What is the difference between sleet and hail
Sleet and hail are similar in that they both involve frozen precipitation, but there are some key differences between them:
1. Formation: Sleet is formed when snowflakes partially melt as they pass through a warmer layer of air and then refreeze before hitting the ground. Hail, on the other hand, is formed in thunderstorms when updrafts carry raindrops upward into extremely cold areas of the cloud where they freeze into ice pellets. These pellets then circulate within the cloud, collecting more ice layers before finally falling to the ground.
2. Composition: Sleet is composed of ice pellets or small ice grains. It is transparent or translucent and usually bounces when it hits the ground. Hail, however, consists of layered ice particles or ice pellets. It is typically opaque, irregularly shaped, and can vary in size from small marble-sized hailstones to larger golf ball or even softball-sized hailstones.
3. Size: Sleet particles are generally smaller in size, ranging from a few millimeters to a centimeter or so in diameter. Hailstones, on the other hand, can vary in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters or even larger.
4. Duration: Sleet is often brief and occurs as a result of a quick transition from snow to rain and then to sleet, before possibly returning to rain. It is more common in winter storms. Hail, on the other hand, can persist for a longer period within a thunderstorm and continues to grow larger as it is carried up and down within the cloud by strong updrafts and downdrafts.
Overall, sleet is usually associated with wintertime weather, while hail typically occurs during severe thunderstorms in warmer months.