Winter Precipitation Patterns and Their Impact on Weather and Environment

The video explains different types of precipitation, focusing on snow, sleet, and freezing rain. It describes a normal atmospheric column where snow falls through cold air. When warm air intrudes, snow can melt and refreeze as sleet or fall as freezing rain, which is hazardous. The video revisits these concepts with examples, emphasizing the dangers of freezing rain.

What types of precipitation are commonly experienced in metro areas during winter?

• Rain and hail

• Dew and frost

• Snow, sleet, and freezing rain

• Fog and mist

In a normal atmosphere, what happens to snow as it falls through the column?

• It turns into sleet

• It melts into rain

• It evaporates

• It remains as snow

What causes snow to turn into sleet during its descent?

• A warm air layer in the column

• A cold surface layer

• High humidity

• Strong winds

Why is freezing rain considered the worst precipitation scenario?

• It evaporates quickly

• It freezes on contact, making surfaces hazardous

• It leads to severe flooding

• It causes heavy snowfall

What happens to rain in a freezing rain scenario?

• It freezes mid-air

• It turns into snow

• It evaporates before reaching the ground

• It falls as liquid and freezes on contact

How does the presence of warm air in the atmosphere affect precipitation?

• It has no effect on precipitation

• It results in heavy snowfall

• It leads to the formation of sleet or freezing rain

• It causes snow to remain snow

What is the typical temperature condition of the surface in a normal atmosphere when it snows?

• Always exactly freezing

• Can be above freezing

• Always above freezing

• Always below freezing

Why do mountains receive more snow than lower areas?

• They are further from the equator

• They are closer to the sun

• They have colder air at higher altitudes

• They have more moisture

What happens to snowflakes when they hit the ground in above-freezing conditions?

• They evaporate

• They remain as snow

• They melt

• They turn into sleet

What is the effect of freezing rain on power lines and trees?

• It has no effect

• It causes them to dry out

• It can cause them to accumulate ice and potentially fall

• It makes them grow faster