A rainstorm is a period of heavy, intense rainfall, often accompanied by strong winds, thunder, and lightning. Unlike a gentle drizzle that might last all day, a rainstorm arrives suddenly, dumps large amounts of water quickly, and can turn streets into rivers within minutes.

During a rainstorm, the sky darkens dramatically, rain pounds against windows, and you might hear the roar of water rushing through gutters and downspouts. If you're caught outside when a rainstorm hits, you'll get soaked in seconds, no matter how fast you run. Inside, you might watch sheets of rain blow sideways across the yard, see tree branches thrashing in the wind, and hear thunder rumbling overhead.

Rainstorms can cause flooding, knock out power, and create dangerous driving conditions, but they also water crops, fill reservoirs, and help forests thrive. After a rainstorm passes, the air often smells fresh and clean, puddles dot the sidewalks, and sometimes a rainbow appears as the sun breaks through the clouds. Many people find the sound of a rainstorm relaxing, especially the steady drumming of rain on a roof when you're safe and dry inside.