Precipitation

Precipitation is water released from clouds in the form of rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow, or hail.

The amount of precipitation affects the types of plants and animals that can live in an ecosystem.

The western side of the forest gets about 60 in. of precipitation each year. The east side of the forest gets about half as much. Monongahela National Forest is one of the most biologically diverse national forest because of the variation in rain fall.