Winter Precipitation
Snow
FLURRIES - Light snow falling for short durations. No accumulation or light
dusting is all that is expected.
SHOWERS - Snow falling at varying intensities for brief periods of time. Some
accumulation is possible.
SQUALLS - Brief, intense snow showers accompanied by strong, gusty winds. Accumulation
may be significant. Snow squalls are best known in the Great Lakes region.
BLOWING SNOW - Wind-driven snow that reduces visibility and causes significant
drifting. Blowing snow may be snow that is falling and/or loose snow on the
ground picked up by the wind.
BLIZZARD - Winds over 35 mph with snow and blowing snow reducing visibility
to near zero.
Sleet
Rain drops that freeze into ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet usually
bounces when hitting a surface and does not stick to objects. However, it can
accumulate like snow and cause a hazard to motorists.
Freezing Rain
Rain that falls onto a surface with a temperature below freezing. This causes
it to freeze to surfaces, such as trees, cars, and roads, forming a coating
or glaze of ice. Even small accumulations of ice can cause a significant hazard.