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

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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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