The difference between rain and showers

We see plenty of slow-moving bands of rain on the WeatherRadar with some showers, but what is the difference between rain and showers? After all, they both bring wet weather!

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.