Sleet

Sleet is a type of precipitation that falls as ice pellets. It occurs when raindrops freeze before they reach the ground, or when melted snow refreezes in the air and falls to the ground as pellets of ice. Sleet is different from hail, which forms in thunderstorms and consists of larger, solid ice pellets.

Formation of Sleet

Sleet forms when warm air and cold air meet in the atmosphere. If the warm air is above freezing and the cold air is below freezing, the raindrops from the warm air will freeze as they pass through the cold air layer. This results in the formation of sleet, which falls to the ground as small ice pellets.

Study Guide

1. What is sleet?
   Sleet is a type of precipitation that falls as ice pellets.
2. How does sleet form?
   Sleet forms when raindrops freeze before reaching the ground, or when melted snow refreezes in the air and falls to the ground as pellets of ice.
3. What is the difference between sleet and hail?
   Sleet is different from hail, which forms in thunderstorms and consists of larger, solid ice pellets.
4. What are the conditions required for the formation of sleet?
   Sleet forms when warm air and cold air meet in the atmosphere. If the warm air is above freezing and the cold air is below freezing, the raindrops from the warm air will freeze as they pass through the cold air layer, resulting in the formation of sleet.

[Sleet] Related Worksheets and Study Guides:

• Understanding WeatherScience • Eighth Grade
• WeatherScience • Kindergarten