Types of rainfall

Rainfall occurs when the condensed water vapor from the clouds falls on Earth in the form of droplets. There are 3 major types of rainfall.

When the sun heats the Earth’s surface, the water evaporates to form water vapor.
The warm moist air then rises in a convective current. As the air rises, it cools and the water vapor condenses to form clouds.
The clouds grow and eventually rainfall occurs as the weight of condensed water increases.
The rainfall is often accompanied by thunder and lightning.
Convectional rainfall in common in tropical regions while in temperate regions, it occurs mainly during the summers.

When a warm moist air current approaches a mountain, it rises up the slope and cools, consequently forming clouds.
These clouds bring rain, most of which falls on the ridge facing the air current (Windward side).
On the leeward side, the rainfall is very less.
The area on the leeward side is also known as the rain shadow area.

It occurs when two air masses with different temperatures collide.
The colder air mass being denser stays closer to the surface while the warmer air mass rises above it.
As the warm air rises it cools and condenses to form clouds which bring rain thereafter.

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