What do you call rain that is so light you can hardly feel it…but you’re getting wet?  Something that’s heavier than mist but lighter than drizzle?

WeatherWatch.co.nz has the answer – it’s called “Mizzle”.

A term that is not technical but more a better explanation of the conditions…

WeatherWatch.co.nz says when you combine mist and drizzle together you end up with what is known as mizzle – a misty drizzle that is very light.

Mizzle may wet your skin and your windscreen – but is unlikely to really wet the road.

Some Aucklanders today experienced mizzle.

A quick Google search for ‘Mizzle’ doesn’t come up with too many scientific matches however.  

A search inside the weather website giant weather.com came up with “No matches”.

However the Urban Dictionary – an online dictionary where you get to come up with your own words and definitions – describes mizzle as “A type of weather between mist and drizzle; very fine, almost cloud-like, rain”.  

It gives an example of how you might use it in a sentence.  “I hate this mizzle; I’d rather it rained properly!”.

The Urban Dictionary also suggests the word has many other meanings – including this odd one “Mizzle – a fat sister in law. She is a hefty heifer with chubby hooves. Her girth alone is enough to cause panic in almost any city”.   Or used in a sentence “Last night I was enjoying the peace and quiet when that massive mizzle showed up and ruined my evening”.

I guess you could say that either way, ‘mizzle’ appears to be something people see as a negative!
 

– WeatherWatch.co.nz

Image / Misty conditions – Laura Jerome