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Weather & seasons · Liquid precipitation

Explore together · A short start and more to discover

Why does rain fall?

Puschel’s dry spot becomes a rain cinema.

Puschel and Flauschi look through a closed window at rain and a puddle.
Puschel and Flauschi look through a closed window at rain and a puddle.

The short answer

Tiny water droplets or ice particles grow in clouds. When large enough, they fall. If they reach the ground as liquid, it is rain. Melted ice particles can also become raindrops.

Puschel and Flauschi look through a closed window at rain and a puddle.
Puschel and Flauschi look through a closed window at rain and a puddle.

See the connection

1. Invisible vapour: Upward arrows show liquid water evaporating. The vapour itself cannot be seen; no white steam is drawn.
1. Invisible vapourUpward arrows show liquid water evaporating. The vapour itself cannot be seen; no white steam is drawn.
2. Tiny cloud droplets: Cooling can turn vapour into tiny droplets. The blue dots are greatly enlarged symbols; many drops together make the cloud visible. Cold clouds may also contain ice.
2. Tiny cloud dropletsCooling can turn vapour into tiny droplets. The blue dots are greatly enlarged symbols; many drops together make the cloud visible. Cold clouds may also contain ice.
3. Rain falls: Larger drops fall; melted ice can also become rain. Downward arrows show falling liquid water, not vapour.
3. Rain fallsLarger drops fall; melted ice can also become rain. Downward arrows show falling liquid water, not vapour.

Simplified drawings, not to scale. Not a guide for identifying species.

An imagined Wusel scene

Puschel and Flauschi investigate

Puschel wanted to count leaves outside. Now he counts drops on the closed window. Puschel“The sky has its own plan.”

Flauschi stands beside him. Small rings appear in a puddle on the path. They compare the traces of big and small drops.

Puschel“My list has turned watery even indoors,” jokes Puschel. Flauschi laughs. Rain has given them a new exploring spot.

Little Wusel quiz

Is rain liquid water or invisible water vapour?

Show answer

Rain consists of liquid drops. Water vapour is an invisible gas.

Explore in more detail

Here you will find longer explanations and further details. You can explore them together.

Understand step by step

How it works – simply explained

How the steps connect
  1. Particles grow in clouds
  2. Larger particles fall
  3. The journey continues

Particles grow in clouds

Tiny drops can collide and join. Ice particles grow too. A cloud is not a bag of ready-made large raindrops.

Larger particles fall

Air movement keeps small particles aloft longer. Larger ones fall more readily. Falling ice may melt into raindrops.

The journey continues

Rain may soak into soil or enter streams and later evaporate. A shower is one part of the water cycle.

References for this explanation: [1]

The key points again

Discover

Rain is liquid water falling from clouds as drops.

Understand

Tiny cloud droplets can grow and join together. Melting ice particles can also become raindrops.

Connections

Rain supplies soils and waterways. Some soaks in, some flows away and some evaporates again.

Pictures and sources for adults