virga
Evaporating streaks aloft
Virga is rain or snow that evaporates before reaching the ground.
Visible as streaks or wisps trailing from clouds, virga appears to hang in the air rather than fall.
The phenomenon is common in arid regions where dry air below clouds causes precipitation to dissipate mid-descent: We watched virga stream from the thunderheads, but no rain reached the valley.
Atmospheric water deposit
- rainfallWater falling from clouds
- nimbostratusThick gray rain-bearing cloud
- cumulonimbusTowering storm-producing cloud
- altocumulusMid-altitude puffy formations
cirrus · high-altitude · troposphere · weather · climate · hygrometer · barometer · radar
To leave behind completely
- droughtProlonged water scarcity
- aridDevoid of water
- dryFree from moisture
- parchedExtremely dry or thirsty
evaporation · sublimation · low humidity · outback · semi-arid · rain shadow · dusty · barren
Transition to gaseous state
- dissipateGradually fade away
- sublimateRedirect impulses constructively
- vanishCease to be visible
- evanesceDisappear by degrees
volatilize · disappear · desiccate · dry up · fade · transpire · dematerialize · dehydrate
Atmospheric optical deception
- optical illusionMisleading visual perception
- phantomInsubstantial apparition
- apparitionVisible supernatural manifestation
- deceptiveCreating false impressions
ghostly · ethereal · elusive · chimera · tantalizing · unreachable · illusory · spectral
Long thin marks
- rain shadowsArid zones behind mountains
- mare's tailsWispy high-altitude clouds
Thin and insubstantial
- etherealDelicate beyond earthly measure
- striatedMarked with parallel grooves
- dramaticStrikingly expressive or sudden
- painterlyShowing visible brushwork
golden hour · sunset · silhouette · photography · skyscape · luminous · backlit · translucent
precipitation
Atmospheric water deposit
- rainfallWater falling from clouds
- nimbostratusThick gray rain-bearing cloud
- cumulonimbusTowering storm-producing cloud
altocumulus · cirrus · high-altitude · troposphere · weather · climate · hygrometer · barometer · radar · doppler
desert
To leave behind completely
parched · evaporation · sublimation · low humidity · outback · semi-arid · rain shadow · dusty · barren · waterless
evaporate
Transition to gaseous state
evanesce · volatilize · disappear · desiccate · dry up · fade · transpire · dematerialize · dehydrate · wither
mirage
Atmospheric optical deception
- optical illusionMisleading visual perception
- phantomInsubstantial apparition
- apparitionVisible supernatural manifestation
deceptive · ghostly · ethereal · elusive · chimera · tantalizing · unreachable · illusory · spectral · visionary
streaks
Long thin marks
- rain shadowsArid zones behind mountains
- mare's tailsWispy high-altitude clouds
wispy
Thin and insubstantial
- etherealDelicate beyond earthly measure
- striatedMarked with parallel grooves
- dramaticStrikingly expressive or sudden
painterly · golden hour · sunset · silhouette · photography · skyscape · luminous · backlit · translucent · gossamer
virgarainfall
Water falling from clouds
rain · precipitation · downpour · cloudburst · deluge
virgaaccumulation
Collected mass over time
puddles · standing water · runoff · flooding