What does precipitation include?

Precipitation encompasses all forms of condensed water vapor that fall from the atmosphere to the ground. This includes not only rain but also snow, sleet, hail, and drizzle. By defining precipitation in this comprehensive manner, it acknowledges the variety of ways water can return to the Earth’s surface from clouds.

While rain is one of the most common forms of precipitation, limiting the definition to just rain would exclude significant forms like snow and sleet, which are crucial in many climates. Additionally, fog, which consists of suspended water droplets in the air, is not classified as precipitation since it does not fall but rather hangs in the atmosphere. Thus, a broad understanding of precipitation is essential for grasping meteorological concepts effectively.