How does rain turn to snow?

Question

the whole process and every thing

Answer 1

This is a good question because most people don't realize all precipitation starts off as snow or ice. So what you're really asking is "How does snow not melt and become rain." Well, this has to do with the air the precipitation falls through. When forecasters are deciding whether to predict rain/ice/snow, they look at the temperatures of the layers of air above the location they are forecasting for.

So in order to get snow, you would look for a part of the atmosphere where the snow will not fall through a layer of above 32 degrees Fahrenheit air for an extended period of time as it approaches the surface. If this happens, the snow will melt and fall as either rain or freezing rain depending on the temperature near the surface.

Obviously other factors can effect whether the precipitation falls as rain/ice/snow, but this is probably the most important factor to consider and similar to what operational meteorologists use to make the decision.

Answer 2

When there is enough mid-level and surface cooling to prevent the melting of snow through the mid-levels, then the rain will begin to fall as snow. Also, it depends on things like the wet bulb, as the wet bulb would have to be below zero in order for the precip to change to snow. Also, the dew point is important too. If the dewpoint is below 32, then conditions are favorable for snow to actually reach the ground without melting.

Answer 3

The temperature when it is below 32 degrees freezes the rain and turns it into snow.

Answer 4

Higher up in the atmosphere, the temperature is much cooler. Because of this, and the combined cold temperatures of winter, tiny water droplets freeze within the clouds and crystallize...thus, creating snowflakes.

Answer 5

its the same thing as the water cycle except the water becomes icy snowflakes instead of raindrops.

Answer 6

first of all it is developed by pres. bush in satellites in outer space and then he freezes it and lets it fall to the earth