Virga

Coachella Valley May 19, 2009

- Denise Goolsby, The Desert Sun

Virga — water that falls from the clouds and evaporates before it hits the surface — kicked up the wind for for about 20 minutes Monday afternoon.

The change of weather — which seemed to come out of nowhere — sent sand flying and blew clothes and hair askew.

Edward Armstrong was standing beside his gray Honda Camry pumping gas at the Arco am/pm at Date Palm Drive and Ramon Road in Cathedral City when the virga hit about 11:20 a.m.

“It wasn't like this a little while ago,” Armstrong said.

“It was clear, and all of a sudden you turn around, and it's all windy and you can't see anything,” said Maria Perez, the station's cashier, looking through the store's windows.

Virgas are normal during this time of the year, National Weather Service meteorologist Stan Wasowski said.

The lower atmosphere is really dry, thanks to a long, rainless period in the desert, he said.

Higher above, the water — which is evaporating — cools the air below and sinks to the surface, causing a downdraft or microburst, he said.