yellow rain

American  

noun

1. small, powdery yellow deposits containing the fungal toxin tricothecene, found on leaves and other surfaces in Southeast Asia and Afghanistan in the early 1980s and alleged by some to be a chemical weapon disseminated by air but claimed by others to be pollen-containing bee excrement contaminated by fungus.

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yellow rain British  

noun

1. a type of yellow precipitation described in parts of SE Asia and alleged by some to be evidence of chemical warfare using mycotoxins

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Etymology

Origin of yellow rain

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

yellow rain

More rain is expected to move in from the south during midweek and the Met Office has issued a yellow rain warning for southern England valid from 06:00 Wednesday until 08:00 Thursday.

From BBC ● Feb. 18, 2026

Eastern counties have a yellow wind warning, and a yellow rain warning is in place across Northern Ireland.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2025

A yellow rain warning, indicating a risk of flooding, is also in place in parts of the western UK.

From BBC ● Dec. 6, 2024

A yellow rain warning has been issued by the Met Office for parts of southern England and south Wales for Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2024

It was Bunny, all right, all six-foot-three of him, looming up behind me in a tremendous yellow rain slicker that came almost to his ankles.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt