How do updrafts play a role in the formation of precipitation?

There are a few processes that occur during precipitation formation to increase the size of the precipitation particles. Gravity acts on all particles, but updrafts work against gravity, supporting larger particles the stronger they are. Thus, in weak updrafts, we end up with small particles like drizzle and snow grains; in strong updrafts, we get rain and snow; and in extremely strong updrafts that occur over thousands of feet, such as in a cumulonimbus cloud, we can get extremely large precipitation like hail.

Updrafts play a crucial role in the formation of precipitation by lifting air containing water vapor to higher altitudes where it cools and condenses into clouds. As the air rises, it expands and cools, reaching its dew point where condensation occurs, forming clouds. Eventually, the water droplets within the clouds coalesce and grow large enough to fall as precipitation.