drizzly

Drizzly is an English adjective used to describe weather in which rain falls in very small, fine droplets—drizzle. In meteorological terms, drizzle refers to liquid precipitation with droplets typically less than about 0.5 millimeters in diameter, produced by low, stratiform clouds such as stratus and nimbostratus. Drizzly conditions are usually associated with overcast skies, high humidity, and light, continuous precipitation rather than heavy showers. Visibility is often reduced, and surfaces become damp rather than soaked.

Drizzly weather can occur in coastal or maritime climates where moist air rises slowly and forms persistent low clouds. It is common in the morning or late afternoon and may alternate with clearer periods. In forecasts, drizzle is described as light rain or light precipitation. The term drizzly is commonly used in everyday language to convey a mood or atmosphere of mild, ongoing precipitation rather than intensity.

Differences from mist or fog are primarily about the presence of actual falling droplets; drizzle involves precipitation that reaches the ground, albeit in small amounts, whereas mist or fog refers to suspended moisture in the air with little to no rainfall. The word drizzly is typically used to characterize a day’s weather as mild and damp, rather than to quantify a specific rate of precipitation. See also drizzle (precipitation).