Virga
What is virga?
Virga is precipitation—rain, snow, or ice crystals—that falls from the base of a cloud but evaporates before reaching the ground. While it may look harmless, virga can signal that a cumulus cloud has built into towering cumulus or thunderstorm status, and the evaporation can produce dangerous downdrafts. Think of it as "rain that never lands"—a visible streak hanging below a cloud that warns of developing convective weather.
Studying for an FAA written test?
Terms like virga show up on the FAA knowledge test. Study them in context with ACS-aligned practice questions, AI explanations, and the cited FAA handbook reference behind every answer — free to start.