Reply To: washing netilas yadayim on shabbos

Rain is diffferent.

He is not doing an action with his own hands (the rain falls from the sky on its own, as opposed to me pouring water on my clothing).

With rain – The wetting of his clothing is against his will; he doesn’t want it to happen, and would prefer that it not happen.

The rain soils his clothing, as opposed to improving them.

It is impossible to avoid the rain.

Interestingly, the poskim discuss why it’s not a problem of carrying if one’s clothes get wet in the rain.