Short answers, pulled from the story.
A raindrop begins its descent when it reaches a diameter of approximately 0.1 millimeters. Small droplets with a smaller diameter have a negligible fall rate and float indefinitely until they grow large enough to overcome air resistance.
The largest snowflake ever recorded measured 15 inches in diameter and was allegedly observed in January 1887 at Fort Keogh in Montana. This size defied typical expectations of ice crystal formation and occurred during the Wegener, Bergeron, Findeisen process.
Orographic precipitation occurs when moist air is forced to rise over a mountain ridge and cool adiabatically until it condenses into clouds. This process leaves the leeward side in a state of arid desperation known as a rain shadow, such as the Atacama Desert created by the Andes mountain range.
Studies have shown that rainfall rates downwind of cities can be increased by as much as 116% due to the urban heat island effect. This phenomenon creates a zone of rising air that induces additional shower and thunderstorm activity driven by heat from buildings and vehicles.
Approximately 78% of global precipitation falls over oceans while only 22% falls over land. This uneven distribution creates a stark imbalance that shapes the distribution of life on the planet and drives global climate classification systems.