Home
Weather Dublin
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    Creating clouds in a bottle

06:00
2 June 2022

Bank holiday fun
Creating clouds in a bottle

cloud in a bottle

Have you ever tried to make your own weather phenomena? We aren't talking about a rain dance or praying for snow, but simply creating a cloud in a bottle.

Creating your own cloud is very simple. All you need is a two litre plastic bottle, some warm water and a couple of matches... and adult supervision if you are too young to use matches.

Pour a small amount of warm water into the bottom of the plastic bottle, leaving the cap off. Then light a match and blow it out. As soon as you have blown it out, you need to drop the match into the bottle and quickly tighten the water bottle cap back on.

With the lid on, gently squeeze the bottle a couple of times. Did you see a little and very brief puff of whiteness when you released the pressure? That's the cloud you've made. If you exert more pressure to the bottle, a more noticeable whiteness should appear.

But how does the cloud form in the bottle?

By squeezing the bottle you exert pressure. This causes the temperature inside the bottle to increase. When you release the pressure, the temperature in the bottle decreases causing water molecules to condense.

The smoke particles from the match enable the water molecules to condense and stick together around the smoke creating the cloud in a bottle.

Have a go for yourself, but don't blink or you'll miss it!

Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
Flood alerts after heavy showers. Risk in northern England. . . Thursday 20 August 2026
Weather radar map showing persistent heavy rain across northern England around Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle, with a flood warning symbol highlighting the risk.
Thursday 20 August 2026

Risk in northern England

Flood alerts after heavy showers
Drought brings flash flood risks. As rain returns. . . Wednesday 19 August 2026
Weather radar map of the UK and Ireland showing widespread showers, with a rain icon and flood warning symbol highlighting the risk from rainfall.
Wednesday 19 August 2026

As rain returns

Drought brings flash flood risks
Record warmth in the Mediterranean. High water temperatures. . . Tuesday 18 August 2026
Split graphic showing a hot southern Europe temperature map beside a sunny Mediterranean beach, with a sea-temperature icon highlighting very warm coastal waters.
Tuesday 18 August 2026

High water temperatures

Record warmth in the Mediterranean
All weather news
This might also interest you
Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands. Storm and rain. . . Friday 12 December 2025
Weather graphic showing rain and wind fields over the Canary Islands and a central warning symbol.
Friday 12 December 2025

Storm and rain

Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands
Bright and warm conditions take hold. Spring-like outlook. . . Thursday 23 April 2026
Split UK map showing warm temperatures up to 21 degrees in orange on the left and clear sunny conditions with temperatures from 12 to 18 degrees on the right, with sun icons across the country.
Thursday 23 April 2026

Spring-like outlook

Bright and warm conditions take hold
Long-term trends need a pinch of salt. 40 °C in July?. . . Tuesday 30 June 2026
Temperature radar of 2022 heatwave where the all-time temperature record in the UK was set. Warning symbol overlain.
Tuesday 30 June 2026

40 °C in July?

Long-term trends need a pinch of salt
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwitteryouTubelinkList