Why, when snowstorms are ending...?

Question

As I look out the window a snowstorm is in the process of ending.

Why is it that with winter frontal storms, if they are snow they almost always end with the sun showing through the clouds brighter and brighter while it continues to snow in decreasing intensity but if the the storms precipitate rain this almost never happens, with the rain stopping while the sky remains dark grey without the sun yet peering through the cloud?

Answer 1

Good question...
With snow, the water is precipitating out of the air and freezing immediately into visable crystals, which reflect and refract a lot of light. So you can see the sun. This is because cold air can hold a lot less moisture than warm air.
With rain, the water is precipitating out of the air in liquid form, and remaining diffuse in the air. The warmer air can hold a lot more water in suspension. This blocks a lot of light, so the sky remains grey.