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

    Create your own cloud in a bottle

16:00
15 January 2022

Weather at home
Create your own cloud 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.

Once the lid is back 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!

More on the topic
Warm waters raise severe weather risk. Mediterranean bathtub. . . Friday, 4 September 2026
Left: Map showing water temperatures in the Mediterranean; Right: Dark clouds over a stretch of Mediterranean coastline. A bolt of lightning strikes and a curtain of rain can be seen.
Friday, 4 September 2026

Mediterranean bathtub

Warm waters raise severe weather risk
Hurricane Lowell threatens Hawaii. Gales and flash floods. . . Tuesday, 8 September 2026
WindRadar showing Hurricane Lowell north-west of Hawaii and its well-defined storm centre.
Tuesday, 8 September 2026

Gales and flash floods

Hurricane Lowell threatens Hawaii
Record ocean heat halting hurricanes. Strong El Niño influence. . . Friday, 11 September 2026
A weather map shows a calm Atlantic Ocean with no hurricanes, alongside a picture of the sea.
Friday, 11 September 2026

Strong El Niño influence

Record ocean heat halting hurricanes
All weather news
This might also interest you
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
A stormy week in the skies above. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday, 30 August 2026
Split image showing lightning branching beneath dark storm clouds above rooftops on the left and an orange-pink sunset over a calm sea on the right.
Sunday, 30 August 2026

Your weather - Your shots

A stormy week in the skies above
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

facebooktwittertikToklinkList