This type of precipitation is known as sleet. Sleet forms when snowflakes partially melt as they fall through a warmer layer of air, then refreeze into ice pellets before reaching the ground.
The temperature of the atmosphere is the primary factor that determines whether precipitation falls as a liquid or a solid. Precipitation will fall as rain when the temperature is above freezing and as snow when the temperature is below freezing. Other factors, such as humidity and the presence of ice nuclei, can also influence the type of precipitation.
The temperature of the air near the ground is the main factor in determining whether precipitation falls as rain or snow. If the temperature is above freezing, the precipitation will fall as rain. If the temperature is below freezing, the precipitation will fall as snow.
freezing rain. hail is caused by gusts of air repeatedly blowing precipitation back into the atmosphere, where it acquires a new layer of H2O. so in this case it is not likely to occur.
Rain occurs when the temperature between the cloud and the ground is above freezing (0°C). This allows snowflakes to melt into raindrops before reaching the ground.
freezing rain. hail is caused by gusts of air repeatedly blowing precipitation back into the atmosphere, where it acquires a new layer of H2O. so in this case it is not likely to occur.
Rain occurs when the temperature is above freezing both in the clouds and at the ground level. If the temperature in the clouds is below freezing but at the ground level it is above freezing, sleet or freezing rain may occur.
The temperature of the atmosphere is the primary factor that determines whether precipitation falls as a liquid or a solid. Precipitation will fall as rain when the temperature is above freezing and as snow when the temperature is below freezing. Other factors, such as humidity and the presence of ice nuclei, can also influence the type of precipitation.
The temperature of the air near the ground is the main factor in determining whether precipitation falls as rain or snow. If the temperature is above freezing, the precipitation will fall as rain. If the temperature is below freezing, the precipitation will fall as snow.
Sleet
Sleet
freezing rain. hail is caused by gusts of air repeatedly blowing precipitation back into the atmosphere, where it acquires a new layer of H2O. so in this case it is not likely to occur.
Rain will fall when the air temperature is above freezing.
If the temperature is above freezing, precipitation would likely fall as rain. Snow and sleet typically occur when temperatures are at or below freezing.
Virtually all precipitation actually originates as snow in the cold air high above the ground, but since most parts of the world are above freezing at ground level, that snow will usually melt before it reaches the ground. The only other type of precipitation associated with warm weather is hail, but hail requires a strong thunderstorm.
Most precipitation that reaches the ground actually begins as snow high in the atmosphere. These snow flakes develop somewhere above the freezing level where the air temperature is less than 32 F and begin to fall toward the earth as snow. If ground temperature is above 32 F( the freezing level must be located somewhere above the ground). The falling snow passes through the freezing level into the warmer air, where it melts and changes to rain before reaching the ground.
The form of precipitation, whether rain or snow, is determined by the temperature profile of the atmosphere. If temperatures are above freezing from the ground up to the cloud level, precipitation will fall as rain. Conversely, if temperatures are below freezing throughout the atmospheric column, snow will form. Additionally, the presence of warm air aloft can lead to mixed precipitation if there is a temperature inversion.
A thermometer, because if you are looking for precipitation, if it is above freezing, it will be rain, and if it is below freezing, it will be snow. Hope I answered your question :)