It looks soft and calm at first.
Just a cloud floating above water.
But slowly, the storm begins to change.
Color spreads through the cloud layer.
Moisture builds inside.
And the heavier the cloud becomes, the closer it gets to breaking open.
Then suddenly...
the storm bursts through.
That’s the moment kids move closer.
Because now they’re not just watching color drip through a jar.
They’re watching a glowing storm build right in front of them.
This storm in a jar experiment is one of our favorite weather science activities because kids can actually see how storms build, shift, and release moisture over time. The glowing rain slowly spreads through the cloud before finally breaking through into the water below in drifting trails of color.
Under blacklight, the entire storm glows.
If your kids love glowing science activities, our Glow Activities for Kids guide is packed with even more glowing experiments and sensory play ideas.
If your kids enjoy hands-on weather science, be sure to explore our Tornado in a Jar Experiment and our Oil and Water Experiments for Kids guide too. Both activities help kids explore swirling movement, drifting color, and fascinating liquid reactions in completely different ways.
What This Storm in a Jar Experiment Teaches
Storm clouds are constantly changing.
Moisture builds.
Cloud layers shift.
And once the clouds become too heavy to hold everything inside...
the storm finally breaks through.
This experiment recreates that process in a way kids can actually watch happen.
The shaving cream becomes the storm cloud layer.
The colored water becomes the rain.
And the moment the color finally breaks through the cloud, the storm begins drifting through the water below.
That’s what makes this activity so engaging.
Kids are not just hearing about weather systems.
They’re watching one form right in front of them.
Supplies for Storm in a Jar
You only need a few simple materials:
- Clear jar or glass
- Shaving cream
- Water
- Neon fluorescent paint or glow-in-the-dark paint
- Small bowls
- Pipettes or droppers
- Spoon
Optional:
- Blacklight for the glowing storm effect
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How to Make a Storm in a Jar
Step 1: Prepare the Rain
In a small bowl, combine:
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 teaspoon neon or glow paint
Stir until the color is completely mixed.
Repeat with multiple colors if you want a brighter storm effect.
Place a pipette or dropper into each bowl and set them aside.
Step 2: Build the Storm Cloud
Fill your jar about 2/3 full with water.
Add a thick layer of shaving cream on top to create the storm cloud.
The shaving cream should stay floating on top like a soft storm cloud.
For a simpler weather version focused more on rain cloud formation, try our Rain Clouds in a Jar Experiment too.
Step 3: Start the Storm
Use pipettes to slowly squeeze the colored water onto the shaving cream cloud.
At first, the cloud holds the moisture inside.
The color spreads slowly.
The cloud swells.
The storm builds layer by layer.
And then suddenly, the rain breaks through.
This swirling movement is one of the reasons kids also love our Fireworks in a Jar Experiment and Glowing Fireworks Experiment. Each activity creates completely different drifting patterns and movement.
Step 4: Watch the Storm Spread
As the glowing rain falls into the water below, the colors begin twisting and spreading through the jar like a real storm.
Some trails fall quickly.
Some twist slowly through the water.
Some clouds release huge bursts of color all at once.
Under blacklight, the glowing storm becomes even more dramatic to watch.
Why Kids Love This Experiment
There’s a moment where everything changes.
The storm cloud holds the rain...
and holds it...
and holds it...
until suddenly it releases everything at once.
It feels unpredictable.
It feels dramatic.
And it gives kids something to figure out, not just something to watch.
That’s what makes weather science so exciting for kids.
Extend the Play
Want to explore the storm in different ways?
Try this:
- Use only one color for a softer storm effect
- Mix multiple colors together and watch them swirl
- Compare warm water versus cold water
- Try the activity with and without blacklight
- Create giant storm clouds using extra shaving cream
Each variation creates different storm patterns, cloud movement, and swirling effects.
Explore More Weather and Glow Science
- Rain Clouds in a Jar
- Tornado in a Jar
- Fireworks in a Jar
- Glowing Fireworks Experiment
- Oil and Water Experiments for Kids
- Glow Activities for Kids
Final Thoughts
This storm in a jar experiment starts quietly.
But once the glowing rain begins building inside the cloud and finally breaks through, everything changes.
Kids can actually watch storms build, clouds release moisture, and glowing rain drift through the jar below.
It’s simple to set up.
Mesmerizing to watch.
And one of those science activities kids immediately want to try again.
📌 Save this glowing storm in a jar experiment for later and explore more weather science activities with your kids.
