Home / Editor's Pick /

Where does rain come from?

11:00
13 February 2022

Weather explained
Where does rain come from?

There's no shortage of rain across the UK and Ireland this weekend with more downpours all day today, but do you know where the rain comes from?

To put it simply, rain comes from clouds. When air parcels rise to a certain level they condense into water droplets and form clouds.

Inside the clouds the water droplets will collide with others creating bigger water droplets. As the droplets get bigger, they get heavier and when they become too heavy they begin to fall to the ground as rain.

Watch our weather explained video below to learn more:

Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
Weather map of Europe with high and low pressure areas marked. Isobar lines show the pressure distribution, alongside a forecast map. Different weather conditions from northern to Southern Europe.
Monday 22 December 2025

"High over low"

Blocking weather conditions at Christmas
Split image showing a family and children playing and sledding on a snowy field with winter hills on the left, and a UK weather forecast map on the right with sun and cloud icons, city temperatures, and cloud cover over northern Scotland, divided by a curved white line.
Wednesday 24 December 2025

Unlikely this year

Defining a White Christmas
Dense green forest with tall trees as bright sunlight streams through the canopy, casting long shadows across the leafy ground.
Sunday 21 December 2025

Winter solstice

Days start getting longer from now!
All weather news
This might also interest you
Sunday 24 August 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Mammatus clouds widely spotted
plit image showing a double rainbow over a rocky shoreline on the left and sheep grazing in a green field under stormy clouds on the right.
Sunday 2 November 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Mixed conditions on an unsettled week
Outline of Santa Claus with a yellow and white hat, "Ho-Ho-Ho" next to the outline above a Christmas tree.
Thursday 25 December 2025

Merry Christmas!

Wishes from Weather & Radar
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwitteryouTubelinkList