A sunshower, or sun shower, is a meteorological phenomenon in which rain falls while the Sun is seen shining. [1] 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. [1]
Although the term "sunshower" is used in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the UK, it is rarely found in dictionaries. [2] [3] [4] The phenomenon has a wide range of sometimes remarkably similar folkloric names in cultures around the world. [5] A common theme is that of clever animals and tricksters like the devil or witches getting married, although many variations of this theme exist. [2] [5]