Liquid precipitation that freezes when it contacts the ground is known as?

Liquid precipitation that freezes when it contacts the ground is known as?

• A. Hail
• B. Sleet
• C. Freezing rain
• D. Drizzle

Answer: (C)

Freezing rain occurs when liquid precipitation remains liquid as it falls and only freezes upon contacting surfaces that are at or below freezing. The drops become supercooled while passing through a shallow layer of cold air near the ground, so when they strike objects like roads or trees, they instantly solidify into a glaze of ice. This distinguishes it from sleet, where the drops refreeze into solid ice pellets before reaching the ground, from drizzle, which is just light liquid rain that doesn’t freeze on contact, and from hail, which forms as ice pellets inside strong updrafts in thunderstorms.

Freezing rain occurs when liquid precipitation remains liquid as it falls and only freezes upon contacting surfaces that are at or below freezing. The drops become supercooled while passing through a shallow layer of cold air near the ground, so when they strike objects like roads or trees, they instantly solidify into a glaze of ice. This distinguishes it from sleet, where the drops refreeze into solid ice pellets before reaching the ground, from drizzle, which is just light liquid rain that doesn’t freeze on contact, and from hail, which forms as ice pellets inside strong updrafts in thunderstorms.