Heavy rainfall is a meteorological phenomenon characterized by an unusually large amount of precipitation over a short period of time. The two crossword solutions for this term are 'SPATE' and 'DELUGE'. A 'SPATE' is a sudden, large increase in the amount of something, such as rain or snow. A 'DELUGE' is an overwhelming amount of water, often associated with heavy rainfall. Both terms refer to a large amount of precipitation that can cause flooding and other damage.