Why Does Rain Sometimes Disappear Before It Hits the Ground?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why does rain sometimes disappear before it hits the ground?

The Big Idea

Rain sometimes disappears before it hits the ground because the air below the cloud is so dry! The falling drops evaporate on the way down. The water goes right back into the air.

Rain Falls

Step one: rain starts to fall. Raindrops leave the bottom of a cloud and begin to drop. So far, everything looks normal, like any rainstorm you might know.

Dry Air

Step two: the air is very dry. When rain falls through very dry air, the drops evaporate on the way down. They turn into invisible water vapor that you cannot see at all.

Virga

Step three: look for virga. You can see gray streaks hanging beneath a cloud that never reach the ground. These are called virga. In deserts, even a heavy shower can disappear this way.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! The rain starts in a cloud. Streaks hang beneath it. The dry air below drinks up the drops. And the water goes back into the air as vapor.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Virga can cool the air below it. That is because evaporating water takes heat away. The cloud's water goes back into the air. Dry air is thirsty air, and it drinks up water very fast!

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Put one drop of water on a dry plate in a sunny window. Time how long it takes to vanish. Dry air takes water quickly, just like on a desert day. Share what you discover with a grown-up.

Outro

Dry air can drink raindrops before they ever land. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!