But a mist used to rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground. 1 Notice, these verses only state that shortly after the earth was created , it had not rained. Some believe this mist began the evaporation-rain cycle. If so, the period of no rain was brief, and it rained before the flood. Let's look for other clues.
Rainbows form when raindrops refract sunlight.
This implies rainbows began after the flood, which would mean there was no preflood rain. Others say rainbows may have been visible before the flood, but afterward God simply associated His promise with rainbows. This would be similar to the symbolism of a wedding ring. Rings existed before a wedding, but afterward the ring recalls a solemn vow. However, the rainbow's symbolic effect would have been more unforgettable and reassuring to the frightened survivors of the flood if rainbows were a new phenomenon.