Bedno.com
Portlanders have many words for rain.

Riffing on the Eskimos and Snow story, reasonable answers to "How is the rain?" By increasing order of intensity, with brief definitions. Collected from meteorological technical vocabulary and thesauri. Click a word for dictionary lookup.
CloudyPrecursor to rain.
CondensationWater vapor beginning to change state to liquid.
DewyMoist with, affected by, or suggestive of dew.
FogMinute water droplets, appreciably reducing visibility.
Fog DripFog which adheres to surfaces, coalesce into larger drops which then fall to the ground.
MoistSlightly wet, not completely dry.
HazyAir obscured by particulates, though typically dry.
Liquid SunshineHumorous or ironic term. Rain whil sun is shining.
MistVery fine droplets often more atmospheric than wet
TrickleTo fall in drops.
SprinkleLight scattered rain
SpittleFrothy saliva.
SpatterScattered splash of small drops.
SplatterSplashed and scattered.
SplashDashed about in scattered masses.
PepperingSprinkled lightly as with seasoning.
PatteringA rapid succession of light taps.
MizzleBetween mist and drizzle.
DrizzleVery light rain with small drops. ("DZ")
Mixed PrecipitationCombination of different forms of precipitation simultaneously or transitioning.
DrippingDrips, drops, dropping.
LightPrecipitation rate less than .1" per hour.
IsolatedCovering less than 20 percent of an area.
TearsAs if angels are sad.
PrecipitationGeneral term for any form of water falling from the sky
ScatteredCovering less than 50 percent of an area.
WetInformal general term
SoggySoaked, thoroughly wet, sodden.
ShowerBrief and light rain. ("SH")
Window WasherRain just enough to rinse windows off.
RainfallThe amount of rain that falls
RainWater droplets falling from the atmosphere. ("RA")
ModeratePrecipitation rate between .1-.4" per hour.
PluieFrench word for rain (used poetically in English sometimes)
VolleyBursts in quick succession.
RainstormA storm with heavy rain.
StreamA body of water flowing in a channel.
FrontBoundary between two air masses of different temperatures and humidity.
Atmospheric RiverLong narrow band of concentrated water vapor in the atmosphere that transports moisture.
SplooshThe sound or instance of splashing.
GlobsSmall rounded mass or lump of liquid.
GushFlow out suddenly and in large quantities.
CloudburstSudden intense rain
Coming DownFalling rain, similar to pouring.
ThundershowerRain shower accompanied by thunder and lightning.
SnowIce crystals that form snowflakes. ("SN")
SlushA mixture of snow and water. ("RASN")
FlurryA light, brief shower of snow.
Freezing DrizzleDrizzle that freezes on contact. ("FZDZ")
Freezing RainRain that freezes on contact with a surface that is below freezing. ("FZRA")
GraupelSnow pellets or soft hail. ("GS")
HailLumps of ice formed during thunderstorms. ("GR")
SleetRain that partly freezes as it falls from the sky.
ThunderstormA transient storm of lightning and thunder, usually with rain and gusty winds, produced by cumulonimbus clouds.
PeltingRain falling very hard, with large drops hitting surfaces forcefully.
PouringRain falling in large drops and with a lot of force.
DrenchingTo make completely wet, soaked.
DownpourHeavy and sudden rain
BucketsFigurative description of an extremely large amount of rain.
LashingRain falling with great force, hitting repeatedly and violently like a whip striking.
SheetsExtremely heavy rainfall where drops are so numerous and dense as to seem like unbroken surfaces or curtains of water.
SpateSudden, almost overwhelming, outpouring.
SalvoSudden and rapid discharge of rain.
RushSudden, quick, and forceful downpour
HeavyPrecipitation rate more than .3-2" per hour.
RiverA metaphor for heavy, flowing rainfall.
Cats & DogsDescribe particularly heavy rain with objects varying by culture.
TorrentHeavy fast-flowing downpour that can cause flooding.
SidewaysRain at extreme angle due to wind. Horizontal rain.
StormAtmospheric disturbance with winds of unusual force accompanied by precipitaion.
ViolentPrecipitation rate greater than 2" per hour.
BombardmentHeavy downpour, barrage or torrent, leading to erosion.
BeatingRain falling very hard, strongly, and relentlessly.
BarrageHeavy, overwhelming, and continuous downpour.
InundationThe condition of being flooded.
SquallSudden very strong wind of brief duration accompanied by precipitation.
DelugeOverwhelming or torrential rain
FloodGreat flowing or overflowing of water, especially over land not usually submerged.
MonsoonSeasonal heavy rain especially in South Asia
HurricaneOceanic cyclone having extremely high sustained wind speeds.
TyphoonSevere cyclone occurring in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.
CycloneLarge-scale atmospheric wind-and-pressure system characterized by low pressure center and circular wind motion.


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2025.11.04