The difference between rain and showers

Over the past few days we've seen lots of rain across the UK and Ireland with a mix of rain and showers, but what is the actual difference?

They both bring wet weather and the only difference is the type of cloud they come from. Rain comes from a flat layered cloud, called stratus:

Whereas showers come from fluffy convective cloud, called cumulus:

Rain can be lighter or heavier than a shower, and can last longer or shorter! It doesn't matter, its name just depends on the cloud it comes from.

Having said that, if you hear the words in a forecast, they usually indicate different things. The word 'rain' usually means unbroken cloud with wet weather that could last a few hours.

Whereas the word 'showers' would generally indicate shorter downpours, with some breaks in between the clouds allowing the sun to appear. But now you know, that the real difference is really the cloud.