When surface water seeps into the ground, it becomes subsurface water or groundwater. Sometimes the snow and rain will run off the surface into lakes and streams. This will happen when the ground is too dense to allow any seepage or is already overly saturated. When conditions are favorable, evaporation can take place very quickly. Evaporation is the process of water vapors returning to the earth's atmosphere.
Evaporation occurring through plant leaves and vegetation is known as transpiration.
Evaporation and transpiration both take place more rapidly during warmer months when temperatures are high. During colder months the ground may actually be frozen. Initial seepage in this case would be more difficult and evaporation would be less. Once evaporation takes place, condensation is the build up of all water vapors in the form of clouds. The water or precipitation then falls in the form of rain or snow.