We identify the macro-circulation processes, controlling precipitation in the Altai region from 1981 to 2011, on the basis of daily data precipitation from 13 Altai weather stations and «Calendar of sequential change elementary circulation mechanisms (ECM)» (developed B.L. Dzerdzeevskii). The maximal contribution to precipitation during the studied period came from the 13s ECM which contributed more than 20% of precipitation at each weather station. That ECM in the Altai region features the appearance of southern cyclones coming from the Aral-Caspian region, which bring the major precipitation. The obtained estimation results have a good agreement with the published data assuming that the southwestern cyclones correspond only to the 13s ECM, whereas all other 40 types of ECM correspond to 7 macro-circulation processes. The proposed approach to the identification of macro-circulation processes, responsible for precipitation in the region, can have wide applicability. For instance, it can be used to identify the main sources of biological objects on the surface of the Altai glaciers.