Ah, The Variety Of Wintry Precipitation
As is typical with spring winter weather events, the wintry mix of precipitation that falls with unseasonbly cold storms that rotate through the southern Appalachians (such as like the one the impacted our region this Monday) can produce much more than just snow.
A mix of snow, ice pellets, and a chilly drizzle fell across Johnson County Monday. Some higher elevations, above 4k feet, accumulated a couple inches of wet snow, however, communities where “most folks” live (in between 2k and 3k feet), only some a brief dusting from time to time.
Below, I want to go over the different types of wintry precipitation that you can come to expect here in southern Appalachia, if not again this year, well….October isn’t too far away you know- HA! Thanks to dictionary.com for presenting the “textbook” definition.
Snow: Snow is a type of precipitation in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by external pressure.
Sleet: precipitation in the form of ice pellets created by the freezing of rain as it falls
Graupel: A small, white ice particle that falls as precipitation and breaks apart easily when it lands on a surface
Freezing Rain: rain that falls as a liquid but freezes into glaze upon contact with the ground
Freezing Drizzle: drizzle that falls as a liquid but freezes into glaze or rime upon contact with the ground
