Winter Precipitation

Snow Sleet Freezing Rain and Definitions

Winter Precipitation: Snow Sleet Freezing Rain and more

Winter precipitation can best be described as a variation of frozen ‘stuff’ falling from the clouds. But what that stuff is depends on the layers of cold and relatively warmer air aloft between and into the cloud layer.

In the animation here, freezing is shown as 0°C, which is the same as 32°F. The blue layer is colder than freezing, while the red shading is above freezing.

In some storm set ups, a layer of warmer air can be sandwiched between cold air above and below. This is how that can affect the type of ‘stuff’ that falls.

See more winter weather definitions below.

Winter Precipitation

SNOW: Below freezing in the clouds and on the way down.

*It can snow when the surface air is warmer, but colder snowflakes don’t melt yet.

(INVERSION: A warmer layer of air in the middle of the middle of the atmosphere)

SLEET: A thin inversion melts snow or starts out as rain, then it refreezes on the way down to the ground. This ‘pings’ when it hits and can hurt. The layer of cold air near the ground is thick.

FREEZING RAIN: A thicker inversion melts snowflakes or starts as rain. The thin layer of freezing air near the ground is not enough to refreeze the precipitation. It will fall as rain, but freeze on contact with the surface.

RAIN: Warm enough above freezing all the way down to the ground.

*Graupel – Partially melted and refrozen snowflakes. The edges curl in and they look like tiny Styrofoam balls.

Definitions/Popular Terms

Advection – Air moving in from one place to another

Alberta Clipper – A fast moving storm originating in Alberta Canada that can drop a quick few inches of snow but often comes with very cold arctic air. This can also be a Saskatchewan Screamer.

Bomb (Bombogenesis) – When Low Pressure rapidly deepens at a rate of 1 mb per hour or faster. This is often marked by 24 mb or more in 24 hours.

Inversion – when the air temperature warms with height. It can be warmer on a hilll top and colder in a valley. This can also occur with a cold ground and warmer air above.

Lake Effect Snow – The cold air over the Great Lakes creating an unstable environment and heavy snow downwind. This usually stays close to the lakes and does not cross the mountains.

Nor’Easter – A strong storm off of the East Coast of the US. This moves to the North East, into the Northeastern US, and the winds for coastal areas come around form … the Northeast. Thus, three reasons this type of storm gets its name.

Overrunning – Warm air can rise over a cold air mass. So the clouds can be warmer than the ground. Hills can be warmer than valleys too. Hill top and colder in a valley. Same with a colder ground vs. warmer clouds.

Polar Vortex – This is a naturally occurring circulation of extreme cold around the North Pole. When this is weakened, it can wobble and shift southwards. When it is discussed reaching Canada or the northern US, that is when we get the most extreme cold.

Stickage – The process of snow laying and staying on the ground. There is no melting, just piling up to start the accumulation.

Sublimation – Snow skipping the melting and ice crystals going to gas form. It is not evaporation but rather sublimation.

Virga – Snow seen on radar but sublimating and appearing to dry up before reaching the ground.

Vintage Video:

My first use of the word ‘Stickage’ in late December 1974

My kids and dad helped me recreate this 😉