virga

[ vur-guh ]

noun

, (used with a singular or plural verb)

1. streaks of water drops or ice particles falling out of a cloud and evaporating before reaching the ground ( praecipitatio ).

virga

/ ˈvɜːɡə /

noun

1. sometimes functioning as plural meteorol wisps of rain or snow, seen trailing from clouds, that evaporate before reaching the earth

virga

/ vûr′gə /

1. Light wisps of precipitation streaming from a cloud but evaporating before reaching the ground, especially when the air below is low in humidity.

Word History and Origins

Origin of virga¹

1935–40; < Latin: rod, streak

Word History and Origins

Origin of virga¹

C20: from Latin: streak

Example Sentences

In a pattern referred to as virga, the moisture in the middle layers of the atmosphere will fall as rain, but evaporate before hitting the ground, Dumas said.

From Los Angeles Times

“A lot of it that’s falling is what we call virga,” Lund said.

From Los Angeles Times

The Seattle area has so many different kinds of precipitation — drizzle, mist, showers, virga — that residents have taken to making up their names for it.

From Seattle Times

Rain that doesn’t reach the ground is called virga.

From Los Angeles Times

The next week featured rather unimpressive storms but afforded some memorable sights — towering sunset storms near Snyder, Tex., and “virga” produced by evaporating rain in Minnesota.

From Washington Post