How big winter storms create snow, sleet and freezing rain

Associated Press (AP)CenterEN 3 min read 100% complete by By CALEIGH WELLSJanuary 22, 2026 at 09:53 PM

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Winter storms can bring various forms of precipitation, including snow, sleet, and freezing rain, depending on atmospheric conditions. Snow requires consistently cold air from the clouds to the ground, while sleet and freezing rain form when snowflakes melt in a warm air layer and then refreeze in a cold layer near the surface. Sleet occurs when raindrops refreeze into ice pellets before hitting the ground, while freezing rain happens when rain freezes upon contact with a cold surface. Graupel is a mix of snow and sleet, partially melted and refrozen, while hail is more common in summer storms. The type of precipitation depends on the temperature profile of the atmosphere.

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winter storms 100% snow 90% sleet 80% freezing rain 80% ice 70% cold weather 60% atmosphere 50% graupel 40% hail 40%

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Ottawa County

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winter storms snow sleet freezing rain ice cold weather atmosphere graupel hail

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