Fallin' a Storm

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "falling a storm" means a storm is starting or coming on fast - essentially, "it’s storming."

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synonyms: coming up a storm, fixing to storm, storming, coming a hard rain

Pronunciation

[FAW-lin uh STORM] /ˈfɔːlɪn ə stɔːrm/

Meaning & Usage

- A storm is beginning / intensifying (weather phrase)

Clara:

Feel that wind turnin’?

Elmer:

Yep - it’s fallin’ a storm over the ridge.

variations: fallin’ a storm, falling a hard rain (related)

Origin

Built on an older Southern/Appalachian pattern where fall can mean "to begin or come on" (as in "it’s fallin’ dark"). In regional weather talk, this extended naturally to storms: "it’s falling a storm" = a storm is setting in.

Notes

Common in older Southern and Appalachian speakers; younger folks may say "it’s storming" instead.
Often paired with other regional cues like "fixin’ to rain" and "coming up a storm."
Heard most when clouds build quickly and the wind shifts - the moment a storm "comes on."

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Common Questions

What does "falling a storm" mean?

That a storm is starting or coming on; essentially "it’s storming."

Is this only Southern?

It’s strongly Southern/Appalachian. Outside the region you rarely hear this exact phrasing.

Do people still say it today?

Mostly older speakers, though many Southerners still recognize it as familiar porch-talk.

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