You would think that a meteorologist would study something like solid objects that fall from space. The truth is, we study hydrometeors, or objects that are made of water that fall from the sky. Raindrops, snowflakes, hail, sleet and many others fall into that category. In winter, we talk about snow frequently, and once in awhile, sleet and freezing rain. These wintry hydrometeors are more rare, and the subject for this column.
Snow grains are small, opaque grains of ice, the solid equivalent of drizzle.
They are flat and elongated, with very small diameters. They fall in small quantities, and never in the form of a shower. When these grains hit the surface, they neither bounce or shatter. Snow pellets, on the other hand, are white, opaque grains of ice, with diameters about 5 times the size of snow grains. The real distinction between snow grains and pellets is that snow pellets are brittle, crunchy, and bounce upon hitting a hard surface.