Definition
An instrument used to measure the amount of rainfall that has occurred over a given period, typically expressed in inches or millimeters of water depth collected in a calibrated container.
Plain English
A device that catches falling rain and shows how much has fallen, usually as a depth measurement.
Context Anchor
Seen in aviation weather reporting, airport weather records, and discussions of rainfall amounts near an airport.
Why Pilots Care
Precipitation totals help evaluate runway braking action and the risk of hydroplaning.
Intuition Check
A rain gauge is not a cockpit gauge and it does not measure rain while the aircraft is flying. It measures the amount of rain collected at a fixed location on the ground.
Example Sentence 1
The weather station's rain gauge recorded 1.2 inches of rainfall during the afternoon thunderstorm.
Example Sentence 2
Before takeoff the pilot checked recent rain gauge readings to judge how wet the runway surface might be.