What is sleet?
Sleet is small balls or clumps of ice that fall from the sky. They are sometimes called "ice pellets."
How does sleet form?
- Snow falls from clouds toward the ground.
- The air below the clouds is a bit warmer, and the snowflakes start to melt into raindrops as they fall.
- These raindrops then pass through a very cold layer of air near the ground. When they pass through this layer, they refreeze into hard ice pellets, which are sleet.
How is sleet different from other winter precipitation?
- Snow: Soft ice crystals that stay snow until they stay on the ground as snow.
- Rain: Liquid water that falls when air is warm enough to keep it liquid all the way down.
- Sleet: Ice pellets that have frozen again after partially melting, making a crunchy, icy precipitation.
What to do if you see sleet?
- Walk carefully or stay indoors if the ground is icy.
- Drive slowly and maintain distance from other cars.
- Dress warmly and enjoy the winter scenery safely.