A sunshower, or sun shower, is a meteorological phenomenon in which rain falls while the Sun is seen shining. A sunshower is usually a result of winds associated with a rain storm sometimes miles away, blowing the airborne raindrops into an area where there are no clouds. Sometimes a sunshower is created when a single rain shower cloud passes overhead, and the Sun's angle keeps the sunlight from being obstructed by overhead clouds. Sunshower conditions often lead to the appearance of a rainbow, if the sun is at a sufficiently low angle.

Names

Although the term "sunshower" is used in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the UK, it is rarely found in dictionaries. The phenomenon has a wide range of sometimes remarkably similar folkloric names in cultures around the world. A common theme is that of clever animals and tricksters like the devil or witches getting married, although many variations of this theme exist.

The Americas

Asia

Europe

Africa