2007-01-14 06:01:08 · 5 answers · asked by Rastus 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
To see an absolutely classic example of conditions for freezing rain displayed graphically, check this out:
http://weather.unisys.com/upper_air/skew/skew_KOUN.html
That is this morning's (6AM CST) sounding, or Skew-T, from the radiosonde (balloon) data, which was launched from OKC.
The blue numbers at the bottom are temperatures in C, and correspond to the blue lines that go up and right from the bottom at a 45 degree angle. (That's why it's called "skew".) The meandering white lines that go upward are the temperatures and dewpoints recorded by the radiosonde as it ascended to over 50,000 feet; temps on right, dewpoints left.
See how the temperature as the balloon was launch was about -6C? That was the temp "on the ground". As the balloon reached about 800m (the heights are in white numbers on the left, and are "Above Mean Sea Level"), the temperatures shot up such that by an altitude of about 1050m, the radiosonde recorded a temp of 9C! It was 15degrees C warmer a few thousand feet above the ground! Wow!
One other thing....
See how the temp and dewpoint lines were right together during that quick increase in temp? That means that the relative humidity was 100%, that therefore there was a thick layer of clouds there, and in fact, we know from the news media that OKC was receiving serious freezing rain, which was falling from that thick layer of clouds.
2007-01-14 07:33:27 · answer #1 · answered by BobBobBob 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most times it's due to a "shallow layer of cold air." Which means that it's cold...or below freezing...right at the surface so that the rain doesn't even have a chance, as it falls, to freeze.
2007-01-14 22:03:57 · answer #2 · answered by Isles1015 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From what I understand...in the upper atmosphere it snows..then hits a pocket of warm air and turn into rain and then hits another pocket of cold air and thus turn into freezing rain.
2007-01-14 14:10:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the temperature in the upper atmosphere and not just the one here on the surface. If it is warm up there the rain does not have the chance to turn in to snow,
2007-01-14 14:05:09 · answer #4 · answered by applecrisp 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Warmer higher up in the atmosphere would be my guess, then as it reaches the earth and it is colder, then it comes down as rain or freezing rain.
2007-01-14 14:06:40 · answer #5 · answered by flower 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋