If the surface temperature is at or below freezing, this precipitation could then reach the ground as freezing rain, or refreeze just above the surface and land as sleet (a "ball" of ice, also called an ice pellet).

Jan 8, 2025 · When you hear "wintry mix" in the forecast, it means the weather can’t decide between snow, sleet, or freezing rain. This happens because the air isn't the same temperature all the way down...

Jan 31, 2024 · The formation of freezing rain is very similar to that of sleet — so similar, in fact, that you’ll often see sleet and freezing rain at the same time if the surface temperature is just right—32 degrees F.

3 days ago · Freezing rain occurs when snowflakes fall into a deep layer of warm air, melting entirely into liquid raindrops. When these raindrops reach the cold ground with surface temperatures below 32 ...

Jan 19, 2025 · NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Winter weather often brings a mix of precipitation that can turn a simple forecast into a complex puzzle. From snow-covered landscapes to slick icy roads, understanding the...

Dec 17, 2024 · Rain forms when atmospheric temperatures remain above freezing (32°F) from the cloud level to the surface. Water droplets within clouds grow in size by colliding and coalescing with other...

4 days ago · The distinction between freezing rain and sleet comes down to where the warm layer of air is positioned in the atmosphere. Think of it like a doughnut: Freezing rain is like a glazed doughnut ...

Oct 25, 2023 · Most often, with winter storms there is some type of transition from rain to snow, leading to the formation of sleet and freezing rain ahead of the onset of snowfall.

May 14, 2019 · So when you have consistent snowfall, you can pretty much bank on a frozen temperature profile, such as this one: Then you get into the mix, including sleet and freezing rain. When you have sleet occurring, generally that means there is a section of the atmosphere aloft that is above freezing.

Jan 6, 2022 · Freezing rain: Freezing rain is rain that falls onto a surface with a temperature below freezing. This causes it to freeze on impact with the frozen surfaces, such as trees, cars, and roads, forming a clear coating or glaze of ice.