Convert Precipitation Liters per Square Meter in Height

Calculator for the precipitation height of rain or snow at a precipitation amount in liters per square meter.

Precipitation is often given in L/m², i.e. in liters per square meter. This value refers to a specific time, which can be hours, days or even a year. One L/m² corresponds to one millimeter of precipitation, whereby rain, i.e. liquid water, of course can flow away and snow stays for a while.

Please enter a value and select a unit for the height. The other value will be calculated.

Example: 4 liters per square meter corresponds to a height of 0.15748 inches, or 4 millimeters, or 0.4 centimeters.

Time is left out for this conversion, but of course it is important for the amount of precipitation. To calculate the height of the water level after a certain period of steady rain, see the calculator for the amount of precipitation.

The 4 millimeters of precipitation mentioned above in the example correspond to moderate rain if it falls within an hour, i.e. this is normal rain. If it is less than 2.5 millimeters, it is light rain, and if it is more than 10 millimeters, it is heavy rain. The limits for the categories are different for snow, where less than 1.2 millimeters of precipitation per hour is light snowfall. At more than 5.4 millimeters, it is heavy snowfall. Snowfall in between is moderate.

Global warming is increasing extreme weather events and thus also the possible amounts of rain that can fall in a short period of time. The reason for this is relatively simple. Warm air can absorb more water, about 7 percent more water per degree Celsius. So the maximum amount of water in the air increases exponentially with temperature. When it suddenly cools down, more water is released from the air, which then falls to the ground as precipitation. Weather and climate are actually quite complex things and numerous factors contribute to the formation of the weather, but this connection between temperature and the amount of water is easy to understand and clear.