What is rain and snow mixed?


Sleet (Rain and Snow Mixed)

Sleet , also known as rain and snow mixed, is a type of winter precipitation consisting of raindrops mixed with snowflakes. It occurs when snow falls through a layer of warm air, partially or completely melting the snow into rain. As the rain continues to fall, it then passes through a layer of cold air near the ground, refreezing into ice pellets before reaching the surface.

  • Formation: Sleet forms when a layer of warm air exists between a layer of cold air aloft and a layer of cold air near the surface.

  • Temperature Profile: The atmospheric temperature%20profile for sleet typically shows temperatures above freezing at some altitude and below freezing at the surface.

  • Impacts: Sleet can create hazardous conditions, similar to freezing rain, by causing slippery roads and sidewalks. Sleet%20accumulation can also weigh down tree branches and power lines, leading to damage.

  • Difference from Freezing Rain: Sleet differs from freezing%20rain because the precipitation refreezes before hitting the ground, whereas freezing rain remains liquid until it makes contact with a surface that is below freezing.