2006-11-23 01:12:54 · 8 answers · asked by Lynn S 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Sleet is a mix of water and snow. Freezing rain is more interesting. Usually water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius. But if it's completely free of bubbles and dust particles that ice crystals can start to form on, like in the upper atmosphere, it can cool down to minus 40 Celsius before it freezes. This is supercooled water. The moment supercooled water hits a solid object, like the ground or an aeroplane wing, it freezes. Freezing rain is supercooled water, and it's very dangerous to aircraft.
2006-11-23 15:20:47 · answer #1 · answered by zee_prime 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Both sleet and freezing rain start out as rain (they may start out as snow and then melt into rain). If the layer of air near the ground is:
1. Below freezing and thin = freezing rain
2. Below freezing and thick = sleet
3. Above freezing = rain
All this is assuming there is a layer of above freezing air aloft. If the air is below freezing all the way up, then just snow falls.
The thickness of the cold air layer that decides whether freezing rain or sleet forms depends on various factors.
Also, if the air is very cold aloft, but warm near the ground, then HAIL falls (as in a summer thunderstorm, where the top of the thundercloud is very cold). This is exactly the opposite of the condition under which sleet falls.
If anyone confuses sleet and hail, point out this difference:)
2006-11-23 12:55:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sleet are little ice pellets that fall from the sky. Freezing rain is the same thing as rain, except when it makes contact with the ground, it freezes.
2016-05-22 22:30:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sleet falls already frozen. freezing rain is liquid when it falls then freezes when it hits a surface. Freezing rain is much more dangerous because everything freezes. Sleet sometimes bounces when it hits and doesn't stick.
2006-11-23 06:36:48 · answer #4 · answered by Aaron 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sleet is tiny ice particles falling from the sky and freezing rain is rain that falls at near freezing temps. that freezes on contact when it hits the ground or any surface.
2006-11-23 01:28:24 · answer #5 · answered by Iknowthisone 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well if you had to ever pick one to drive in pick sleet! sleet is really just small heets of frozen water already falling. it really doesnt do much damage. freezing rain is the worst though! freezing rain is when its raining but its so cold outside that the rain freezers on contact with anything! this causes many problems such as tress branches being broken and downed powerlines since the ice gets to be too heavy! .=(
here are some pics!
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/ice/durham/photo_g/iceus.gif
http://selfdestruct.net/misc/geneve.jpg
2006-11-23 16:22:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
sleet is a mixture of rain and snow
it is snow up in the clouds when it starts falling
then they melt
but then it re-freezes and hits the ground
freezing rain is rain that freezes immediatly to the ground on contact
2006-11-23 14:08:20 · answer #7 · answered by gojets53 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sleet is wet snow which ices over everything
freezing rain is water at almost zero temperature, and freezes in susceptible places where the earth is colder than the surroundings- eg. on bridges
2006-11-23 01:18:00 · answer #8 · answered by cp_scipiom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋