大雨(おおあめ)

大雨(おおあめ) means heavy rain — significantly heavier than normal rainfall.

Forms

大(おお) (big, heavy) + 雨(あめ) (rain).

Common patterns

• 大雨(おおあめ)が降(ふ)る: heavy rain falls
• 大雨(おおあめ)警報(けいほう): heavy rain warning
• 大雨(おおあめ)注意報(ちゅういほう): heavy rain advisory (less severe)
• 大雨(おおあめ)で中止(ちゅうし): canceled due to heavy rain
• 大雨(おおあめ)による被害(ひがい): damage caused by heavy rain

Intensity scale

• 小雨(こさめ): light rain
• 雨(あめ): rain (normal)
• 大雨(おおあめ): heavy rain
• 豪雨(ごうう): torrential rain (more intense, often implies disaster-level)
• 集中豪雨(しゅうちゅうごうう): localized torrential rain