A form of precipitation consisting of water droplets ranging from 1 to 5 mm in diameter. The type of rain produced reflects the circumstances in which it formed. A mass of warm air rising at a warm front will develop layered clouds and produce steady rain. Air forced to rise quickly at cold fronts will bring heavier rain. These are both examples of frontal rain.
Convection rain occurs when warm, unstable air rises rapidly.
See also Bergeron-Findeisen theory and coalescence theory . The Macmillan Encyclopedia 2001 5. All rights reserved.