Winter weather is developing across Central Texas this week, leaving many wondering the difference between sleet, snowflakes and something called "graupel."
Sleet/graupel mix pics coming in from Temple, Nolanville and Killeen - thanks to Grace Marie and Jessica Myers for the pics! #ctxwx @NWSFortWorth pic.twitter.com/VwBII6WWFj
— Erin Moran (@ErinMoranWX) February 8, 2019
Here's how to tell the difference between the three.
Graupel:
The National Weather Service reported seeing sleet and graupel across Bell County. Graupel is small snow pellets or soft hail precipitation that is formed when supercooled water droplets are collected and freeze on falling snowflakes.
Graupel is seen as small balls of ice, and appear more white than clear.
Sleet
Sleet looks slightly different. It's known as a mix between rain and snow, that partially melts as it falls. The wintry mix is seen in the form of ice pellets that are created by the freezing rain as it falls.
Snowflakes
All snowflakes, which we in Central Texas rarely get to see, differ from each other, but each are formed by supercooled cloud water droplets, which freeze and accrete in crystal form.
If you happen to see any of the winter weather in your area, be sure to send it to us at viewerpics@kxxv.com!
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