Precipitation shaft

A precipitation shaft or, depending on the precipitation type, a rain shaft or hail shaft, is a weather phenomenon, often visible from the ground at large distances from the storm system, as a vertical shaft of heavy rain, hail, or snow, generally localized over a relatively small area. Depending on the type of precipitation and lighting, these shafts can vary greatly in color, appearing as very dark, nearly white, or even faintly glowing.

This is different from a virga, which is a shaft of precipitation that evaporates before reaching the ground.

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