Precipitation

Precipitation is water that falls from clouds to the ground as rain, drizzle, snow, sleet, hail, or ice pellets. It forms when cloud particles grow large enough to fall, often in rising air inside showers, fronts, or thunderstorms. For pilots it matters because it can reduce visibility, hide terrain, increase turbulence, and in some conditions lead to icing. You should check radar and weather reports, avoid heavy precipitation when possible, and be prepared for poorer visibility and changing aircraft performance.