How can it just rain or be freezing rain, if the ground temperature is well below freezing point?

Question

On the weekend, it was 5-10 degrees below freezing point,yet it was raining and freezing rain. Why?

Answer 1

Because the upper air temp can some times be warmer or cooler than what it is at ground level. The reverse is true also. It can be above freezing at ground level yet snow will fall out of the sky because the air temp up in the clouds can be colder.

Answer 2

The way the Weather Channel explained it, there were two levels of air - the higher one was warmer, so the precipitation fell as rain. But then when it hit the lower level, which was below freezing, it would freeze as soon as it hit the cold ground.

Answer 3

When clouds that are heavy laden with moisture are moving rapidly into an area where the temperature is much colder they can be moving too fast for the moisture to crystallize before it starts to fall to earth. If the drops are large they hit the ground as water and freeze on contact. If the drops are smaller they may partially crystallize as they fall and you'll see sleet mixed with the rain. Isn't winter weather fun?

Answer 4

The air in the clouds where the rain formed was warm enough for it to not freeze.