as in rains
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity
we ran into a big rainstorm on Highway 6, and the visibility was so poor we had to pull over
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Recent Examples of rainstorms
Southern California may experience more frequent rainstorms this fall and winter when a powerful El Niño system is expected to be in full effect.
—
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
The city of Leawood is looking to repair pipes and stormwater systems in an area that’s been plagued with flooding and water drainage issues during heavy rainstorms.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026
The new radar system can also track smoke from wildfires and provide more detailed information about typical rainstorms, improving the accuracy of forecasts.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
Plan gear in advance and keep a close eye on the weather, as rainstorms usher in unbearable mud and dangerous flash flooding.
—Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
The water year was off to a raging start with a series of rainstorms bringing much of Southern California to average or above average rain levels for the year in a period of just a few months.
—Sierra Van Der Brug, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
The air under a ridge is also stable, preventing the formation of clouds or rainstorms—the clear skies allow sunlight to heat up the surface unimpeded.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent rainstorms across California are also contributing to a surge in termite sightings.
—Sacbee.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Then, for those seeds to grow, rainstorms need to occur at an even interval between winter and spring.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
The city of Leawood is looking to repair pipes and stormwater systems in an area that’s been plagued with flooding and water drainage issues during heavy rainstorms.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026
The new radar system can also track smoke from wildfires and provide more detailed information about typical rainstorms, improving the accuracy of forecasts.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
Plan gear in advance and keep a close eye on the weather, as rainstorms usher in unbearable mud and dangerous flash flooding.
—Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
The water year was off to a raging start with a series of rainstorms bringing much of Southern California to average or above average rain levels for the year in a period of just a few months.
—Sierra Van Der Brug, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
The air under a ridge is also stable, preventing the formation of clouds or rainstorms—the clear skies allow sunlight to heat up the surface unimpeded.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent rainstorms across California are also contributing to a surge in termite sightings.
—Sacbee.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Then, for those seeds to grow, rainstorms need to occur at an even interval between winter and spring.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rainstorms
Noun
-
This year, after unusually heavy rains in February, Carrizo Plain erupted in a dramatic bloom in March, attracting several hundred visitors per day.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The annual rains have been failing over the past several years, interrupted in 2023 by devastating flooding.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The reason for the storms today is due to a boundary and the jet stream parked right on top of us.—
Ron Smiley,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
America’s aging power system is strained by more extreme storms and now electricity demand growth that is poised to expand at an unprecedented clip.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rainstorms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rainstorms. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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