Clark
(Meteorologist)
Sat Sep 18 2004 03:23 PM
Re: Why are clouds so dark when there is rain?

When it is raining, there is sufficient water vapor in the air in the clouds to block out the majority of the sun's rays. This results in a dark color being given to the bottom of the cloud. The color patterns with clouds in general, whether white, gray, or plain old dark, are a function of the diffusion of light by the water molecules in the clouds.