(WBRE/WYOU) — Though there is a common misunderstanding between sleet and freezing rain, there is an easy phrase to remember the difference.
"Sleet pings (and stings) while freezing rain clings."
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Sleet bounces off objects while freezing rain instantly freezes on contact with an object.
Sleet is not to be confused with hail. Hail happens during the summer months within a thunderstorm cloud. Sleet only occurs during the winter months.
The column of air must be at or below the freezing mark for a snowflake to fall from the cloud and reach the ground.
For sleet to form, a snowflake will hit a brief pocket of warmer air, then refreeze and bounce on the ground.
For freezing rain, a snowflake melts into a raindrop in a large layer of warm air and freezes when it hits the cold surface. However, since the ground, roads, and sidewalks can still be at or below the freezing mark, the rain instantly freezes on contact.
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