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Heavy precipitation does not necessarily mean the total amount of precipitation at a location has increased-just that precipitation is occurring in more intense events. 2 In addition, runoff from precipitation can impair water quality as pollutants deposited on land wash into water bodies.
![precipitation totals year to date precipitation totals year to date](http://www.sierraphotography.com/wxnotes/wxdata1213/wrcc_pon_jul1jun30_2013b.png)
1 The potential impacts of heavy precipitation include crop damage, soil erosion, and an increase in flood risk due to heavy rains (see the River Flooding indicator)-which in turn can lead to injuries, drownings, and other flooding-related effects on health. When more moisture-laden air moves over land or converges into a storm system, it can produce more intense precipitation-for example, heavier rain and snow storms. Warmer oceans increase the amount of water that evaporates into the air. What constitutes a period of heavy precipitation varies according to location and season.Ĭlimate change can affect the intensity and frequency of precipitation. "Heavy precipitation" refers to instances during which the amount of rain or snow experienced in a location substantially exceeds what is normal. 4 For more information on trends in overall precipitation levels, see the U.S.