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    Virga - Wilmington, Ohio

    11/03/2007

    Photographer's Description: Virga falling from a shallow cumulus cloud

    Photographer Dan Hawblitzel, NWS Wilmington OH
    Date taken November 3, 2007
    Location Wilmington, OH (Clinton County)     map
    Event Virga

    Additional notes
    The wispy white feature hanging from the base of the cloud is virga, which is precipitation (in this case snow) which completely evaporates before it hits the ground.  See the radar illustration below to see how virga looks on radar.  Virga is favored when precipitation falls from high-based clouds into a dry atmosphere below it.

    The virga in this particular photo resembles a funnel cloud.  However, the cloud which is producing it is very shallow which should immediately be a sign that this shower is much too weak to produce a funnel cloud or tornado.  Furthermore, this feature remained almost unchanged for nearly 15 minutes - another clear signal that this was not a funnel cloud.

    Related NWS Product: None
     

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