Forms of Precipitation

Precipitation Rain, snow, sleet and hail are all forms of precipitation. Precipitation is the result of water’s ability to change between the three states of water . . . ice, water, and water vapor.

Rain Drops of water condense on bits of dirt and dust in the air to form clouds. When clouds become heavy with millions of raindrops it rains. Rain - drops of fresh water that fall as precipitation from mostly stratus, nimbostratus, and cumulonimbus clouds.

Snow When water condenses in very cold air it forms ice crystals that collect in clouds. Snow is precipitation that falls from clouds in the form of ice crystals

Sleet Sleet is formed when rain drops pass through air that is below freezing before reaching the ground. The rain drops freeze into ice pellets.

Hail Hail is a mixture of liquid and frozen precipitation from cumulonimbus clouds. Hailstones are composed of layers of ice and can become quite large when strong gusts of upward-moving air keep them inside the thundercloud.

Fog- Vocab Card Fog is a cloud near the ground. Fog is created when water vapor condenses near the ground. Fog often occurs in the morning and can limit visibility.

Dew- Vocab Card tiny drops of water that form on cool surfaces at night

Questions . . . What is the temperature of the air for rain? In what season do we usually see snow? Can sleet be dangerous? How and why? What else could you see with hail? How does fog happen?