Sleet

Sleet is a form of precipitation consisting of ice pellets, often mixed with rain or snow. It is characterized by the formation of small, translucent balls of ice that are usually smaller than hail and can occur in a variety of weather conditions.

Formation

Sleet forms when a layer of above-freezing air is located between 1,500 and 3,000 feet above the ground, with sub-freezing air both above and below it. This causes the snowflakes to melt into rain as they fall into the layer of warm air, and then begin to refreeze into ice pellets as they fall through the colder air near the surface.

Characteristics

Sleet is generally clear or translucent and can vary in size. It is usually smaller than hail and can occur in a variety of weather conditions. Sleet can cause roads and sidewalks to become slippery and hazardous, and can also accumulate on trees and power lines, causing them to break under the weight.

Differences from other forms of precipitation

Sleet is often confused with hail or freezing rain, but there are key differences. Hail is formed in thunderstorms and is usually much larger than sleet. Freezing rain, on the other hand, is rain that freezes upon contact with a cold surface, forming a layer of ice.

See also

• Rain
• Snow
• Hail
• Freezing rain

Sleet Resources
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