Why does the precipitation ahead of an aproaching warm front in winter usually begin as snow,then cahnge to...

Question

WHY DOES THE PRECIPITATION AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING WARM FRONT IN WINTER USUALLY BEGIN AS SNOW, THEN CHANGE TO SLEET AND THEN FREEZING RAIN? COULD YOU EXPLAIN THIS PROCESS FULLY?

Answer 1

The warm front is moving into colder air. The moisture at the leading edge of the front freezes when it hits the cold air causing snow. As the front moves through, the warm air is increasingly higher in altitude which causes the falling moisture to warm up in the form of sleet then freezing rain then rain.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

There is already cold air in place. When the approaching warm front hits the cold air its moisture freezes into snow (ice crystals). After a while the warm front has pushed out a lot of the colder air and the moisture falls as sleet (drops of rain that freeze before they hit the ground) and finally when it is even warmer as freezing rain (rain that doesn't freeze till it lands on the cold ground).

Answer 3

Depends on if its a warm or cold front. If its a warm front then it brings in percipitation which starts as snow because the temp is cooler...as the warm front passes is warms up the area and it turnes to snow. (dad told me)

Answer 4

Not fully.