Thunderstorm vs. Rainstorm — What's the Difference?

A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm or a lightning storm, is a storm characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere, known as thunder. Relatively weak thunderstorms are sometimes called thundershowers.

A storm accompanied by rain.

A storm with thunder and lightning and typically also heavy rain or hail.

A storm characterized by substantial, heavy rainfall.

A transient, sometimes violent storm of thunder and lightning, often accompanied by rain and sometimes hail.

A storm with rain

A storm consisting of thunder and lightning produced by a cumulonimbus, usually accompanied with heavy rain, wind, and sometimes hail; and in rarer cases sleet, freezing rain, or snow.

A storm accompanied with lightning and thunder.

A storm resulting from strong rising air currents; heavy rain or hail along with thunder and lightning