Classification Of Frozen Precipitation

Front 1

Either transparent or translucent particles of ice that are round or irregular in shape, that fall as showers and usually rebound when they strike hard ground, making a sound on impact

Back 1

Ice pellets

Front 2

Irregular in shape and generally large in size, falls almost exclusively from CBs, and usually accompanied by thunder. Occasionally freeze together and fall in irregular lumps.

Back 2

Hail

Front 3

Precip in the form of ice crystals, most of which appear branched as six-pointed stars.

Back 3

Snow

Front 4

White, opaque grains of ice, which are round or sometimes conical. Can serve as the nuclei for hail development.

Back 4

Snow Pellets

Front 5

Very small, white, opaque grains of ice, similar in structure to snow, usually fall in small quantities from stratus clouds, never as showers.

Back 5

Snow Grains.

Front 6

Unbranched and occur in the form of needles, columns, or plates.

Back 6

Ice crystals.