So what is virga?
Virga is a streak of precipitation falling from the base of the cloud, but the precipitation does not reach the ground. Instead, the precipitation evaporates or sublimates (the process of a solid turning into a gas). The result is the streak from the cloud, which progressively gets lighter in color before it is no longer visible. Virga can actually lead to numerous weather effects as well. For example, as the precipitation falls, it cools the air and that cool air may reach the ground. The cold air produced may descend very quickly, resulting in another meteorological phenomena known as a microbust. This is just one of the many interesting types of weather we study!
Forecaster Derrick Marsee
