Weather Factors

Precipitation

Chapter 2

Section 5

Precipitation

• Any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth’s surface

Types of Precipitation

• 6 types…– Rain– Sleet– Freezing Rain– Hail– Snow– Mist/Drizzle

Rain

• Most Common– Diameter

• 0.5 millimeter or bigger

Mist or Drizzle

• Small rain drops– Diameter

• Smaller than 0.5 millimeter

Hail

• Rain drops that freeze in the air– Diameter

• 0.5 mm or bigger

Sleet

• Rain drops that freeze in the air– Smaller than 0.5 mm diameter

Snow

• Water vapor freezing in the cloud– Six sides

• No two are identical

Freezing Rain

• Rain drop does not freeze until it hits something– Heavy!!!