Weather



Weather was announced at April 7th 2011 and added in the 1.5 update which arrived at April 19th 2011. The type of weather can depend on the biome; arctic biomes can get snow, others get rain, and deserts get no precipitation whatsoever. Weather is very rare though and does not occur often. Rain makes the sky darker, blocks out the sun, stars, and moon and makes Wolves wetter. It also causes crops to grow and will put out fires (except burning netherrack). Rain can also make puddles in small holes in the ground. When snowing, ice will grow back and snow will cover the ground where it can reach. There are also occasional thunder and lightning during both rain and snow.

Confirmed information about weather

 * Rain and snow will be a temporary and global occurrence.
 * You can't see the sun, moon and stars while it's raining, and days are light level 14 instead of 15.
 * Higher odds of catching fish while raining. It may fill small holes with water.
 * It will not solidify lava, but it does put out fires.
 * Wolves get wet in the rain and crops will get watered.
 * Ice and snow will regrow whilst snowing.
 * Rain will not put out netherrack fires.
 * Lightning sets fire to the ground upon hitting it, but that is immediately extinguished by the rain.
 * If Lightning strikes a pig, it will morph into a zombie pigman.
 * Thunderstorms are much darker than normal rain, at light level 7 or less. Notch has confirmed it will be dark enough to spawn aggressive monsters.
 * Rain prevents monsters from burning.
 * Rain does not put out torches.

History
After 1.5's announcement, a preview video was also uploaded onto the TeamMojang YouTube channel showing weather and other future updates.