virga

American  

[vur-guh] / ˈvɜr gə /

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 (distinguished from praecipitatio).

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virga British  

/ ˈvɜːɡə /

noun

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

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virga Scientific  

/ 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.

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Etymology

Origin of virga

1935–40; < Latin: rod, streak

Example Sentences

If virga occurs along with dry lightning, there is a risk of fires being sparked, she said.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 21, 2025

That leads to virga, which is rain that appears to be dropping from a cloud but evaporates before it reaches the ground.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 21, 2025

Precipitation counts as drizzle when the drops are smaller than that and virga when the drops are so small they don’t reach the ground.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 26, 2022

As I walked I noticed a distant storm and a trail in the sky of lace-like virga, or shafts of rain that hang from a cloud, never making it to the ground.

From New York Times • Nov. 6, 2019

Strong gusts of wind buffeted the train, and ghostly virga of ice followed it through the night.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson