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Precipitation refers to any form of water—liquid or solid—that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface due to gravity. The main categories are rain, drizzle, sleet, snow, hail, and freezing rain. Precipitation forms when water vapor condenses into droplets or ice crystals in clouds and grows to a size that cannot be supported by air currents, leading to falling droplets or crystals. Rain and drizzle are liquid, while snow consists of ice crystals, and hail forms as layered ice from strong updrafts in storms. Freezing rain occurs when rain freezes upon contact with a cold surface.

The amount of precipitation is commonly measured as liquid water equivalent, expressed in millimeters. Weather stations use rain gauges to collect liquid water, while snow is often converted to water equivalent using snow pillows or depth-to-water relationships. Remote sensing, including weather radar and satellites, complements ground measurements by providing broad spatial coverage and real-time data.

Global distribution of precipitation is controlled by atmospheric circulation, topography, and seasonal insolation. The tropics experience intense, often daily, convection and monsoonal rainfall, while mid-latitude regions see storm systems delivering variable precipitation. Mountainous terrain enhances orographic precipitation, and arid regions experience scarce rainfall.

Precipitation plays a central role in the hydrological cycle, agriculture, water resources, and ecosystem health. It can also trigger hazards such as floods, landslides, and drought onset when patterns shift. Monitoring and modeling precipitation help manage water supply, climate research, and weather forecasting.