14 DAY TRIAL // On July 8, 2011, photographer Ray Boren was able to capture this amazing view of virga clouds above Great Salt Lake, in Utah. These clouds are amazing because precipitation falling from them does not reach the ground, but rather evaporates in mid-air.
This natural phenomenon provides an impressive view, as water droplets create shimmering curtains as they evaporate in the sunset light. This photo was taken from Bountiful, Utah, according to EPOD.
Though beautiful, virga clouds can pose a serious risk to aviation, since they can create dry microbursts when pockets of colder air can descend rapidly. This happens because the shifting of water droplets into vapor in mid-air removes most heat from the surrounding atmosphere.
An additional side-effect is the triggering of gusty downbursts of wind, which occur when precipitations falling from virga clouds evaporate in mid-air at very high altitudes. These gusts can warm the planetary surface below, and may also carry extremely dry air.