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The Science of Precipitation: Rain, Snow, Sleet, and Hail Formation Explained

Learn how rain, snow, sleet, and hail are formed, from the Sun's heat to temperature changes. Dive into the oceans' role in rain and the conditions needed for snow, sleet, and hail to occur. Watch the video to discover the mysteries of precipitation.

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The Science of Precipitation: Rain, Snow, Sleet, and Hail Formation Explained

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  1. RAIN, SNOW, SLEET, AND HAIL! …How is it formed? …And why? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pN-rSC0sg0

  2. The oceans are the main source of rain, but lakes and rivers also contribute to it. The Sun's heat evaporates the water. It remains in the atmosphere as an invisible vapor until it condenses, first into clouds and then into raindrops. Rain occurs when there is a sudden change in temperature which causes the rain droplets to fall or precipitate.

  3. SNOW: Cold air (below freezing) is needed to make snow. For snow to fall to the ground, the temperature must be cold both up in the clouds where snowflakes form, and down at ground level. If the air near ground level is too warm, the snow will melt on its way down, changing to rain or freezing rain. SLEET: Sleet is formed when raindrops pass through very cold layers in the atmosphere which causes them to freeze. It can also be formed when snow passes through warmer layers and partially melts then quickly passes through another cold layer. HAIL: Hail is formed inside a cumulonimbus clouds. Condensation or rain drops form and freeze inside the cloud. After layers of ice continue to form, it will get to a point of being to heavy and will fall from the cloud, thus falling from the sky to the ground.

  4. Dew Vs. Frost All air contains moisture, which is called water vapor. The moisture in the air close to the ground comes from the soil and the plants. When the air cools during the night, the moisture is cooled and water droplets form on the grass and plants. This is dew. Liquid becomes solid when the temperature reaches freezing point, or 0ºC (32ºF). When the temperature falls below freezing point, the moisture in the air freezes into ice crystals and they settle on grass and plants. This is frost.

  5. Hail Classifications H0 Pea size, causes no damage H1 Leaves and flower petals punctured and torn H2 Leaves stripped form trees and plants H3 Panes of glass broken, auto bodies dented H4 Some house windows broken, small tree branches broken, birds killed H5 Many house windows broken, small animals injured, large tree branches broken H6 Roof shingles destroyed, metal roofs dented, wood window frames broken away H7 Roofs shattered, autos seriously damaged H8 Roofs totally destroyed, small tree trunks split, people seriously injured H9 Concrete roofs breeched, large tree trunks split/knocked down, people at risk of fatal injuries H10 Brick structures damaged, people killed The highest snowfall ever recorded in a one year period was 31.1 meters (1224 inches) in Mount Rainier, Washington State, United States, between February 19, 1971 and February 18, 1972. The most rainfall ever recorded in 24 hours is 182.5 centimeters (71.9 inches) in Foc-Foc, La Réunion, during tropical cyclone Denise on January 8, 1966. The heaviest hailstone ever recorded weighed 1.0 kg (2.25 lb) and landed in Gopalganj District, Bangladesh on April 14, 1986.

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