Types of Precipitation

Science - Unit I Day 1 Types of Precipitation

​SC.5.E.7.4: Distinguish among the various forms of precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, and hail), making connections to the weather in a particular place and time.

​TODAY’S TARGET: Observe various forms of precipitation including rain, snow, sleet and hail.

Multiple Choice

In January, the temperature in Tallahassee fell to 28°F, below freezing. Students at an elementary school were surprised to see soft, white solid precipitation falling from the sky. What form of precipitation were the students observing?

• rain

• snow

• sleet

• hail

​WEATHER OBSERVATIONS

​Weather observers will record several things to help describe the weather in a particular time and place.

​

​FACTORS that AFFECT WEATHER

​● air temperature

● barometric pressure

● humidity

● wind speed and direction

● precipitation

Multiple Choice

What is the amount of water vapor in the air called?

• Humidity

• air pressure

• dew point

• precipitation

Multiple Choice

Jose was planning to spend the day playing outside with his friends. He wanted to know what kind of weather to expect for the day so he took a look at the wind vane that was on the top of his house.

What information about the weather does a wind vane give Jose?

• wind speed

• wind direction

• air temperature

• air pressure

Multiple Choice

What does this weather tool measure?

• temperature

• wind direction

• air pressure

• wind speed

Multiple Choice

What type of weather can she expect if the Cloud 3 passes over her house?

• A drizzle of rain with light winds.

• Strong winds with snow.

• Heavy rain and strong winds.

• No rain and no wind.

​Each of those factors are observable and are used to determine the weather in a particular time and place. Precipitation is a big part of weather!

​

1. RAIN - falling drops of liquid water

2. SNOW - small white ice crystals formed directly from the water vapor of the air

3. SLEET - rain that freezes as it falls

4. HAIL​ - forms when drops of rain freeze and strong winds carry them higher into a cloud

​FOUR TYPES of PRECIPITATION

Multiple Choice

What are the 4 types of precipitation?

• snow, rain, water, wind

• rain, hail, snow, wind

• rain, hail, snow, sleet

• sleet, snow, hail, transformation

• snow, evaporation, humidity, rain

Multiple Choice

Precipitation occurs when water moves from the atmosphere to Earth’s surface. The water can be in liquid or solid form. Which two forms of precipitation consist of solid water?

•  hail and rain

• rain and snow

• hail and sleet

• sleet and rain

Multiple Choice

 

Precipitation is water that falls to Earth. Hail, rain, sleet, and snow are four types of precipitation. Which type of precipitation is most likely to occur when the cloud and air temperatures are below freezing?

• rain

• hail

• sleet

• snow

​Precipitation that does fall as solid ice drops is either sleet or hail. Knowing the other weather conditions helps to determine whether the solid drops of falling ice are sleet or hail.

​

Sleet is formed when the air temperature is cold.

• If there is solid ice falling as precipitation on a cold day, it is sleet.​

• Sleet falls during the WINTER

  ​

Hail is formed when the air temperature is warm.

• If there is solid ice falling as precipitation on a cold day, it is sleet.​

• Hail falls during the summer.​

​

​

​SLEET and HAIL

Multiple Choice

Hail is formed when the temperature is _____________.

• warm

• cold

Multiple Choice

Which of these best shows the correct sequence that forms hail?

• rain falls --> freezes --> melts

• snow falls --> melts --> freezes again

• snow falls --> melts --> stays melted

• rain falls --> freezes --> gets blow backup --> melts --> falls again --> refreezes --> repeats multiple times

Multiple Choice

 

Which claim BEST explains why some balls of hail have layers?

• Water that freezes high in the atmosphere always forms layers.

• Cracks form layers in the ball of hail when the hail hits the ground.

• Raindrops freeze from the inside out, forming one layer of ice at a time.

• Each time a ball of hail goes up and down within a thundercloud, a layer of ice is added.

Multiple Choice

Which of these best shows the correct sequence that forms sleet?

• rain falls --> freezes --> melts

• snow falls --> melts --> freezes again

• snow falls --> melts --> stays melted

• rain falls --> freezes --> gets blow backup --> melts --> falls again --> refreezes --> repeats multiple times

Multiple Choice

Sleet is formed when the temperature is ____________.

• warm

• cold

Multiple Choice

During the month of July, temperatures on Key West were in the mid 90’s. On many afternoons, strong storms with heavy winds and heavy precipitation happen in Key West. What form of precipitation most likely fell during these storms?

• rain

• snow

• sleet

• hail