Types of Precipitation

Front

What is precipitation?

Back

Precipitation is water that falls to Earth in various forms, including rain, snow, sleet, and hail.

Front

What type of precipitation occurs when temperatures are below freezing?

Back

Snow is the type of precipitation most likely to occur when the cloud and air temperatures are below freezing.

Front

What is rain?

Back

Rain is precipitation that falls as liquid water to Earth's surface.

Front

What is sleet?

Back

Sleet occurs when water droplets fall from a cloud and freeze as they fall down.

Front

What is hail?

Back

Hail is a type of precipitation that forms in layers as it is carried up and down within a thundercloud.

Front

What temperature does Jenny observe when she sees solid precipitation?

Back

Jenny measures the outside temperature as 16 degrees Celsius (61 degrees Fahrenheit).

Front

What type of precipitation is Jenny most likely observing at 16 degrees Celsius?

Back

Jenny is most likely observing hail.

Front

How does hail form?

Back

Hail forms when balls of ice are carried up and down within a thundercloud, adding layers of ice each time.

Front

What is the difference between rain and snow?

Back

Rain is liquid water that falls to Earth, while snow is frozen water that falls as ice crystals.

Front

What conditions lead to sleet formation?

Back

Sleet forms when rain droplets freeze before reaching the ground.