ckoplien@todaystmj4.com
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Winter is Wisconsin can mean snow, rain, and everything in between.
Have you ever wondered why sometimes we get rain, sometimes sleet, sometimes snow, etc.?
I'm sure you think it has something to do with the temperature, which it absolutely does. What you may not realize, is that precipitation type is determined by the temperatures between the clouds and where we live. That is, it's not just about the temperature down here where we are.
Winter precipitation type is determined by the temperatures the precipitation encounters as it makes it journey from the clouds down here to the ground. Winter precipitation usually begins as snow or ice crystals when it begins this journey. Whether it remains that way is determined by the temperature profile of the atmosphere.
Our local National Weather Service site has provided this link to a page the describe the various atmospheric conditions that lead to freezing rain, sleet, snow and rain. It has nice diagrams and an easy-to-understand explanations.
Enjoy!
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=mkx&storyid=46923&source=0
