x
Breaking News
More () »

Have you ever heard of a 'streamer shower'? 12News meteorologist explains the phenomenon

A 12News viewer sent in a picture of a cloud formation she didn't recognize and the 12News weather team explains what she saw

PHOENIX — You may be familiar with streaming your favorite movie or TV show, but did you know clouds can stream too? 

A picture sent in by a 12News viewer named Penny in Gilbert, which you can see below, shows a perfect example of that. 

What is seen in the picture is a rain streamer coming out of the base of a cloud. Streamers can be any form of precipitation, rain, freezing rain or snow.  

The best way to truly understand this formation would be to have photos leading up to this image and photos after. Streamers form as precipitation falls from the cloud but evaporates before reaching the surface.  

If there's enough wind, and the precipitation is freezing rain, the wind will force this streamer into another cloud formation called a "cirrus" cloud. Those look like wispy thin white brush strokes in the sky.

Credit: Penny
Cloud in Gilbert Credit: Penny

Technically speaking, a cloud is defined as a visible aggregate of minute droplets of water or particles of ice or a mixture of both floating in the free air.  Each droplet has a diameter of about a hundredth of a millimeter.  Each cubic meter of air will contain 100 million droplets.  Because these droplets are so small, they can remain in liquid form in temperatures down to -22° F.  

Clouds at higher levels in the atmosphere are composed of ice crystals.  Clouds form when the invisible water vapor in the air becomes liquid, and condenses into visible water droplets or ice crystals. For this to happen, the air must be saturated and unable to hold all the water in vapor form.  That's when the air mass condenses into a liquid or solid mass.

And here's another fun face, did you know that fog and cloud are the same thing?  The only difference in terminology is due to elevation. Fog is defined as visible moisture that begins at a height lower than 50 feet. If the visible moisture begins at or above 50 feet, it is called a cloud.   

>> Live, local, breaking. Download the 12News app

Watch 12News+ for free

You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!

The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.

12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.

Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.

Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."

Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.

Up to Speed

Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.  

Before You Leave, Check This Out