No. Many clouds produce no precipitation at the surface. Cloud droplets can remain too small to fall as rain, and falling drops may evaporate in dry air before reaching the ground.
Why droplets do not immediately fall
Cloud droplets are tiny and fall very slowly. To create rain, they generally need to grow by collision and merging or through ice-related processes.
Cloud type makes a difference
Nimbostratus often brings steady rain or snow; cumulonimbus can produce showers and thunderstorms. Thin cirrus and many shallow fair-weather cumulus clouds generally do not produce rain reaching the surface.
Virga can fool you
Streaks beneath a cloud may look like distant rain, yet disappear before touching the ground. That precipitation is called virga and indicates a dry layer below.
How to tell what is happening locally
Use radar, observations and forecast information along with cloud appearance. A cloud’s darkness alone does not reliably show whether rain will reach your exact location.
Frequently asked question
Can a white cloud rain?
Yes. Sunlit parts of precipitation-producing clouds can remain bright white.
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