Dec 8, 2013 · Sleet occurs when snowflakes only partially melt when they fall through a shallow layer of warm air. These slushy drops refreeze as they next fall through a deep layer of freezing air above the …

Sleet, globular, generally transparent ice pellets that have diameters of 5 mm (0.2 inch) or less and that form as a result of the freezing of raindrops or the freezing of mostly melted snowflakes.

Jan 26, 2026 · Sleet starts as snow high up, partially melts as it falls through a warm layer, then refreezes into tiny ice pellets when it falls through a deeper cold layer near the ground. Here's a look …

Sleet is a regionally variant term for some meteorological phenomena: Glaze (ice), a smooth coating of ice formed on objects by freezing rain.

Jan 22, 2026 · There are four main precipitation types, and the Philadelphia area can and does receive all types, sometimes all within a single storm. The four types of precipitation are rain, snow, sleet and ...

Jan 12, 2026 · Sleet happens when snowflakes fall through a shallow layer of warm air and partially melt. The slushy drops refreeze as they hit a deeper layer of freezing air above the ground. The …

Oct 19, 2023 · Sometimes the weather forecast warns of “ sleet,” rather than snow. When meteorologists in the United States use this term, they are referring to tiny ice pellets (the size of a …

Jan 25, 2026 · Sleet is a form of winter precipitation made up of small, frozen ice pellets that form when snowflakes partially melt and then refreeze before hitting the ground, making roads slippery.

Jan 23, 2026 · That said, when forecasting whether the precipitation type will be snow, sleet, or freezing rain, the difference is very slight.

5 days ago · Snow, sleet, and freezing rain may look similar, but they create very different risks. Learn how to tell what’s coming, why forecasts change, and how each precipitation type affects roads, …