Different types of rainfall in the UK
On average, it rains one in three days in the UK. Highland areas to the west receive the most annual rainfall compared to the low-lying areas in the east. The southwest prevailing winds bring moisture from the Atlantic Ocean.
Types of rainfall
There are three different types of rainfall:
- relief
- convectional
- frontal
Relief rainfall
- Rain that occurs on high land and mountainous areas. occurs when warm, moist air from the Atlantic Ocean rises up over mountains.
- When the warm air rises, it cools and condenses to form clouds, which brings rain.
- Once the air has passed over the mountains, it descends and warms.
- This creates drier conditions known as a An area with reduced rainfall because it is behind higher land. .
Convectional rainfall
- Occurs in warm or tropical climates when heated air rises and cools. usually occurs during the summer in the UK, when the sun heats the land.
- This creates rising pockets of warm air, known as convection currents.
- Warm air rises rapidly, where it starts to cool and condenses to form clouds.
- These clouds can be large A type of large, dense, tall, grey cloud which produces rain, hail, or snow. clouds.
- The clouds can produce heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.
Frontal rainfall
- When a warm and cold front meet, creating rainfall. occurs when a warm front meets a cold front. The heavier cold air sinks to the ground and the warm air rises above it.
- When the warm air rises, it cools.
- The cooler air condenses and form clouds.
- The clouds bring heavy rain.