Snow, Sleet, Freezing Rain
To make snow, the temperature must be below freezing the entire path until at the surface. Once snow melts as it is falling, it will not turn back into snow again, no matter the temperature. Melted snow that drops below freezing will stay liquid, called "supercooled". This is freezing rain. If freezing rain completely refreezes, it will become sleet.
SNOW T < 32 °F
SNOW T < 32 °F T > 32 °F RAIN SLEET
SNOW T < 32 °F T > 32 °F RAIN FREEZING RAIN
5 °C (40 °F) at 6000 ft -5 °C (23 °F) at 1000 ft
7 °C (44 °F) at 3000 ft -4 °C (25 °F) at 1500 ft
SNOW T < 32 °F T > 32 °F RAIN
SNOW T < 32 °F
Tuesday January 20 th (7 days in advance) Outlook: Large winter system will affect area on Monday and Tuesday. Forecast Tuesday: 50% chance of snow. Wednesday January 21 st Outlook: Significant weather system will impact area early next week...accumulations of snow, sleet, and freezing rain late Monday Night and Tuesday. Forecast Tuesday: 60% chance of light snow. Light snow accumulations. Thursday January 22 nd Outlook: Storm system will impact area late Monday and Tuesday...wintery mix Forecast Tuesday: 60% chance of light snow. Light snow accumulations.
Friday January 23 rd Outlook: Storm system will likely spread wintery precipitation Late Monday through Early Wednesday...significant accumulations possible. Forecast Monday Night & Tuesday: 60% chance of snow. significant snow accumulations possible. Saturday January 24 th Outlook: Big winter storm will impact area Late Monday through Wednesday...significant snow and ice accumulation are expected Late Monday Night through Tuesday Night. Forecast Tuesday: 7 0% chance of snow and slight chance of sleet. Light snow accumulations. Sunday January 25 th Preliminary Conference Call Winter Storm Watch: Two waves...first wave, 3 to 6 inches of snow...second wave, quarter inch of ice. Forecast Monday Night: 3 to 6 inches of snow. Tuesday & Tuesday Night: Freezing rain, sleet & snow.
Monday January 26 th Conference Calls Winter Storm Warning: Snow, sleet, and ice...3 to 4 inches of snow by Tuesday Morning with an additional 1 to 2 inches of snow and sleet Tuesday Night. Forecast Monday Night: 3 to 5 inches of snow. Tuesday: Sleet and snow until midday then sleet, freezing rain and snow in the afternoon. Snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 2 inches...tenth of an inch ice. Tuesday Night: Freezing rain and sleet in the evening, snow after midnight. Snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 2 inches...quarter of an inch of ice.