.
Is rain water the same as shower water? ›
While showers are technically a type of rain, they usually fall from individual clouds you can see in the sky so the rain will be on and off, with gaps of drier and brighter weather in between.
What is the point of a rain shower? ›
There's a lot to love about rain showers—most notably, they offer a relaxing shower experience with a gentle rain-inspired flow. They also look fantastic, instantly elevating the style of even the most basic bathrooms.
