Engineering English
Rainfall Intensity
Civil Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: Rainfall intensity is the rate of precipitation over a given duration, typically expressed in millimeters per hour. It is used in designing drainage systems and calculating runoff using the rational method.
Example in context
“The rainfall intensity for a 10-minute duration storm is needed to design the street gutters.”
“10 dakika süreli bir fırtına için yağış yoğunluğu, sokak oluklarını tasarlamak için gereklidir.”
Where engineers use it
Rainfall intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curves are standard tools used by engineers to determine design storm intensities. This parameter directly influences the sizing of culverts and storm drains.
Practice: can you use “Rainfall Intensity” at work?
You are tasked with designing a stormwater management system for a new parking lot. Determine the critical rainfall intensity for the design storm.
Show a model answer
“The rainfall intensity is derived from the local IDF curve.”
“Rainfall Intensity” in 21 languages
| English | Rainfall Intensity |
|---|---|
| Turkish | yağış yoğunluğu |
| French | intensité de pluie |
| German | Regenintensität |
| Spanish | intensidad de lluvia |
| Chinese | 降雨强度 |
| Arabic | شدة المطر |
| Portuguese | intensidade de chuva |
| Russian | интенсивность дождя |
| Japanese | 降雨強度 |
| Italian | intensità di pioggia |
| Vietnamese | cường độ mưa |
| Hindi | वर्षा तीव्रता |
| Thai | ความเข้มข้นของฝน |
| Indonesian | intensitas hujan |
| Korean | 강우강도 |
| Bengali | বৃষ্টিবিরতি |
| Dutch | regenintensiteit |
| Swedish | regnintensitet |
| Finnish | sateen intensiteetti |
| Ukrainian | інтенсивність дощу |
Frequently asked questions
What does Rainfall Intensity mean in engineering?
Rainfall intensity is the rate of precipitation over a given duration, typically expressed in millimeters per hour. It is used in designing drainage systems and calculating runoff using the rational method. In Civil Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Rainfall Intensity?
Rainfall Intensity is pronounced /ˈreɪnfɔːl ɪnˈtɛnsɪti/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Rainfall Intensity used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The rainfall intensity for a 10-minute duration storm is needed to design the street gutters.”
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