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An understanding of the relationship between canopy structure and the water balance is needed for predicting how forest structure changes affect rainfall partitioning and, consequently, water resources. The objective of this study was to predict rainfall interception (I) and canopy storage capacity (S) using canopy structure variables and to investigate how seasonal changes influence their relationship. The study was conducted in twelve 50 m × 50 m plots in the Zagros forest in the western Iranian state of Ilam, protected forests of Dalab region. Average cumulative I was 84.2 mm, accounting for 10.2% of cumulative gross precipitation (G_P) over a 1-year period. Using a regression based method, S averaged ~ 1 mm and 0.1 mm in the leafed and leafless periods, respectively. There were no relationships between tree density and I:G_P or S, but I:G_P and S increased with leaf area index, canopy cover fraction, basal area …