virga
/ˈvɜrɡə/
noun
- Streaks or wisps of precipitation (rain or snow) that fall from a cloud but evaporate before reaching the ground.
- Photographers love capturing virga at sunset because the streaks look like golden curtains.
- From the airplane, we could see virga trailing beneath the distant clouds.
- The weather report mentioned virga, so the rain never actually hit the desert floor.