Dean M. Chriss
Photography
Raining Fire, Southern Utah

Raining Fire, Southern Utah

(Click image to enlarge)

In meteorology virga is precipitation that falls from a cloud but evaporates before reaching the ground. These are frequently seen as one or two wisps descending from a larger cloud. In this case the virga was the most extensive I have ever seen, and it occurred precisely at sunrise. This made for an amazing scene as the evaporating rain fell against partial backlight from the rising sun.